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Wilson Reis is on the card as well, sure, but he was never a threat to DJ in the slightest. Looking up and down the flyweight ranks, there are really only two guys that can threaten DJ's reign: Horiguchi (is still very young, explosive and recently moved to an elite camp) and Justin Scoggins. I feel the latter has kind of flown under the radar a bit since that losing streak two years back. If you examine those losses further, he shouldn't have. For starters, most agree that Scoggins won the Ortiz fight. A majority of media outlets scored it for him, as did a vast majority of the fan voters. Those who tuned in for the Moraga fight know he was winning every second of it prior to the finish. Otherwise, he hasn't lost a single round in his career. He put on an MMA clinic in his last fight against Ray Borg.
I think he already matches up better against DJ than anyone in the division. His striking is extremely diverse and unpredictable; kicking-wise, he's one of the pound-for-pound best. His wrestling is also very good, both offensively and defensively. The sub loss to Moraga was a bit embarrassing, but he has consistently shown excellent guard-passing and control. He almost hit an armbar from guard against a good pressure grappler in Ortiz.
If Scoggins goes in there and beats Ian as decisively as he did Borg, it would be a huge statement. And, if I'm being honest here, I believe he's just scratching the surface.
I think he already matches up better against DJ than anyone in the division. His striking is extremely diverse and unpredictable; kicking-wise, he's one of the pound-for-pound best. His wrestling is also very good, both offensively and defensively. The sub loss to Moraga was a bit embarrassing, but he has consistently shown excellent guard-passing and control. He almost hit an armbar from guard against a good pressure grappler in Ortiz.
If Scoggins goes in there and beats Ian as decisively as he did Borg, it would be a huge statement. And, if I'm being honest here, I believe he's just scratching the surface.