UFC 154 fight card primer: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Mark Bocek

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

The Bloody Elbow team gives you a brief preview of all the night's action from UFC 154 in Montreal, Quebec, including this lightweight showdown between Rafael dos Anjos and Canada's Mark Bocek.

The 2nd of 4 preliminary card bouts on FX is in the lightweight division, as Rafael dos Anjos (17-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC) of Brazil and Mark Bocek (11-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) of Canada seek to extend their respective winning streaks to 3. It's the first time dos Anjos has fought in Canada and the 5th time Bocek has competed in his home country under the UFC banner.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: With Nick Ring/Costa Philippou canceled, this fight is now on the PPV main card)

It should be a very good grappling matchup but both of these men are capable of effective striking, dos Anjos in particular has shown some striking power in his game. The FX card kicks off at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT before the live PPV broadcast at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT.

How do these two stack up?

dos Anjos: 29 years old | 5'9" | 71" reach
Bocek: 31 years old | 5'9" | 75" reach

What have these two done recently?

dos Anjos: W - Anthony Njokuani (UD) | W - Kamal Shalorus (SUB) | L - Gleison Tibau (SD)
Bocek: W - John Alessio (UD) | W - Nik Lentz (UD) | L - Benson Henderson (UD)

How did these two get here?

Rafael dos Anjos did not get off to the best of starts in the UFC, losing his first two fights including Jeremy Stephens' uppercut KO of the Brazilian at UFC 91. Since then, he's won 6 of his last 8, with those two losses against Clay Guida and Gleison Tibau. Rafael's biggest win of his career was a completely unexpected and violent knockout against then-contender George Sotiropoulos at UFC 132. His last fight was a decision win over Anthony Njokuani.

Bocek's first fight in the UFC came in 2007, a TKO loss to future lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. His last defeat was at UFC 129, a decision loss against current champion Benson Henderson. Of the four stoppage wins in his seven career UFC victories, three have come by rear naked-choke. He also sent Dustin Hazelett out of the UFC with a triangle-choke. His last two wins are unanimous decisions against John Alessio and Nik Lentz.

Why should you care?

This probably should've been on the main card. These are two talented lightweights "on the outside and looking in" who are trying to find a little bit of consistency on their way towards the upper tiers of the division.

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UFC 154 staff picks and predictions - Tim Burke

Johny Hendricks vs. Martin Kampmann Dissection - Dallas Winston

Tom Lawlor vs. Francis Carmont Dissection - Dallas Winston

Nick Ring vs. Costa Philippou Dissection - Dallas Winston

Mark Hominick vs. Pablo Garza Dissection - Dallas Winston

FX Prelims Card Dissections - Dallas Winston

Facebook Prelims Card Dissections - Dallas Winston

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