UFC 284 is easily one of the most anticipated and hyped-up cards this year. Thus, to kick off the event, we will see some great fights in the early prelims as well. One of them happens to be a featherweight bout between Jack Jenkins and Don Shainis.
Arguably, the main highlight of the event will be lightweight champ Islam Makhachev taking on featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski. However, we also see Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett battle it out for the interim featherweight title in the co-main event of the evening. Despite a lack of big-name fighters on the card, many are slowly realizing how underrated the rest of the UFC 284 card really is.
Prior to the preliminary card, we will see Australia’s own Jack Jenkins (10-2) take on fellow UFC newcomer Don Shainis (12-4). Fighting in front of his friends and family, Jenkins will have even more motivation to put on a show. Following his win over Emiliano Linares at Dana White’s Contender Series last year, Jack could not have gotten a better opportunity to make his UFC debut.
Facing him we have Don Shainis, a relatively new addition to the UFC roster. Unfortunately for Don, he was thrown in against one of the best featherweight prospects in Sodiq Yussuf. On the night, Sodiq gave Don a not-so-warm welcome to the UFC, submitting him within 30 seconds of the first round. Thus, you can expect Don to prove a point with his performance this time around
UFC 284 Early Prelims: Jenkins vs Shainis Head-to-Head Stats
Stats | Jack Jenkins | Don Shainis |
---|---|---|
Wins | 10 | 12 |
Losses | 2 | 4 |
Height | 1.7 m | 1.68 m |
Division | Featherweight | Featherweight |
Reach | 1.73m | 1.7m |
Age | 29 | 32 |
Jack Jenkins vs Don Shainis: Fight Breakdown and Prediction
Coming into the fight, Jack Jenkins is a sizeable favorite to win the fight. Fighting in his hometown and coming off 7 straight wins, the situation couldn’t be more suitable for “Phar Jack”. Speaking about the fight, Jenkins has revealed that fans can expect constant pressure and aggression from him, as he tries to close out the fight with a finish, as soon as possible.
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Hailed as a kickboxing prodigy by some, Jenkins has gained tons of experience sparring with Alex Volkanovski. Although he has been labeled as a one-trick pony for his striking skill, we have also seen him try to integrate wrestling and grappling into his game as well.
On the other hand, Shainis is also a heavy-handed striker. Although his striking may not be as polished as Jack’s, he does arguably possess more power than the Aussie.
If the bout goes to an all-out firefight, expect Jenkins to showcase his Muay Thai skills and deliver a highlight performance. At the same time, he must be wary of Don’s power and try to maintain his distance, whilst throwing his shots. For the most part, “Shameless” Shainis‘ best route to victory would be to try and throw the Australian off his rhythm and capitalize on any opening he gets. With that said, Jenkins probably takes this one.