Karl Williams vs Chase Sherman 5/13/2023 Picks, Analysis and Previews
Karl Williams will enter the Octagon with Chase Sherman at UFC Charlotte on Saturday, May 13, 2023. The Moneyline has Williams coming in at -400 while Sherman is at +310.
As the Octagon locks close, Karl Williams steps in with a professional record of 8 wins and 1 loss. He’s 33 years of age, weighs 235 pounds, and stands tall at 6 feet and 3 inches. The orthodox fighter boasts an impressive 79-inch reach. Across from him stands Chase “The Vanilla Gorilla” Sherman, who measures in at 6’4″ and weighs 250 pounds. Sherman has a professional record of 16 wins and 11 losses and possesses a 78-inch arm span.
Williams connects an average of 2.07 significant strikes per minute, while Sherman has a higher output of 6.30 significant strikes per minute. Williams boasts a better accuracy rate of 61% compared to Sherman’s 46%. On the defensive side, Williams only allows 0.90 significant strikes per minute, while “The Vanilla Gorilla” absorbs a staggering 6.85 significant strikes per minute. Williams also showcases a 53% significant strike defense, while Sherman defends against 51% of the strikes thrown his way.
Regarding wrestling, Karl Williams is considered the more proficient wrestler of the two, averaging 5.50 takedowns per 3 rounds. He has a high success rate of 68% when finishing his takedown attempts and an impressive defense rate of 85% against takedowns by his opponents. Meanwhile, Chase Sherman is able to take his opponents down 50% of the time and has a 66% takedown defense rate. In terms of submission skills, Williams has attempted 0.7 submissions per 3 rounds, showing his capability in this aspect of the game, while Sherman attempts 0.5 submissions per 15 minutes.
Karl Williams vs Chase Sherman 5/13/2023 Picks, Analysis and Previews
Karl Williams battled Lukasz Brzeski in his previous bout and won via unanimous decision in the third round. Brzeski managed to land 49 of the 72 strikes he threw in the fight, while Williams landed 120 of his 168 total strikes. Brzeski connected on 56% of his significant strikes, landing 26 out of 46, with 19 of them aimed at the head. Williams, on the other hand, landed 65% of his significant strikes, landing 38 out of 58, with 31 of them aimed at the head. The majority of significant strikes landed by both fighters were thrown from a distance, with 84% of Brzeski and 57% of Williams’ significant strikes being thrown from a distance.
In his recent duel inside the Octagon, Chase Sherman faced off against Waldo Cortes-Acosta and ended up losing via a unanimous decision in the third round. Cortes-Acosta had a remarkable 96% significant strike accuracy at a distance, while Sherman landed all of his significant strikes at a distance. Sherman landed only 37% of his significant strikes thrown, connecting on 66 out of 177 attempts, with 25 of those aimed at the head. On the other hand, Cortes-Acosta connected on 147 of his 278 significant strikes, with 124 of those aimed at the head, showcasing a significant strike accuracy of 56%. In terms of total strikes attempted in the fight, Cortes-Acosta landed 149 of his 282 attempts, while Sherman only landed 73 of his 187 thrown strikes.
This will be the 15th appearance of Chase Sherman in the UFC with a record of 16 wins and 11 losses. While his UFC record of 4-10 isn’t anything to write home about, he has gained respect from the UFC brass for his fighting spirit and willingness to leave everything in the Octagon. After returning for his second stint in the UFC, he has struggled with a 2-5 record, but managed to snap a four-fight losing streak with a TKO win over Jared Vanderaa in 2022. Unfortunately, his momentum was short-lived as he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta in November of the same year.
Karl Williams vs Chase Sherman. The bout between Karl Williams and Chase Sherman was initially scheduled for UFC 287 but was postponed when Sherman withdrew on the day of the fight. The delay works in Williams’ favor, giving him more time to prepare for the bout. Williams’ path to victory is clear – he needs to play it safe and grind out a win. To do this, he must utilize his superior wrestling skills to take Sherman down and keep him there. Although Sherman is a dangerous striker with fast hands, his weakness lies in his takedown defense, which is only at 66%. Williams can capitalize on this weakness with his own wrestling skills, power, and athleticism. While Sherman’s knockout potential and experience may make him an appealing bet, the odds are against him.
Prediction: Williams via Decision
Date: Saturday 13th May 2023 – 18:00 start (UK)
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina (US)
TV: ABC 4 on BT Sport 2
Streaming of UFC on ABC 4: BT Sport website
