‘TUF 13’ Finale Preview: The Main Card

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Welterweights
Chris Cope vs. Chuck O'Neil

The Matchup: Losers in the Season 13 semi-finals, Cope and O’Neil are decidedly exciting overachievers. Both are very tall for the weight class -- 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-2, respectively -- and rely on conditioning and work rate to wear down opponents.

Both performed admirably in losing via stoppage in the show’s semis. Cope’s takedown defense and penchant for constantly chipping away at opponents in close can make him a frustrating guy to fight. O’Neil simply got worn down by the technically superior Tony Ferguson in his loss but showed a fair amount of evolved striking and decent boxing technique. He simply did not have the power to keep Ferguson from dialing in.

This one boils down to a match where both guys have much better chins than punching power, and since neither is a takedown artist, it figures to be an extended standup fight.

The Pick: Cope can be a little wild with shots from distance, so watch for O’Neil to use his height and better accuracy to pile up points and take a close decision.

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