UFC Vegas 26: Maurice Greene vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima Fight Preview and Breakdown

Two massive heavyweights will meet in the octagon on Saturday night with the hopes of taking one step closer to being ranked. Maurice Greene vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima has the potential for either fighter to earn $50k in the blink of an eye. Lima was once considered a promising prospect in the Light Heavyweight division. After gaining experience and going up in weight to Heavyweight, Lima found himself reinvented and ready to make some noise in the new division. He now finds himself against the always dangerous “Crochet Boss” Maurice Greene.

Greene has had his ups-and-downs in the UFC, but one thing has remained the same; you will rarely find his fights going to decision. Six of Greene’s seven UFC fights have ended by finish and you can be ensured he will be looking for another one on Saturday night. Do not let his record fool you, because Greene continues to show flashes of future contender potential. Sixteen of these fighters combined eighteen UFC fights have ended by a finish. So whatever you do, DON’T BLINK. Check out the full Maurice Greene vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima below!

Maurice Greene vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima Background

Maurice “The Crochet Boss” Greene (9-5, 4-3 UFC) was first introduced to UFC fans on The Ultimate Fighter 28. Greene showed his genuine personality and impressive skills that made him a standout throughout the season. He ended up losing before the finals, but still got signed to the UFC after TUF was over. After being signed to the UFC, Greene started off his career with a 3-0 start. Unfortunately, his momentum slowed down after losing three of his last four fights. The 34-year old looks to get right back on track with a win over American Top Team’s Marcos Rogerio de Lima.

Marcos “Pezao” Rogerio de Lima (17-7-1, 6-5 UFC) got signed to the UFC after being featured on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3. Lima originally competed in the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division, before moving up to Heavyweight. Since joining the heavyweight division, Lima has displayed improves striking and cardio, which has led to his 2-2 record. Lima’s last fight was a loss Alexander Romanov, which is one of the toughest grapplers in the whole division. He will now have a chance to find himself back in the win column with a win over “The Crochet Boss”.

Maurice Greene vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima Fight Breakdown

Maurice Greene vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima will feature a contrast in fight styles. Since joining the UFC in 2014, Lima’s inability to pull together a winning streak is due to his lack of submission defense. All five of his UFC losses have come from submission and it seems to be a focal point in his opponent’s preparation. With that being said, his striking continues to improve as four of his six UFC wins have come by KO/TKO. If Lima can display better submission defense and avoid getting tired, then he will have every tool needed to come out victorious at UFC Vegas 26.

On the other side of the octagon, Maurice Greene excels in the area Lima struggles the most. Greene uses his dominant power and sneaky BJJ to create a threat for anyone willing to grapple with him. Before you lock in your bets, it should be noted that two of Greene’s three UFC losses were by KO/TKO.

Greene will need to find a way to avoid Lima’s massive power by initiating the clinch early and often. When Greene ultimately gets Lima to the ground, he will have the opportunity to steal this moment away from Lima. Only time will tell who will come out on top, but make sure you are aware of how dangerous Maurice Greene can be at his best.

Maurice Greene vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima Final Thoughts

The biggest factor in this fight is who can control the distance. Lima needs to use his jab to keep away from grappling exchanges while he looks for openings to land power shots. Greene needs to avoid the devastating power of Lima and get this fight to the ground as soon as possible. Despite being older, Lima comes in as a -190 betting favorite with Greene as a +160 underdog. Lima should be able to pull out the win, but Greene’s grappling advantage gives him some major value at +160.

How do you see Maurice Greene vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima playing out? Drop your predictions in the comments below!

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Maurice Greene vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima