Preview: UFC on ESPN 53 Prelims

Featherweights

Steven Nguyen (9-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Jarno Errens (13-5-1, 0-2 UFC)

ODDS: Nguyen (-198), Errens (+164)

Two featherweights look for their first UFC win in this pairing. The third time was the charm for Nguyen, who earned his long-awaited UFC contract after two unsuccessful tries on Dana White’s Contender Series, losing in his first trip and winning via lackluster decision in his return. Nguyen has been a bit frustrating at times, as he is a fast and skilled striker who can wait too long to pick his spots, but he at least did well to keep landing offense and close the show when presented with a defensive void in A.J. Cunningham. Now finally on the UFC roster, Nguyen makes his debut proper against Errens, who looks to rebound from two straight losses. Errens has shown flashes in the UFC but little in the way of consistent success. The Dutchman can throw some creative strikes and land with power, but William Gomis was able to outwrestle him while Seung Woo Choi separated himself as the quicker striker. Errens’ willingness to mix things up with some takedowns might pay some dividends, but this looks like another fight where he can get beat to the literal punch by a faster fighter, even if Nguyen might not take things above the level of a simmer. The pick is Nguyen via decision.

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