Evgeniy Prudnyk vs Tim Bresnan will be an interesting fight. We all were surprised when Prudnyk beat Bresnan at 2013 Nemiroff but we all know that it was an overall category confrontation.
I saw Prudnyk pulling EAC where he had very hard time to beat Spartak Zoloev who was in a great shape there. I believe that Tim Bresnan is a stronger puller than Spartak Zoloev but it is very hard to judge the things in such way. I am not sure if Prudnyk can beat Bresnan with an outside move especially in a fresh bout. IMO the way that he pulled against Spartak will be the way to pull against Bresnan. He will dive into a fully supinated bicep hook to block and tire Bresnan out. It is not that easy to beat Bresnan in such way as he does not care to toproll his opponents wrist but can directly go to pin pad. He is able to use his pronator as a defensive block and go to pin pad as he has succesfully done to Brzenk and Larratt a few times in the past when they tried to hook him.
I believe that it is all about if Prudnyk being able to stop Tim's pinning move after the go. If he can stop him then he will have a chance to beat him. The longer the fight goes better chance Prudnyk will have as he is young and has great endurance to even tire out Hadzimurat Zoloev. I dont know the shapes that athletes will be in but as far as what Tim Bresnan wrote about himself and what I saw in Bulgaria in last EAC in my opinion Tim Bresnan has the edge but I am not sure the shape that I saw Prudnyk will be the same in Vegas. I expect him to be stronger and cause problems to Bresnan but I still believe that Tim has the edge as he will not underestimate Prudnyk especially after his loss against him in 2013 Nemiroff.
Prudnyk's tall forearms will be an advantage to reach far enough to block Tim's pronator but when we think of Tim's performance against Larratt who has even taller arms than Prudnyk's then I don’t think it will bother Tim so much. I believe that the fresh fights will be under the Tim’s control but not sure if he will be able to finish Prudnyk quickly. If Bresnan can win a couple of rounds quickly then the best Prudnyk can do is to tie the fight 3-3. I have given Bresnan vs Larratt superfight that happenned in Canada but I must also mention that Prudnyk is faster than Devon and he can position himself and apply his power before he gets pinned.
On my mind there is no doubt that Tim will attack and Prudnyk will try to stop the bout and try to tire Tim but I may be mistaking as well.
Soon we will find out the outcome of such an evenly duel that is set in Vegas in July.
Engin Terzi