Defensively no, but we did see his wrestling against Pickett. We know he is comfortable wrestling a big guy like jaime. And him having grappling background means he had to defend takedowns during his wrestling days, means he has logged in massive hours of takedown defense, and state champion wrestler is a high prestige.
Brandon Allen was coming off a loss to Sean and went full focus on standup, he employed a solid leg kick to Sorianos lead leg , that was a good stradegy, that is just testiment to brendon allen having superior experience. He had been in more competitive fights and got himself a decision win. Nick doesn’t have that experience, nick doesn’t have the finish rate(against ufc talent), nick doesnt have the size, nick doesnt have the standup of even a Brendon Allen, can you honestly tell me what would happen to soriano if nick gets him down? You think he cant scramble back up? If Nick had submitted Cody and the dwcs guy i would rate his submission offense a threat to soriano, but he did not do that, his best submission wins are the following records: 1-3 , 1-11, 1-5, his tko wins 1-1 , 0-3
when you compare this to the ko wins of soriano”s against just Dusko alone, it out shines every thing nick has accomplished. Soriano has natural power, durability and combate tested. His lead hook and overhand right is the stuff you find commonly in somoan fighters like Hunt and David Tua, its why you see so many talented polynesians that get into boxing.