Hunt’s UFC grappling > Hunt’s Pride FC and DREAM grappling:
Neither Hunt nor Reem will ever be Division-1 wrestlers like Cain Velasquez or Brock Lesnar or a BJJ wizard like Fabricio Werdum or Frank Mir. However, the two giants, Overeem in particular, possess decent grappling skills, enough to hold their own defensively against the division’s best grapplers.
Gone are the days when Hunt could be submitted by anyone and everyone since the Kiwi took his grappling-game to the next level after his UFC 119 loss to Sean McCorkle. After tagging Overeem on the feet in their first meeting in DREAM way back in 2008, the fight went to the mat and Reem caught Hunt in an Americana and tapped him out for the win. Nevertheless, the 2017 version of Hunt has excellent submission and takedown-defense- well, at least if you aren’t a juiced-up Brock Lesnar.
Overeem is no slouch on the ground, with 19 of his wins coming by way of submission. His grappling success can be attributed to top-notch athleticism as well as legitimate grappling skills as evidenced by his ADCC Submission wrestling credentials. If this fight goes to the ground, look for Reem to use his long limbs and throw up a variety of submission-attempts at Hunt.
Hunt on the other hand, is most likely to avoid the ground at all costs and try to sprawl and limp-leg his way out of his opponents’ takedown-attempts. Although he’s unlikely to throw a flying triangle or flying scissor heel-hook, look for the Super Samoan use hammer-fists to the side of Reem’s head, in order to get out of uncomfortable grappling exchanges. Who knows we may even get to see the infamous Samoan Atomic Butt-drop-
Sensei Tiger says: Grappling edge goes to Guilloreem Overeem.
