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UFC on FX 2: Thiago Alves Will Use His Size Advantage to Submit Martin Kampmann

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Both Martin Kampmann and Thiago Alves made weight for their fight on UFC on FX 2, but by the end of the night Alves' weight advantage will have broken down Kampmann's will and forced him to tap out.

Alves isn't known for winning fights by submission. He is actually a striker much like Kampmann who uses a mix of boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai to defeat his opponents. The fight might end up becoming a standing match with both men focusing on punching each other and little time spent on the ground.

If Alves is serious about becoming a contender in the welterweight division again, he won't let that happen the entire night. Alves showed a new side to himself his last fight out as he submitted his first opponent in his UFC tenure.

In fact, it was the first submission of his career, excluding the one he obtained via punches in a fight he had before entering the UFC.

Papy Abedi isn't the toughest opponent to try something new on, but it was a chance to see Alves uses his size and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills.

That isn't to say Kampmann can't submit his opponents either or that he is weak on the ground. Kampmann is a proficient grappler and has notched six submission victories in his career.

Kampmann's problem is his struggle against bigger opponents when on the mat. Though the fight with Jake Shields at UFC 121 was close, Shields' size helped him win the decision, even if it was dubious to some.

That is because having to fight mass and gravity is harder then having to dodge strikes. When evading punches, it takes a certain amount of energy to do it. It doesn't matter if the punch comes from Alistair Overeem or Urijah Faber—to sidestep it takes the same amount of effort.

Fighting someone larger while on the ground is trickier. Energy is sapped from the person who is on bottom and extra effort is taken just to get air in the lungs.

If Alves ends up on top of Kampmann, it will sap the Danish welterweight's stamina quickly.

Alves could stand and trade with Kampmann, but that caters to both of their talents when getting his opponent to the ground a stifling him would help Alves. Sooner or later he could find the opening to submit Kampmann and get the victory.

And Saturday night he will proving to everyone watching that he is evolving as a fighter and improving as a martial artist.

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