Anheliger vs Koslow: A Knockout Puncher Meets a Submission-Only Grappler

Few matchups on the Edmonton card offer a starker statistical contrast. Chad Anheliger, the Canadian bantamweight known as "The Monster," is 13-8 with seven knockout wins. Steven Koslow, the American who goes by "Obi Won Shinobi The Pillow," is 6-1 and has never won any way other than by submission. Neither is ranked, but neither leaves any doubt about what he wants to do. UFC Fight Night comes to Rogers Place on Saturday, Oct. 17, with the card opening at 3 p.m. local time and the main card at 6 p.m.

Anheliger's game lives on the feet. Seventy-two percent of his significant strikes land standing, and he connects on 46% of what he throws, landing 3.11 per minute while absorbing 2.76. His knockdown average of 0.51 is the number Koslow has to respect most; Koslow's is zero. Beyond the seven knockouts, Anheliger has three submission wins and six first-round finishes. The soft spot is his takedown defense: he stops only 38% of attempts.

That is exactly where Koslow wants to go. All six of his pro wins came by submission, and all six ended in the first round. In the UFC he averages 5.28 takedowns per 15 minutes, has completed 5 of 9 attempts (56%) and tries 1.06 submissions per 15 minutes, roughly double Anheliger's 0.51. His striking numbers are the flip side: 0.77 significant strikes landed per minute against 3.73 absorbed, with 40% striking defense. He does have the frame for range work, standing 5-foot-7.5 to Anheliger's 5-foot-6, and his 69-inch reach gives him a 4.5-inch edge.

Twelve years separate them, 38 to 26, yet their UFC fights last almost exactly as long on average: 14:44 for Anheliger, 14:13 for Koslow. Anheliger needs to keep it standing, where his accuracy and power do the talking. Koslow needs to close the distance and drag the fight to the mat, where every one of his wins has come. It all comes down to one question: can Anheliger land something heavy before Koslow gets in on his legs and tests that 38% takedown defense?

A style clash this stark is one to see in person. Get your seat: UFC Fight Night Edmonton tickets for Oct. 17.