Christian Strong, USA, 9-1
Pros:
-Strong wrestling
-Takedown entries
-Physically strong
-Chain wrestles
-Steady pressure
-Solid cardio
-Positional grappling
Cons:
-Limited striking/Repetitive
-Lacks top control
-Squared shoulders
Of all the exciting prospects this season, I found Strong one of the toughest watches. He’s primarily a wrestler with limited finishing ability. While he does have five finishes on his record, they came against opponents with records of 3-3, 7-13, 3-4, and 0-15. He did have a breakthrough performance in his last outing, stopping Ali Wasuk in the fourth round, but Wasuk isn’t exactly a high-level opponent.
His style isn’t eye-catching, but it’s very effective. Strong comes from a wrestling background, and that’s evident throughout his game. Some of his entries aren’t particularly clean, partly because his striking isn’t much of a threat. That said, he does show good timing on his takedowns, especially when opponents commit to punches or overextend. He can have his shots stuffed, but he’s never deterred and consistently looks to wrestle.
On the mat, Strong does some good things, particularly with outside wrist control and leg rides. However, a lack of shoulder pressure and hip pressure often allows opponents to work their way back to their feet. Fortunately for him, he can wrestle at a high pace without fading.
His striking is very basic. It’s mostly a jab and a right hand. He does a decent job of timing his right hand over an opponent’s jab, but there isn’t much depth to his stand-up game. The best thing he does is maintain pressure. Even if his striking isn’t especially effective, he forces opponents to work off their back foot and gradually slows them down.
Ultimately, I see Strong struggling in the house. He’s far from the best striker in the field and arguably not even the best wrestler. His style feels better suited for three- or five-round fights than a short exhibition format.
