UFC Fight Night 94 fight card: Evan Dunham vs Rick Glenn full fight preview

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight scrappers Evan Dunham and Rick Glenn will duel this Saturday night (Sept. 17, 2016) at UFC Fight Night 94 on FOX Sports 1 inside State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. In a match up of UFC veteran and former regional champ, what adjustments must be made for either man to claim victory? Let's break it down.

At one point in time, Dunham was the next Lightweight contender, a finisher with a record of 11-1 whose sole loss was a controversial decision to a former champ. Dunham fell on hard times and suffered some tough losses (to great competition) from 2011-2013, but he stormed back hard last year with three straight victories. While this is Rick Glenn’s first appearance inside the Octagon, the lanky Featherweight held the World Series of Fighting strap just a couple of years ago. He may be moving up in weight for this short-notice opportunity, but Glenn is a very dangerous and skilled fighter nonetheless.

Let’s take a look at the keys to victory for both men:

Evan Dunham
Record: 15-6
Key Wins: Joe Lauzon (TUF 21 Finale), Gleison Tibau (UFC 156), Nik Lentz (UFC on FOX 2), Ross Pearson (UFC Fight Night 72)
Key Losses: Rafael dos Anjos (UFC on FX 8), Donald Cerrone (UFC 167), Edson Barboza (UFC Fight Night 45)
Keys to Victory: Dunham has been a well-rounded fighter for some time, but he's made great improvements to his striking recently. The southpaw is now throwing a ton of combinations, and it's really allowed him to be more effective with the rest of his game.

In this match up, Dunham definitely needs to be sharp. Glenn is a skilled and athletic fighter who's seven years younger, so Dunham really cannot afford to make any mistakes. Luckily, Dunham's combinations and takedowns should be a pretty serious threat to Glenn. Both men are Southpaws, which often results in some uglier exchanges, but Dunham's lengthier combinations should be very effective.

Additionally, Dunham shouldn't have too much problem getting in range for a takedown. Once in on a shot or clinch, Dunham can grind on the Featherweight, tiring him out and making things far easier for himself.

VS.

Rick Glenn
Record: 18-3-1
Key Wins: Georgi Karakhanyan (WSOF 10), Ramiro Hernandez (VFC 51), Johnny Case (MCC 29)
Key Losses: Lance Palmer (WSOF 16)
Keys to Victory: Glenn is a rather tall and lanky fighter, but he's not one to control his opponent from the edge of his range. Instead, Glenn likes to exchange hard punches and kicks, digs to the body well, and is especially violent from top position.

In this bout, Glenn's real advantage is likely power. He's finished 10 of his opponents via knockout, and moving up to Lightweight for this fight may not be a disadvantage. Glenn seems to have the style of boxing — a la Donald Cerrone — that is better suited for opponent's closer to his size, rather than faster men ducking in with overhands. To take advantage of his punching power and athleticism, Glenn needs to make this a war. Dunham may throw a lot of punches, but he's also a fairly hittable fighter. If Glenn is able to stand his ground and trade, he'll likely get the better of most exchanges.

Additionally, Glenn is in a great position to do damage if he's able to score a takedown or reverse from the bottom. Against another jiu-jitsu ace in Karakhanyan, Glenn was able to turn a single reversal into a dominating ground striking display and completely change the fight.

Bottom Line: Both men are well-rounded, aggressive, and tough. There’s a solid chance this will be a complete war.

After a few years away from contention, Dunham has successfully worked himself into the rankings. His opponent may be unknown to some UFC fans, but he’s a quality fighter that should grant Dunham a fair bit of forward momentum if he pulls off the win. Alternatively, a loss sets Dunham back quite a bit. He’ll likely lose his position to another Lightweight trying to make the climb, and at 34 years old he really can’t afford any more setbacks.

As for Glenn, this is a serious opportunity for him. Short-notice and up a weight class is not the ideal way to make a first impression, but the 27 year old has plenty of experience and should be in the prime of his career. With a win, Featherweight has a new contender. If Glenn does come up short, he still has a fairly blank slate at 145 lbs. awaiting him. That’s a stacked division already, and there are plenty of interesting fights available for "The Gladiator."

At UFC Fight Night 94, Evan Dunham and Rick Glenn will square off. Which fighter will have his hand raised?