Jeremiah Wells
Career Averages
Win Methods (5)
Loss Methods (2)
Fight History
Expert Picks (1)
This fight was not discussed in the transcript. No pick was made.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 32 of 53 | 60% | 59 of 84 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 | 0 | 6:05 |
| Themba Gorimbo | 0 | 18 of 33 | 54% | 80 of 102 | 6 of 9 | 66% | 0 | 1 | 5:39 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:57 |
| Themba Gorimbo | 0 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 29 of 34 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:36 | |
| 2 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 14 of 26 | 53% | 27 of 41 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 2:15 |
| Themba Gorimbo | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 33 of 46 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 0:52 | |
| 3 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 17 of 24 | 70% | 30 of 38 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 2 | 0 | 2:53 |
| Themba Gorimbo | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 18 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 32 of 53 | 60% | 23 of 43 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 21 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 14 |
| Themba Gorimbo | 18 of 33 | 54% | 8 of 22 | 9 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Themba Gorimbo | 4 of 4 | 100% | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Jeremiah Wells | 14 of 26 | 53% | 9 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 12 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Themba Gorimbo | 10 of 22 | 45% | 7 of 18 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jeremiah Wells | 17 of 24 | 70% | 13 of 20 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 10 |
| Themba Gorimbo | 4 of 7 | 57% | 1 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gorimbo (-140); Wells (+110)
Round 1
In the “featured fight of the night” slot, a pair of 170-pound brawlers with matching 4-2 records in the promotion try to improve their fortunes at the expense of the other. Wells (12-4-1, 4-2 UFC) likely has his back against the wall more of the two, as he turned 39 on Thursday. Gorimbo (14-5, 4-2 UFC) is no spring chicken, but at 34, he still has at least a half decade left if history is any indication. Drawing the assignment for this pairing is referee Chris Tognoni, who will be on his A-game for as long as this lasts. They do not touch gloves.
Both fighters bounce back and forth towards one another, and after 20 seconds of that, Wells lets loose a kick. Gorimbo responds with a double-leg takedown, grounding the Philadelphia native for a moment. Wells bounces back to his feet, and Gorimbo uses full-on muscle to throw him back to the mat. Wells pulls his finger in the fence to try to improve his position, and when he tries again, Tognoni shouts him down. In the meantime, Gorimbo has advanced to full mount, and he forces Wells to turn over when he is about to engage with ground-and-pound. Wells twists to his knees and grabs hold of Gorimbo’s right hand to control it and prevent him from getting struck. He uses this limb control to stand up and subsequently attempt a trip takedown. “The Answer” answers him with a throw that plants the Renzo Gracie Philly product flat on his back.
Gorimbo controls with right hands as Wells tries to scramble, and Wells still works his way to the cage and grabs the fence immediately. Gorimbo chucks him to the floor like a sack of potatoes and reassumes top position. When Gorimbo sits up to blast with ground strikes, Wells scurries to put himself closer to the fencing. Just as Wells is about to sit and follow him, Gorimbo strips his legs out beneath him. Wells simply explodes back up to his feet, and he turns Gorimbo to the fence and imposes his weight all while tugging his fingers in the chain links illegally. That makes three, maybe four loud warnings from Tognoni with nothing else to it. Wells turns things around and sits himself down on top of Gorimbo as the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Gorimbo
Round 2
Wells reintroduces himself to his opponent with a vicious body kick as the round kicks off, and Gorimbo answers him with one right back just as mean and loud. Wells goes low with a calf kick, and Gorimbo stands him up with two straight right hands down the middle. Gorimbo splits the guard with his power right, and he ducks a Wells blitz to counter him with heavy punches. Gorimbo shoots in on the hips for a double, and Wells counters him with a counter choke and pulls guard to lock up what was a guillotine choke. Gorimbo keeps pushing through to bowl Wells over and break out of the submission, where he gets to the guard and revs up his GNP engine. Wells does not want to deal with that, so he bursts to his feet and snatches up a standing choke that he uses to bend Gorimbo over. The Zimbabwe native is able to free himself from the attack, but it is an effort that is rewarded by a successful Wells tackling takedown.
Wells asserts himself in the guard, ripping body shots and some to the head to advance to half guard. Wells stops striking and climbs into mount so he can isolate an arm-triangle choke. Wells looks to pass to the other side, but Gorimbo turns himself to stay close enough to the fence to prevent Wells from getting the proper leverage to pull off the sub. Wells bails on it to get situated in full mount, and he tries for an arm-triangle on the other side. Gorimbo breaks free and turns Wells over, shucking off an armbar setup to put Wells on his back as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Round 3
Leg kicks fly from both sides as the fighters have no plan on bumping fists, with plenty of time to share pleasantries after the melee concludes. They proceed to share the other’s thinking by striking one after the other, mirroring one another until Gorimbo wants to take the fight horizontally. Wells jumps guard with a guillotine choke, and he has a hook in but does not appear to have Gorimbo in trouble. Gorimbo calmly removes himself from submission danger and positions himself in half guard, only for Wells to sit up and rush to his seat against the wall. Gorimbo pushes off rather than deal with a possible standing choke, and he allows Wells to come to him so he can offer up a head kick. Wells tanks it and shoots in for a single, transitioning it to a double to take “The Answer” off his feet. Gorimbo butt-scoots to the fence, and Wells drags him away from it and gets to mount with 2:40 left in the match.
Gorimbo turns to a side to prevent bombardment that has not yet begun, and Wells instead sets up an arm-triangle choke on the other side. Wells still looks to put himself against the fence, and Gorimbo strategically as it at his side to prevent Wells from locking it down. Wells abandons it and saves himself from falling off the side when Gorimbo moves, and he follows Gorimbo every step of the way and pulls him to his back on the floor. Gorimbo turns over, and Wells hangs on from the side with his arm draped around the chest like a seatbelt that also punches you. Wells grinds down elbows while closely pressed to Gorimbo in side control, and Tognoni slaps Gorimbo’s toes out of the fence as they are pulling on it to try to get him a better spot. He does this with both feet, and Wells is crushing him with elbows. Wells does this until time expires, and we go to the scorecards.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wells (29-28 Wells)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Wells (29-28 Wells)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Wells (29-28 Wells)
The Official Result
Jeremiah Wells def. Themba Gorimbo via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Themba Gorimbo, citing his striking at distance and in the pocket, takedowns, and toughness. He notes Jeremiah Wells is 39 years old and has been out for 19 months, which could lead to fading. He expects Wells to come out hot but fade, while Gorimbo gains steam. He acknowledges Wells' power and jiu-jitsu but thinks Gorimbo's youth and hunger will prevail.
Big Brady picks Jeremiah Wells but is hesitant due to Wells being 39 and inactive for two years. He criticizes Themba Gorimbo's chin, submission defense, and cardio, calling him not sold on. He notes Wells has a wrestling background, trains with Renzo Gracie Philly, and has knockout power. He sees a potential knockout or submission, predicting a first-round submission.
Connor does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses the matchup but does not state a preference, focusing on the low level and lack of significance.
Lucrative James picks Themba Gorimbo to win, citing his superior technical striking and grappling compared to Jeremiah Wells. He notes that Wells is 38 years old, has shown deterioration in recent performances, and has pulled out of fights due to injury. Gorimbo is more well-rounded, has good takedown defense, and outgrappled opponents like Ramiz Brahimaj and Nico Price. James also mentions Gorimbo's mental state after a loss, but still favors him stylistically.
Wells is the better grappler with more knockout power. He can take Gorimbo to the mat and find a submission. The host is not sure why there is love for Gorimbo.
The MMA Guru leans towards Themba Gorimbo, citing his volume, range, and recent activity. He thinks Jeremiah Wells is inconsistent with his KO power and aging. He predicts Gorimbo wins by decision, 29-28, though Wells may have moments.
Zane picks Gorimbo because if he can get to a good position, he will cling to it and suck the life out of the fight. He notes that Wells is predictable, charging in and clinching in a cycle, and that Gorimbo resembles Carlston Harris who submitted Wells. He also mentions Wells is 39 and has been injured.
Expert Picks (1)
Angelo picks Andreas Gustafsson but is hesitant, citing the risk of a UFC debutant making dumb decisions. He notes Gustafsson's wrestling, power, and youth, but draws a parallel to Gabe Green's recent win over a debutant who made a mistake. He explicitly says he is not betting on this fight due to unknown fight IQ.
Feb 10, 2024
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Griffin | 0 | 26 of 53 | 49% | 36 of 65 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:40 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 32 of 86 | 37% | 43 of 97 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:40 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Griffin | 0 | 6 of 18 | 33% | 13 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 7 of 26 | 26% | 7 of 26 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 | |
| 2 | Max Griffin | 0 | 10 of 16 | 62% | 11 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:14 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 17 of 36 | 47% | 17 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:56 | |
| 3 | Max Griffin | 0 | 10 of 19 | 52% | 12 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 8 of 24 | 33% | 19 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Griffin | 26 of 53 | 49% | 21 of 48 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 24 of 51 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 32 of 86 | 37% | 27 of 76 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 3 | 32 of 85 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Griffin | 6 of 18 | 33% | 5 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 7 of 26 | 26% | 7 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 7 of 25 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Max Griffin | 10 of 16 | 62% | 8 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 17 of 36 | 47% | 13 of 30 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 17 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Max Griffin | 10 of 19 | 52% | 8 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 8 of 24 | 33% | 7 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 8 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Wells (-170), Griffin (+142)
Round 1
Action will be on display as these two offense-first welterweights enter the cage. This is a crucial contest for the 38-year-old Griffin (19-11, 7-8 UFC), who could get back to .500 with a win. All he has to do is get past the fast and frenetic Wells (12-3-1, 4-1 UFC), who is only one year his junior. These elder statesmen at 170 pounds will be officiated by referee Chris Tognoni, and they have no interest in touching them up as Wells instead spins with a heel kick to the midsection unexpectedly. Griffin deftly avoids it and he proceeds to stalk Wells down, chasing him around the cage for about 30 seconds without throwing anything. Wells spins with a wheel kick that glances off the side of Griffin’s head, and he keeps moving by spinning with an elbow that dings Griffin again. Griffin backs off instead of trying to counter, and Wells feints and stomps the floor with loud screams. Griffin acknowledges him with a sharp jab in response, but it is one-and-done as he continues to follow Wells around. Wells gets a jab back with his own, and Griffin surges ahead with a trio of punches. Wells dips back, and Griffin gives chase with a few more heavy shots until Wells retreats out of range. The two continue to measure one another for long stretches of inactivity, perhaps a little too respectful of one another’s power. Wells connects with a left hand, and he blitzes forward with another left hook and enough forward momentum that allows him to tackle Griffin to the canvas. Griffin fights back to his feet by wall-walking, and Wells presses on him with his full body weight. Wells ropes out several haymakers that sting Griffin, but Griffin manages to catches his opponent with a short right hand. Wells keeps a decent poker face despite being stung, and Griffin scores another right that makes Wells think twice about exchanging. Griffin’s own advancing gets him into range, and he secures a sudden takedown that puts Wells on his back for the remainder of the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Round 2
The welterweights are tentative to engage to start off the round, both leading with single jabs but otherwise operating with plenty of fakes and feints but few actual committed strikes. Griffin keeps Wells on his back foot, and he holds his guard high to block a huge overhand right from Wells. Griffin is out of range when a subsequent wrecking ball of a left hook comes his way, and he does not bite when Wells fakes a spin. Wells attempts a front kick that grazes off the body, and he swats out a left hand that is parried. Griffin connects with a right hand, and Wells welcomes the exchange and hurls himself forward into the melee. Both men crack one another with violent blows, and Griffin’s chin holds together as he is pressed towards the fencing. After jockeying for position, the two split up and they return to kickboxing range. Wells, his nose bleeding, pokes out a jab and then swings a left hook that would blow Tognoni’s hair back if he had any. Wells connects with a body kick, and he spins with a kick to the same target as Griffin grimaces. Griffin eats a jumping kick to the body and a right hand on the chin, but he still manages to reply with a short right hand that gives Wells brief pause. Wells fires off a side kick that careens off the guard, and he doubles up on a jab as well. Wells reaches in with a left, but Griffin catches him with a right that makes Wells back off. Griffin comes at him to throw hands, and Wells practically sprints towards him so he can tie Griffin up again. This clinch position ends the round, and Griffin takes him down after the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Round 3
Wells leads the dance with a spinning kick to the ribs, and Griffin grunts when it lands flush. Wells throws a sloppy right hand, and Griffin sees it coming and replies with a short right that Wells does not like. After another agonizing stretch of feinting, Wells lashes out with two hooks, and even though Griffin blocks it, they hurt. Griffin replies with a single kick, and they reset and start jabbing. Griffin times another big punch from Wells and beats him to the punch with a short right, but Wells continues throwing bombs and keeps Griffin cautious. Wells lobs haymakers as they soar past Griffin, and Griffin gets one shot in and makes Wells shake it off. The welterweights whiff on concussive blows, and Griffin dances out of the way when Wells jumps with a stomp kick aimed at his knee. Both men miss the mark with looping strikes, just out of range from one another. Wells spins with a wheel kick, and the crook of his knee wraps around the back of Griffin’s head as Griffin times an explosion forward in pursuit of a takedown. The resulting collision pushes Wells back against the fence, and he holds him there without doing much else. Wells slaps Griffin a few times on the ear, and the strange fight comes to a conclusion when the final bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Griffin (29-28 Wells)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Griffin (29-28 Wells)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Griffin (29-28 Wells)
The Official Result
Max Griffin def. Jeremiah Wells via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo highlights Jeremiah Wells' well-rounded game, with explosive hands and high-level BJJ, and notes that Wells transitions effortlessly to grappling. He thinks Max Griffin's punches lose power later in fights, and that Wells will get takedowns and grind out a win. He acknowledges Griffin's toughness but believes Wells will be too much, though he will be biting his nails.
Big Brady picks Max Griffin as an underdog. He notes that Griffin is bigger, more experienced, has better technical striking and volume, and has good takedown defense. He acknowledges Wells' power and physicality but believes Griffin can win as long as he avoids a big shot.
Cody picks Griffin as a dog, noting Wells has fought low-level competition and has cardio issues. Griffin has fought better guys and has sneaky power, with knockdowns in recent fights. Cody thinks Wells will tire in later rounds, and Griffin's wrestling and durability will be key. He sees clear value on Griffin at plus money.
Wells is very dangerous early with power and top pressure. Griffin is 38 and has faltered against tougher opponents. Wells should be able to secure an early knockout or grind out a decision. The odds are a bit close, but Wells' power and tenacity should be the difference. Griffin's experience may not be enough to stay away from Wells' danger.
Paul also picks Griffin, echoing Cody's points. He notes Wells' opponents have a combined 0-7 record after fighting him, indicating he is being protected. Griffin is a step up in competition and has the skills to win. Paul thinks Griffin's power and experience will be too much for Wells.
The MMA Guru picks Jeremiah Wells because he believes Wells can out-grapple Max Griffin, especially in the first two rounds. He notes that Griffin has shown a tendency to break when put in a losing position. He also thinks Wells has more power on the feet, even if his standup is slightly worse. He does not see Griffin having the submission ability to catch Wells like Carlston Harris did.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlston Harris | 0 | 18 of 48 | 37% | 41 of 78 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 | 0 | 9:26 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 5 of 19 | 26% | 19 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlston Harris | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 10 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 2 | 0 | 4:24 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 6 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Carlston Harris | 0 | 13 of 22 | 59% | 29 of 44 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:34 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Carlston Harris | 0 | 2 of 18 | 11% | 2 of 18 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 4 of 15 | 26% | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:13 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlston Harris | 18 of 48 | 37% | 16 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 25 | 2 of 3 | 11 of 20 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 5 of 19 | 26% | 1 of 14 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlston Harris | 3 of 8 | 37% | 2 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Carlston Harris | 13 of 22 | 59% | 12 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 15 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Carlston Harris | 2 of 18 | 11% | 2 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 17 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jeremiah Wells | 4 of 15 | 26% | 1 of 11 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Wells (-130), Harris (+110)
Round 1
Jason Herzog gets his first assignment of the night for this welterweight bout. Wells moves in with a standing side kick that sends Harris into the cage. Wells explodes into punching range then assumes top position after a failed Harris takedown. Wells is working from half guard, covering Harris’ mouth with his glove. Wells stays heavy on top, grinding his forearm into his foe’s face. As Harris attempts to stand, Wells secures a brabo choke. They roll over into the center of the cage, with Harris on his back now. The choke is not properly applied, but Wells continues to drive his shoulder. Wells adjusts the position, and now he has a ninja choke. Wells has a tight squeeze, but Harris defends with his back to the mat. Harris scrambles to his feet and Wells drives him into the fence. Wells drops for a single leg, adjusts and connects his hands before pulling Harris off the cage and planting him on the canvas. Wells has Harris mounted near the fence, controlling the wrist of his opponent. Wells goes back to half guard and tees off with left hands. He ends the round with more left hands on his grounded foe.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Round 2
Wells steps in with an uppercut-left hand combination. A spinning attack from Wells misses the mark, but he shoves Harris to the mat and takes top position. He lands some solid shots and then puts Harris back on the mat. Harris scoots to a seated position with his back to the fence, but Wells is still heavy on top. Wells passes to mount, then returns to half guard. Harris is being overpowered here. Every time he posts, Wells lifts the legs and adjusts his position. Wells is back in half guard, landing the occasional right hand. Wells continues to grind away, but Harris can do no better than a seated position. Wells puts him on his back and drops some heavy elbows. Wells’ offense has been more forceful from inside Harris’ full guard, as he ends the round with more solid elbows.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Round 3
Wells comes out winging heavy leather, but Harris is avoiding the majority of it. Wells uses his punches to shoot for a takedown. Harris defends with a choke and they separate. Harris lands a nice punch to the body, but Wells shoots a powerful takedown. Harris defends well and goes to the mat,
locking in an anaconda choke in the process. For a moment it doesn’t seem like Wells is in danger, but Harris flips him to his back and lifts his foe’s head. Harris maintains the grip and Herzog steps in to take a look. Wells is unconscious
and this one, along with his four-bout UFC winning streak, is over. A nice comeback victory for Harris.
The Official Result
Carlston Harris def. Jeremiah Wells via Submission (Anaconda Choke) R3 1:50
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks Jeremiah Wells but is hesitant, noting the fight is very close. He gives Wells a slight edge in wrestling and notes his toughness after being dropped twice in his last fight. He acknowledges Carlston Harris has a better chin and is dangerous on the ground. Angelo does not place a bet because Harris is dangerous, but thinks Wells will get it done.
Big Brady thinks this is a very close fight and expects a first-round knockout. He notes both fighters have power and are hittable. He picks Harris slightly because he thinks Harris can land a big shot and Wells won't be able to grapple his way out like he did against Semelsberger. He predicts Harris by first-round KO.
Cody is confident in Harris as an underdog, citing his unorthodox striking, reach (77 inches), power, and BJJ black belt. He notes Wells' struggles against grapplers and his tendency to get rocked. He believes Harris can chop Wells up on the feet and has a good chance of finishing inside the distance.
Daniel Levi leans toward Carlston Harris, citing his length, jab, and volume striking. He worries about Wells' wrestling success but thinks Harris can defend takedowns and pick him apart at range. Levi notes both fighters have questionable chins, but believes Harris' activity and process give him an edge. He sees this as a dog-or-pass situation and prefers Harris at plus money.
James disagrees with the line moving toward Harris. He acknowledges Harris's front choke series is dangerous, especially if Wells shoots. However, he thinks Wells has insane punching power and good takedown top upside. He believes Wells is the deserved favorite but says it's not a hill he wants to die on.
Both fighters are reckless strikers looking for knockouts, but Wells is shorter and stockier while Harris is long and lanky. Wells has a slight edge in Jiu-Jitsu, but Harris has a better gas tank. I think Wells gets an early knockout under 2.5 rounds, likely in the first, but I don't have any real interest in betting this matchup.
Paul agrees with Harris, noting that the market has moved and Harris is now the rightful favorite. He cites Wells' poor performance against Samuelsberger and his vulnerability early. He plans to take a small bet on Harris and considers a live bet after the first round.
The host picks Jeremiah Wells, calling him an 'absolute dog' with power and grit. He believes Wells has the power advantage and can get inside, while Harris is lengthy but not on the same level. He notes Wells is a BJJ black belt and can handle grappling exchanges. He likes Wells at -163 or lower, and sees value on Harris as a dog if the line moves.
Apr 22, 2023
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 36 of 76 | 47% | 86 of 158 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 11:12 |
| Matthew Semelsberger | 2 | 20 of 37 | 54% | 39 of 59 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:29 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 17 of 38 | 44% | 35 of 69 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:31 |
| Matthew Semelsberger | 1 | 11 of 18 | 61% | 15 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:59 | |
| 2 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 16 of 33 | 48% | 32 of 59 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:09 |
| Matthew Semelsberger | 1 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 19 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 | |
| 3 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 19 of 30 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 4:32 |
| Matthew Semelsberger | 0 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 36 of 76 | 47% | 29 of 67 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 28 | 2 of 3 | 24 of 45 |
| Matthew Semelsberger | 20 of 37 | 54% | 17 of 33 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 22 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 10 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 17 of 38 | 44% | 14 of 34 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 12 of 27 |
| Matthew Semelsberger | 11 of 18 | 61% | 10 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 8 | |
| 2 | Jeremiah Wells | 16 of 33 | 48% | 15 of 31 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 18 |
| Matthew Semelsberger | 6 of 12 | 50% | 5 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | |
| 3 | Jeremiah Wells | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Matthew Semelsberger | 3 of 7 | 42% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Wells (-110), Semelsberger (-110)
Round 1
The UFC chose violence for this event’s main card opener, as when Wells (11-2-1, 3-0 UFC) and Semelsberger (11-4, 5-2 UFC) get down to business, all hell might break loose. Needing no more introduction as there is about to be some exciting action, referee Marc Goddard takes charge. There is no touch of gloves as Wells practically sprints into action, and Semelsberger catches him with a stiff right hand and stuns him. Wells backs off, gathers his thoughts and charges recklessly again. Semelsberger counters him cleanly and downs his man, and Wells scrambles when he hits the mat instead of getting pounded out by the forceful strikes of “Semi the Jedi.” Wells moves when he needs to, and he stands up to pursue a takedown. Semelsberger stuffs him and jams him against the wall, and the pace slows down from the veritable car crash of offense from before. Wells spins himself deftly to throw Semelsberger down to the floor, and he ends up in the closed guard of his opponent trying to rain down right hands. Semelsberger leans his upper back against the wall to partially sit up, and Wells continues to remains on top pounding on Semelsberger. On his back, Semelsberger tries to hook his toes in the cage to pull off of it, and he is warned for it as Wells smacks Semelsberger with ground strikes. Semelsberger pushes his man off of him, but Wells leaps back on top of him. Semelsberger stands and nearly gives up his back, only for him to wriggle it free and get shoved against the wire. Wells looks for another change in leverage to secure a throw, and he lets go to throw hands. When Semelsberger defends from the oncoming fire, Wells changes levels and successfully hits a double. Wells postures up in the guard to hammer with punches from on high, and the round ends in this position.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Semelsberger
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Semelsberger
Round 2
The round begins far less wild than the first, as Semelsberger instead meanders forward to claim the center of the cage with Wells eventually leaping in and out with two punches. They collide with fists at the same time, and a monster left hook from “Semi the Jedi” and a right hand smash into Wells dome and send him wobbling back until he falls over. Semelsberger does not finish the job, instead patiently landing a few shots, before backing off to reset. Wells swings for the bleachers when upright again, and Semelsberger tags him with a sharp right hand to stun him once more. Wells tries to grab his foe and throw him down, but there is nothing to it, so he gets back to striking range to lob bombs. Wells ducks a looping punch and pursues a single this time, and he elevates Semelsberger and drops him hard to the mat. Wells settles for the closed guard to pummel Semelsberger with ground-and-pound, forcing Semelsberger to open up his guard for some better position on his back. Wells calmly sits up and lands a few strikes, with an elbow that he drops down with his full body weight behind. Elbows from Wells continue to land on the forehead, and he hammers the body a few times when Goddard tells him to keep working. Semelsberger looks to set up a high guard, and Wells leaps over it and briefly gets to half guard before being pulled back to the guard again. Wells slashes down with additional elbows, working Semelsberger over effectively until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Round 3
The last round has surprisingly been reached, and unsurprisingly, both men load up on their punches right out of the gate and nail each other. Wells leaps forward with a flying knee that skims off the side of the head, and Semelsberger sneaks through a body shot when his man lands. Wells rushes forward in pursuit of a double, and he scoops Semelsberger up like Matt Hughes and loudly deposits him to the floor. When Semelsberger climbs back upright, Wells quickly slams him back down for an exclamation point. Wells manages to work his way into the half guard as he presses down to keep the moving Semelsberger from standing. Semelsberger turns just enough to isolate a leg to go after a leglock, and Wells is wise to it and circles all the way around to tug his limb free and lower himself into half guard on the other side. Semelsberger sweeps from this position and fights his way upright, but Wells is relentless at trying to bring him right back to the floor. Semelsberger fights off one try, and Wells clasps his hands and lowers Semelsberger to the floor. Semelsberger defends with a kimura, isolating Wells’ left arm with a two-on-one wrist lock, and Wells wrenches it out to wind up on top in half guard again. Semelsberger pulls his opponent back to the guard for a bit of a moral victory, and he tries to set up a triangle choke and pulls his toes on the fence to get them over Wells’ shoulders. Wells shucks it off and moves to the side, and he drives elbows down on Semelsberger’s unguarded face. Semelsberger bursts back to his feet, and Wells slings him back down in a final effort. The horn sounds, and the scorecards could be all over the map depending on how the judges value the power Semelsberger displayed in the opening spurts of the first two rounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wells (29-28 Wells)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Wells (30-27 Wells)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wells (29-28 Wells)
The Official Result
Jeremiah Wells def. Matthew Semelsberger via Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks Jeremiah Wells, citing his power, technical striking, and BJJ black belt. He thinks Wells should be more technically sound on the feet and have better BJJ than Semelsberger. He notes that Semelsberger is tough and has made fools of bettors before, so he is not betting despite seeing value at -135. He is concerned about Wells' wrestling defense against Semelsberger's pressure.
Big Brady picks Jeremiah Wells to win by first-round knockout. He notes that Wells has a ton of power and a very good grappling game, and he mixes in takedowns well. Brady is concerned about Wells's cardio if the fight extends, but he believes Wells will finish Semelsberger early. He also mentions that this could be a good live betting spot if Semelsberger survives the first round, but he expects Wells to get him out of there early.
Cody picks Semelsberger, emphasizing his cardio and ability to go 15 minutes, while Wells is a first-round finisher with suspect gas tank. He notes Semelsberger's takedown defense and striking are good, and he has shown improvement. Cody believes if Semelsberger survives the first round, he will take over and win by decision or late finish. He sees a live betting opportunity to get a better price on Semelsberger after the first round.
Connor picks Semelsberger, noting that he is working hard to overcome his anxiety against punchers. He points out that Semelsberger's approach against Jake Matthews was more assertive and that he has the durability to survive Wells's power. He thinks Semelsberger can take the fight to Wells and wilt him, but admits it's not a smart pick.
Jeremiah Wells has first-round finishing power but fades in later rounds. Matthew Semelsberger is younger, has knockout power of his own, and a better gas tank. Semelsberger can keep distance, stuff takedowns, and take over as Wells slows down. The fight likely ends in a finish, with Semelsberger coming on late to win by TKO. However, Wells could land early, making this a sketchy pick.
Paul picks Wells but is hesitant, acknowledging the points Cody made about cardio. He notes Wells is more explosive and dangerous than AJ Fletcher, who had success against Semelsberger. Paul thinks the price is more accurate now and is not sure he will bet it. He agrees the longer the fight goes, the worse it is for Wells.
The MMA Guru picks Matthew Semelsberger as an underdog. He notes Semelsberger's underrated chin and grappling, and his reach advantage. He thinks Semelsberger's straight punches will counter Wells' looping shots. He cites Semelsberger's competitive fight with Chaos Williams and his performance against Jake Matthews. He predicts a KO in the first round.
Zane picks Wells but is not confident, noting that Wells is a powerful puncher but has no depth to his game. He thinks Semelsberger might be the one to adjust and solve Wells, but he has a feeling that Semelsberger will get shocked and fall out of his groove. He mentions that Wells is like a new 'all the Wally Bong Bosch' and is very awkward.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Court McGee | 1 | 7 of 16 | 43% | 7 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Court McGee | 1 | 7 of 16 | 43% | 7 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Court McGee | 7 of 16 | 43% | 7 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Court McGee | 7 of 16 | 43% | 7 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: McGee (-120), Wells (+100)
Round 1
Even though UFC experience and fight mileage both weigh heavily on “The Crusher” McGee (21-10, 10-9 UFC), he will come into this matchup on his first UFC win streak since 2013. The Utah native will clock in only two years the elder of Wells (10-2-1, 2-0 UFC), who surges into this contest on the heels of four finishes in two rounds or less. Referee Herb Dean might have his hands full for this one, as Wells is darting back and forth and does not engage to touch gloves. Instead, Wells shifts laterally back and forth, and McGee reaches out towards him with a jab to the chest. Wells keeps his range and switches stances constantly, lulling McGee into a rhythm. “The Crusher” simply remains calm and lands a heavy leg kick, and he blocks high when Wells crashes towards him with punches. Wells throws himself off-balance when swinging at him, and McGee blocks the blows and splits the guard with a one-two in response. Wells jumps forward to attack, and he pushes out a jab and a right that comes up short.
The Pennsylvania follows up with a left hook that connects right on the button, and McGee is out cold as he falls with his limbs frozen in rigor mortis down to the canvas. The back of McGee’s head collides with the mat, and when it does, Wells follows him down with two brutal punches, which are all that land until Dean can sprint across the cage to break them up and pull Wells off.
There’s something in the water here today in Austin, as Wells practically did the unthinkable by cleanly knocking McGee all the way out.
The Official Result
Jeremiah Wells def. Court McGee R1 1:34 via KO (Punch)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Court McGee, noting his recent grappling resurgence and dominant wins over Claudio Silva and Ramiz Brahimaj. He believes McGee's takedowns and control will lead to another decision win. He acknowledges Jeremiah Wells' danger but thinks McGee's durability and cardio will prevail.
Big Brady picks Court McGee to win by decision. He believes McGee is the more experienced fighter with better volume and technical striking, and has shown improved wrestling. He notes Wells has power but lacks volume and cardio, and McGee is extremely durable with only one finish loss. He thinks McGee will be the minute winner on the feet and can handle Wells' grappling.
Cody picks McGee, citing his durability, wrestling, and experience. He thinks Wells will come out hot but fade, and McGee will grind him down in rounds 2 and 3. He suggests McGee by decision as a prop.
Daniel Levi is confident in Jeremiah Wells as an underdog, citing Wells' athleticism, power, and black belt jiu-jitsu. He notes Court McGee is 37 and has lost five of his last eight, while Wells is younger and hungrier. Levi likes that Wells is getting plus money and believes he will be too fast and strong for McGee. He is considering a bet on Wells.
Paul agrees with McGee, noting Wells' one-dimensional style and McGee's takedown ability. He thinks McGee can survive the early storm and take over. He suggests waiting to see how round one goes before betting.
The MMA Guru picks Jeremiah Wells to win by KO, noting that Court McGee is 37 and has taken a lot of damage. He believes Wells is a freak athlete with explosive power and good grappling, as shown against Blood Diamond. He predicts Wells will catch McGee with a straight right and finish him in the first round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 15 of 19 | 78% | 23 of 27 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 4:25 |
| Mike Mathetha | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 15 of 19 | 78% | 23 of 27 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 4:25 |
| Mike Mathetha | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 15 of 19 | 78% | 14 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 16 |
| Mike Mathetha | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 15 of 19 | 78% | 14 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 16 |
| Mike Mathetha | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
No matter what the broadcast displays, the debuting fighter out of City Kickboxing’s name is Mike Mathetha (3-0, 0-0 UFC), and not “Blood Diamond.” That is just his nickname. In his first Octagon appearance with just three pro MMA fights on his belt and an unknown number of kickboxing contests in the past, he will take on the surging powerhouse Wells (9-2-1, 1-0 UFC) at welterweight. Keeping his head on a swivel will be referee Jacob Montalvo, and Wells decides against touching gloves and instead sprints around the edge of the cage to possibly gain momentum and fly out with a strike, but he trips and nearly blows out his ankle. Mathetha crashes in while loading up on a right hand, and he misses it and they clinch up, with Wells trying to take the fight down. The action stalls out with Wells in pursuit of a body lock, but he cannot get the right leverage and cannot trip Mathetha down. Wells opts to lift Mathetha in the air, and he slams him to the mat and immediately lands in mount. “Blood Diamond” turns over, and he gives up his back while Wells hunts for a quick rear-naked choke. Wells flattens Mathetha out as Mathetha turns to his side, and Wells slugs away at him before latching on to another rear-naked choke. The City Kickboxing fighter turns into the choke with his chin tucked, stifling the submission, and Wells postures up to blast Mathetha with high elbows and punches. Mathetha gets to his knees, only to get wrenched back down, all while Wells works him over with punches. Wells pounds on Mathetha with right hands, and a strike or two hits the back of the head without any protest. Wells goes for another rear-naked choke, and bails on it to find a better angle as Mathetha sits up.
“Blood Diamond” makes a grave mistake by trying to stand without fighting off the choke, and he falls down to the mat when Wells sinks in the choke once and for all. Without any hooks in, the Philadelphia native squeezes with all his might, and “Blood Diamond” goes out on his shield and falls unconscious instead of tapping out.
Wells lets Montalvo know Wells is sleeping, Montalvo checks Mathetha’s arm, and it is limp. Montalvo intervenes quickly, and Mathetha comes to soon enough with no harm done.
The Official Result
Jeremiah Wells def. Mike Mathetha R1 4:38 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Jeremiah Wells because he is the more complete MMA fighter with solid takedowns and very good BJJ. He acknowledges that Mathetha is a dangerous striker but believes Wells can close the distance, drop down for takedowns, and work his jiu-jitsu. He notes that Wells' striking is wild but sets up his grappling.
Big Brady is confident in Jeremiah Wells due to his well-rounded skills, power, and cardio. He notes Wells trains at Renzo Gracie Philly and has a legit black belt in BJJ with good wrestling. He expects Wells to take down Blood Diamond and submit him in the first round, as Blood Diamond's competition has been weak and his takedown defense is questionable. Brady also mentions Wells has never been knocked out.
Cody agrees, noting Wells' BJJ black belt and power. He thinks Mathetha's lack of ground game and poor fundamentals will be exposed. He expects Wells to finish early, possibly by submission.
Daniel Levi picks Jeremiah Wells, citing his experience, black belt in jiu-jitsu, and improvement on the feet. He notes that Mike Mathetha is a kickboxer transitioning to MMA with only three fights and a two-year layoff. Levi believes Wells will use his grappling to expose Mathetha's lack of MMA experience.
Wells is a strong grappler who should easily take Mathetha down and finish him. Mathetha is a kickboxer with poor takedown defense and has been controlled against the cage in past fights. Wells has seen harder shots and has cardio comparable to Mathetha. The inside the distance line at -125 is the best play as Wells should get a finish.
Paul is very confident in Wells, citing his grappling advantage and power. He notes Mathetha has no ground game and is a kickboxer with sloppy technique. He expects Wells to take him down and submit him early.
The MMA Guru picks Jeremiah Wells to win by first-round KO. He criticizes Mike Mathetha's kickboxing level, calling him clumsy and overhyped, while noting Wells' explosive power and grappling advantage. He believes the debut pressure will be too much for Mathetha.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 15 of 17 | 88% | 15 of 17 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0:22 |
| Warlley Alves | 1 | 21 of 52 | 40% | 29 of 62 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:32 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 11 of 12 | 91% | 11 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0:22 |
| Warlley Alves | 0 | 10 of 35 | 28% | 18 of 45 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:29 | |
| 2 | Jeremiah Wells | 0 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Warlley Alves | 1 | 11 of 17 | 64% | 11 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Wells | 15 of 17 | 88% | 1 of 2 | 7 of 7 | 7 of 8 | 10 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
| Warlley Alves | 21 of 52 | 40% | 17 of 48 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 16 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah Wells | 11 of 12 | 91% | 1 of 1 | 6 of 6 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
| Warlley Alves | 10 of 35 | 28% | 7 of 32 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 10 | |
| 2 | Jeremiah Wells | 4 of 5 | 80% | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Warlley Alves | 11 of 17 | 64% | 10 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 6 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Many forget that Alves (14-4, 8-4 UFC) won the third season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” back in 2014 at middleweight, at the same time that Antonio Carlos Jr. won it at heavyweight. In this welterweight battle, the TUF victor will welcome Wells (8-2-1, 0-0 UFC) to the UFC on short notice, as Ramazan Emeev was forced out for undisclosed reasons. Drawing the assignment is referee Chris Tognoni, who observes an attempted glove touch from Alves as these two prepare to get after it. Wells ignores him as he runs behind the back of Tognoni, and he charges ahead and bowls Alves over with a surge of strikes and forward movement. The Brazilian is able to scoot his way back to the corner of the fence, and looks to kick off the fence while getting away with a cheeky fence grab with his toes. Wells drags him back down and starts blasting Alves in the face with huge right hands, and Alves is stuck in this position on his side. Wells unloads several more blistering right hands as he climbs to half guard, and he turns the punches to elbows when Alves grabs his wrist. Wells stands up to find a better position, and Alves pops right to his feet. Wells rushes him to ring Alves’ bell with an elbow, and he presses hard into the clinch before lifting Alves in the air. The Brazilian keeps his balance as he lands on one foot, so Wells knees him square in the midsection. The newcomer keeps his full body weight pushes on the UFC vet, but Alves simply shoves him away to gain some distance. Wells counters a leg kick with an overhand right, and he swings a huge right hand at Alves. Another home run shot comes from Wells, and Alves sees these telegraphed strikes coming and can parry them. Wells eats a counter left hand flush, and Wells whiffs on looping strikes. Wells rushes in with a flying knee before considering a takedown, and his fingers ensnare themselves into the fencing to draw a warning from Tognoni. Wells fails on a trip, and he chains this into a double leg takedown. Alves defends with a guillotine choke, and he jumps guard to set it up. Alves uses the choke to push Wells to his back, and Wells keeps a single butterfly hook in to defend himself from punishment. Wells uses upkicks to push Alves back, and the round ends with an axe kick from Alves that may have glanced off Wells’ chin – and therefore would be quite illegal. Nothing comes of it.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Wells
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Wells
Round 2
Alves is the man to leap out of his corner this round, jumping forward with a flying knee. Wells tries to swing bombs at him, and a counter right hand knocks Alves off-balance. The Brazilian stumbles and tries to survive, and Wells follows him to the ground to continue unloading on him.
Alves gets to his knees, but Wells bowls him over and smashes him in the face with right hand after unanswered right hand. It only takes a few for Alves to go completely out, and Tognoni cannot stop the fight fast enough.
What a way to announce yourself to the UFC, knocking out a tough vet after a furious first round. Welcome to the UFC, Jeremiah Wells.
The Official Result
Jeremiah Wells def. Warlley Alves R2 0:30 via KO (Punches)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Warlley Alves, citing his full training camp, consistency, and veteran experience. He acknowledges Jeremiah Wells is live with good grappling and wild striking but is not confident due to Wells' two-year layoff and short notice UFC debut. Angelo thinks Alves is the safer pick.
Big Brady picks Warlley Alves to win by first round KO, despite acknowledging his inconsistency and poor cardio. He notes Alves's dangerous finishing ability and that Wells is making his UFC debut on short notice after a long layoff. He thinks Alves will finish early, but if it goes past the first round, Wells could be a live bet. He would not parlay Alves.
Cody picks Alves but with low confidence due to Alves' inconsistency. He notes Alves has all the tools but often gasses after one round. However, Wells also has cardio issues and is on short notice. Cody thinks Alves has advantages everywhere if he shows up, but he won't bet him because of the trap potential. He suggests the under 1.5 rounds as a possible play.
Jacob picks Jeremiah Wells, noting his fast hands, real jiu-jitsu under Henzo Gracie, and potential to be a one-punch knockout artist. He acknowledges the risk of the layoff and short notice but believes Wells is live and can win. Jacob wanted to make Wells his lock of the week but wasn't confident enough.
Alves is the much better striker with legitimate jiu-jitsu. Wells is on short notice and has inactivity issues. Alves will take whatever Wells throws and make him pay. Wells has a puncher's chance but can't maintain pressure for 15 minutes. Alves should win by decision, though his cardio could be a factor if things don't go his way.
Paul picks Alves but is not confident. He notes Alves' cardio issues but thinks Wells also fades. He believes Alves has better skills and should win if he doesn't gas. He is not betting the fight but would lean under 1.5 rounds if forced.
The MMA Guru picks Warlley Alves by first-round KO, citing Wells as a short-notice replacement without quick finishes or devastating power. He notes Alves' rejuvenated career and believes Wells' age (34) and lack of first-round KOs work against him. He expects Alves to capitalize early before cardio becomes a factor.
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