Julio Arce vs. Montel Jackson UFC 281 MSG New York Fight Video Replay Livestream Full HD Part 1

Because of his infrequent fighting and a few slip- ups against competition he was expected to beat, Jackson has been an under- the radar fighter in one of the deepest and most competitive decisions. But his IQ and skillset are impressive. Jackson is a highly successful and high- level wrestler. With an even more impressive 78% success rate, he averages an impressive 4.2 takedowns per fight. He is big and strong for the division and well uses his feet size advantage to set up his imposing wrestling. A Southpaw, Jackson uses his jabs and feints to draw out his opponent 's reaction. Once his opponent reacts, Jackson will either land a good combo or shoot for takedown. His striking has sometimes been criticized as passive, but, like other counter strikers who look to elicit an ill- advised strike from an opponent, Jackson 's lower volume is a strategy, not a problem . Asstated before, Jackson tends to feint as he moves in the octagon to place his opponent. Jackson has the speed and technique to land on the button with real power once he places his opponent where i want them.

If Jackson decides the place suits him better, Jackson will feint to set up his takedown. His ability to set up takedowns rather than blindly shooting is a key reason for his success. Once down, Jackson is adept at holding control time for several minutes while working for a finish. Gaps in Jackson 's game come when he is not leading the dance. He is a counter striker but fights better when the opponent is the one moving forward. Moreover, in the fights where Jackson is put on his back foot, opponents have been able to get him against the cage, nullify his reach advantage, and even take him down. When he 's moving forward, though, Jackson is methodical and dangerous.

Arce, once a featherweight and now a bantamweight, is also big for the division. He is a solid and versatile kickboxer with good defensive wrestling and jiu- jitsu to round out his skillset. Similarly to Jackson, on the feet, Arce can be a slow starter who can be lulled into an overly patient approach and drop close rounds, especially early. Unlike Jackson, Arce 's low volume is a result of passivity, as he does not used feints as regularly to set up combinations or takedowns. When Arce is aggressive, he has shown solid striking with good power. He has very fast hands, especially when countering an over- extended opponent. Specifically, Arce 's counter check hook seems to come out of nowhere, land in an instant , and land with real emphasis.

Defensively, Arce relies on athleticism and fluidity, moving his head and feet rather than closing his guard. This allows him the freedom to counter from odd angles but also risks him getting tagged by a technical striker who can throw in combination. Arce rarely looks to initiate grappling himself, but has the skills to control opponents in transitions and on the mat. He boasts an impressive 94% takedown defense and has sneaky submissions if the fight does hit the mat. Arce 's biggest issue, and the reason for his losses, is he can absorb a concerning amount of damage. Even though he lands with his own strikes, Arce has struggled against technical strikers who throw in combination. He tends to get hit more and wear more damage than his opponents.