Yoo Learned The Wrong Lesson

Joo Sang Yoo says he expects Michael Aswell to survive 15 minutes. I think that is both sensible and slightly dangerous.

Yoo’s spectacular UFC debut suggested that “Zombie Jr.” was another Korean wrecking ball. Daniel Santos then delivered the unpleasant correction, stopping him in Round 2 after Yoo’s no-guard provocations turned the fight into exactly the kind of exchange he couldn’t afford.

Now Yoo says he is preparing specifically to win a decision against an opponent who has never been finished in 16 professional fights. That sounds mature. The question is whether the maturity survives Aswell making the fight irritating.

Yoo Refuses To Become Boring

Here is where I disagree with the comforting redemption narrative. Yoo admits the Santos defeat still affected him, but he has no intention of eliminating the showmanship that contributed to the problem. Asked about his no-guard provocations, he essentially said that’s who he is, and he will do it again if the moment arrives.

That is fascinating because Aswell is built to keep offering moments. He has landed 469 significant strikes across four UFC appearances, and all five of his professional losses have been by decision. He is 11-5 with six knockouts, but nobody has knocked him out or submitted him.

Bookmaker Sportsbook‘s opening line: Yoo -222, Aswell +185; Over 2.5 -205, Under 2.5 +172. Pick: Over 2.5 rounds (-205).

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Chan Sung Jung Changes The Corner

Yoo has made one substantial change: this is the first fight for which Chan Sung Jung has directly coached him.

Yoo says Jung helped address weaknesses and improve him physically, while his experience provides direction during camp. More revealingly, Yoo expects striking exchanges but specifically mentioned takedowns as another option when the fight becomes heated.

That is the version of Yoo worth backing: not a sanitized counterstriker, but one willing to interrupt Aswell’s pressure instead of proving something inside every pocket.

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Aswell Is Paid To Be Annoying

Aswell’s 1-3 UFC record undersells the problem he presents here. He works at sustained volume, remains durable and has considerably more Octagon time than Yoo. Yoo has fought only 5:49 in the UFC; Aswell has accumulated nearly 47 minutes.

I do not think Aswell is the better fighter. I do think he is almost perfectly designed to test whether Yoo actually absorbed the lesson he claims to have learned.

Minus 222 Asks The Wrong Question

Bookmaker Sportsbook‘s Yoo -222 assumes his cleaner offense and physical advantages will eventually separate him. I agree.

I dislike paying that price when the favorite has one UFC win, one UFC knockout loss and an 11-month layoff.

Fight prediction: Joo Sang Yoo by unanimous decision.

Betting lean: Over 2.5 rounds (-205).

Yoo himself expects the judges. Aswell has never been finished. For once, the boring bet is attached to the interesting fight.

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