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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 12: Kevin Croom reacts after his submission victory over Roosevelt Roberts in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 12: Kevin Croom reacts after his submission victory over Roosevelt Roberts in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 12: Kevin Croom reacts after his submission victory over Roosevelt Roberts in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 12: Kevin Croom reacts after his submission victory over Roosevelt Roberts in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs Gane has an exciting featherweight fight on offer, as Alex Caceres will fight Kevin Croom to start off the main card. Croom, a 33 fight veteran, will only make his second walk to the Octagon against Caceres, who is a 10-year UFC veteran.
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‘The Hard-Hitting Hillbilly’ Croom (21-12) has won 3 out of his last 5. However, his only fight in the UFC (against Roosevelt Roberts in 2020) resulted in a no contest.
Caceres (17-12) has won 4 out of his last 5. The sole defeat came at the hands of Kron Gracie via submission in 2019. In his career, ‘Bruce Leeroy’ has fought the likes of Yair Rodriguez, Jason Knight, and more. His most notable wins are over Sergio Pettis, Cole Miller.
We look at the analysis and prediction of this match-up and see which fighter will secure his thirteenth professional defeat.
UFC Featherweights: Kevin Croom vs Alex Caceres
Caceres has grappling accuracy of 77%, landing 9 out of his 13 takedown attempts. Furthermore, his striking volume is something to behold as he has landed 1121 of his 2245 attempted strikes at a 50% accuracy. ‘Bruce Leeroy‘ has landed 4.14 significant strikes and has absorbed 2.90 per minute.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 12: (L-R) Kevin Croom secures a guillotine choke against Roosevelt Roberts in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Out of Caceres’s 9 career finishes, 6 have been by submission and 3 by T/KO; Croom has 10 finishes by submission and 6 by T/KO. ‘The Hard-Hitting Hillibilly‘ showed his submission expertise on his debut performance.
Croom has underrated striking too and can very well end fights with his hands. But, he thrives on the grappling aspect of the game, and can lock up his opponents from any position, as is his versatility.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 29: (R-L) Alex Caceres punches Austin Springer in their featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 29, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Caceres is the younger fighter and has been fighting UFC caliber oppositions for almost a decade. Croom lacks that experience to fight on the grandest stage of all, and that can work against him in this fight. But, if he can establish his authority, and follow along with his game plan, he should come out victorious.
Final Prediction: Kevin Croom by submission
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