This Saturday night (August 16, 2014) Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweights Shawn Jordan and Jack May will battle on the main card of UFC Fight Night 47, airing live at 10 p.m. ET from Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine.
Last seen on the wrong end of a brutal Matt Mitrione knockout at March's The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "China" Finale,Jordan has lost two straight bouts after getting starched by Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 166.
Lately it's his opponent that have been going "Savage" on him, and the former Louisiana State University football player may be fighting for his Octagon life in Bangor.
Making his UFC debut at April's UFC on FOX 11 from Orlando, May suffered his first-ever mixed martial arts (MMA) defeat at the hands of rising beast Derrick Lewis.
He's a dangerous striker who could pose problems for Jordan's seemingly weak chin, yet "Savage" has fought much better competition at this point in his career.
This fight may turn out to be an unpredictable slugfest that could end in an instant. Let's take a look to the keys to victory for Jordan vs. May:
Shawn Jordan
Record: 15-6 overall, 3-3 UFC
Key Wins: Pat Barry (UFC 162), Mike Russow (UFC on FOX 6), Lavar Johnson (Strikeforce Challengers: Larkin vs. Rossborough), Derrick Lewis (Cajun Fighting Championships: Full Force)
Key Losses: Matt Mitrione (TUF: "China" Finale), Gabriel Gonzaga (UFC 166), Cheick Kongo (UFC 149)
Keys to Victory: A veteran of UFC, Strikeforce, and Bellator, Jordan is well traveled for a man of 29 years. He has also fought some dangerous talent throughout his five-year MMA career.
His fights are usually short and exciting, as 13 of his 21 total bouts have ended inside the first round. Living up to his "Savage" nickname, he's won 11 of his 15 total victories by knockout. However, he's also lost four of his six defeats by striking stoppage, a trend that has been becoming all too familiar as of late.
With May well known for his power punching, it may be in Jordan's best interest to drag this fight to the ground. He might be able to win a slugfest, but Jordan should maintain an advantage on the mat. He has three submission wins to his name, and May has never secured one of his own.
Because of that, Jordan should look to make this fight ugly and push May against the fence, searching for a takedown to get the action where he has a perceived edge.
That strategy might not win him any fans, but Jordan needs a victory in order to keep his job, so a wrestling-focused gameplan may be just what the doctor ordered in Maine.
Jack May
Record: 7-1 overall, 0-1 UFC
Key Wins: None
Keys Losses: Derrick Lewis (UFC on FOX 11)
Keys to Victory: With six knockout finishes in seven wins, it's no secret that May will come out strong looking to knock off Jordan's block. That strategy got him finished against Lewis, but he's found an opponent tailor-made for his skillset in Jordan.
If May can find Jordan's chin with a couple of well-timed shots early on, he could easily send "Savage" to his third straight knockout defeat.
But he'll most likely have to deal with some sort of grappling assault if the fight lasts past the opening minute, meaning that May needs to bring something more than a one-dimensional slugging gameplan at UFC Fight Night 47.
He's been training with noted submission expert Josh Barnett recently, so May could have added a new wrinkle to his game since his loss to Lewis. He's going to need it, because even in a relatively shallow division like heavyweight, being anything other than well rounded will see you swallowed up at this high of a level.
May is the taller fighter, so he'll be looking to keep the stout Jordan at bay with a bevy of power strikes. If he can beat "Savage" to the punch in Bangor, there's a good chance he'll score his biggest-ever win.
Given the striking power of both men, there's also an equal chance that he eats a huge haymaker and gets knocked out himself.
Bottom Line from Bangor: The bottom line for this fight is that it features two dangerous sluggers who have their backs up against a wall. After starting out his UFC career with some promise, Jordan has looked out of sorts in his last two appearances.
Although he was fighting two very solid heavyweights in those bouts, a third loss, especially by knockout, will probably see him earn a deserving release. "Savage" has to win, and he has to win now. He's received a step down in competition in the relatively unknown May, so UFC is giving him one last chance to perform.
This fight will tell us whether or not he can hang in the Octagon anymore.
May probably has less pressure on his shoulders because he's only had one UFC bout. He lost that fight, but Lewis has been steamrolling everyone he's faced as of late. Still, fighters who start out 0-2 in UFC usually don't last long, so May will need to fight with a degree of urgency.
His striking is where he wins most of his fights, but he could benefit by showing us a new aspect of his game with some grappling skill. If Jordan fights smart, he'll look to test May there.
However, both fighters love a slugfest, and there's no doubt that this one could violently and quickly. In fact, the odds are probably good that it does just that.
With high stakes on the line for each power hitter, expect a knockout in Maine. Or, get ready for a cage-riding snoozefest.
Shawn Jordan will take on Jack May in a battle of reeling heavyweights at UFC Fight Night 47. Who will pick up the big win to stay employed and fight on in the Octagon?