Joey B/Fig
Taking a broad look at this fight the strengths and weaknesses of each man are clear. Joey B is higher paced more active fighter, mixing his attacks well, throwing in combinations and ending them with kicks. He lacks in power and physically is very small and short limbed. One thing for sure is that he's a scrambly little bastard. Fig on the other hand is big and long and powerful. He's lower on out put but his landed strikes count for more. His major weakness is the ground, once taken down (Which happens in most of his fights) he generally stays on the ground.
Joey B is an all rounder, his strong suit is probably in the scrambles, a greased dwarf is a tricky beast to control, but he also throws a low calf kick with some consistency in all of his recent fights. It's effective and lands without putting his chin in danger, but it is an attack that he seems to forget after the first round.
A major hole in Joey B's game is with his hand striking and his defence during. He jumps into his punches, chin up, full speed, zero defence, over and over. He is offering that chin on a plate and I am very surprised it hasn't been caught more often.
This is something that a precision striker like Fig should be able to exploite. He is lower out put choosing to be more selective with his strikes looking to land a bomb and follow up with a flurry when he gets a good connection.
This waiting can be his does fall at times, if he doesn't get the fight he wants he can end up waiting too much and time gets away from him, but when he connects he does so with big power.
He is open to being taken down, and once he is on the mat he is fairly ineffective. In the Formiga fight he did include a nice addition to his game from bottom, posting with one hand and landing slicing elbows with the other arm, causing a deep cut but he does little to escape or improve his position.
The power and physicality are on the side of Fig, the speed, volume of strikes and over all well roundedness are on Joey B's.
I think Joey B will be difficult for Fig to close down and catch, Joey B circles the cage constantly and avoids being backed up. If he can stick and move and time his takedowns I could see an almost easy night for Joey B. Things get difficult quickly if Fig is able to impose his physicality.He will be able to throw Joey around, his landed strikes will knock him off balance and be much more eye catching. Avoiding the power, especially early is key.
Fig doesn't start throwing until he's made reads and he will spend a large part of the first just fainting and trying to draw reactions. In his recent fights he has looked heavier on the lead leg which I think will leave him more vulnerable to the calf kicks of Joey B
I feel Joey B would do well to avoid fighting in the pocket and the boxing range as much as possible. His chin is there to be hit and a power hitter like Fig will not need many to crack it.
Attack the calf, circle away from the power hand and keep the level of risk low.
Over all I favour Joey B to move latterly, dart in and out with leg kicks and look for reactive takedowns, whenever the fight hits the mat it will be Joey B's world. In the early going Fig will be able to explode out from bottom position, but with regular takedowns and constantly chasing this explosion will fade.
Joey B is a round winner, a minuet winner, Fig is big moment fighter. A tough fight for both men, small mistakes from either can lead to huge problems.
I like Joey B to attack the leg and frustrate Fig with his constant motion and slipperyness. Early Fig takes the centre and controls with pressure, as his energy drops he's more willing to back up and give space. Wait out the first two, and then up the tempo and Fig will crumble.
As ever, Fig is live for the KO and I would be in no way surprised to see him stun and finish Joey B, especially in the early going.
Current lines are close and there is value either way you chose to go, but I see Joey B's price declining as the week goes on, if you plan to play him take him now.
I Joey B finish is low percentage, possibly a sub over a tired Fig.
I'll take Joey B by decision.