UFC 140 preview: Patrick vs. Ebersole
Claude Patrick (14-1) vs. Brian Ebersole (48-14-1)
Two hot welterweight prospects will square off as Toronto native Patrick takes on his toughest opponent to date in 64-fight veteran Ebersole.
Patrick, 31, is riding a three-fight winning streak in the UFC, including decisions over Daniel Roberts and James Wilks.
Based at the Elite Training Center, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt is a slick grappler with an ability to control most opponents once the fight hits the canvas.
Ebersole, 31, is coming off wins over Dennis Hallman and Chris Lytle in UFC. A pupil of Frank Shamrock, the Indiana native has competed all over the globe since his mixed martial arts debut in 2000.
With the fans behind him and by implementing an intelligent game plan, Patrick could dictate how this fight plays out. If he can grind on Ebersole and turn this into a slow-paced grappling matchup, he should eke out a hard-fought decision in his hometown.
Verdict: Patrick via decision
