Middleweights
Karl Roberson (6-1) vs. Jack Marshman (22-7)Advertisement
With all the late shuffling, this was an odd choice to move up to the main card, but I can see the UFC’s logic: It figures to provide guaranteed action. New Jersey’s Roberson is the kind of interesting but unproven prospect the UFC sees fit to sign nowadays. A former kickboxer, Roberson’s record mostly consists of first-round finishes over less-than-stellar competition. A blowout victory over Darren Stewart in his debut resulted in the UFC immediately rushing him into a fight against Cezar Ferreira, and after Ferreira took down Roberson and subbed him with ease, that matchup looks a whole lot more pointless in retrospect. Roberson’s a prospect to watch but is among the cadre of undercard fighters who just needs some time to develop. If nothing else, at least Marshman will not try any of that grappling stuff.
Marshman, the first Welsh fighter signed by the UFC (even if Brett Johns made it into the cage first), immediately established his action fighter reputation in his 2016 debut, winning a war with Magnus Cedenblad via second-round knockout. Marshman did not figure to have the most upside at the UFC level, and he has hit a clear ceiling. However, he has been a reliably fun fighter every time out, using a blood-and-guts brawling style while relying on his power and toughness to see him through. The latter is more apparent than the former. Marshman even ate a Thiago Santos spinning wheel kick, and while it ended the fight, the Welshman was more stunned and annoyed than being knocked out completely. Again, Marshman is probably more of an action gatekeeper than anything else, and he serves as an interesting test for a fun opponent here.
Unless Roberson’s early attacks are so venomous that he cracks Marshman’s chin, the result of this fight mostly hinges on things we do not know about the American just yet. Does he have any sort of gas tank beyond the first round? Between Marshman’s pressure and Roberson’s athletic bursts, this could easily become a fight where he cannot put Marshman away early and just lets the Welshman tee off on him in the latter stages of the fight. Without much evidence, I will put my faith in Roberson to make it through the fight. I like what I have seen, and he has a ton more weapons at his disposal. This is the type of fight where the point is just to sit back and watch the violence. Forced to make a pick, give me Roberson via decision.
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