Here we go again. Another evening of fights! This is shaping up to be a good one because there are no middleweights on the card!
Ilias Bulaid vs. Erick Visconde
Ilias Bulaid is an orthodox Dutch-style kickboxer with a very kick-heavy game. He pressures hard, attacks the legs and body especially well, and mixes in knees and some spinning attacks without being afraid to really commit to them. He’s 9-0 in MMA and has finished his last two fights in the first round.
Erick Visconde is a shorter, explosive featherweight who’s become much more comfortable striking, but he still has a strong grappling base underneath it. He can be pretty low-volume on the feet, throws some wide power shots and spinning attacks, and has six submission wins if the fight gets to the ground. He’s won four straight and most recently captured the LFA featherweight title.
I find Bulaid to be the cleaner striker of the two, but he’ll be facing a fighter with a more well-rounded game. Why does this dude spin all the time? The odds show this is basically a pick ‘em, but I’m picking Bulaid.
Aieza Ramos Bertolso vs. Camila Reynoso
Aieza Ramos Bertolso is a long, well-rounded strawweight, but grappling is clearly her best area. She’s good at working into top position, scrambles well and is constantly hunting submissions, while also having a pretty useful kicking and clinch game on the feet. She’s 7-0 as a pro, the LFA champion, and has four submission wins.
Camila Reynoso is an aggressive, tough strawweight who keeps a good pace and is comfortable mixing striking with grappling. She likes to scramble and hunt finishes on the ground, but she can also put combinations together and has four TKOs on her record. She’s won three straight, most recently finishing Maria Luiza late in the third round.
I don’t think this takes much analysis, especially if you watch the tape. I think Bertolso is the better fighter.
Ian Escuza vs. Luca Borando
Ian Escuza is an orthodox Muay Thai-style striker with a high guard who likes to pressure into mid-to-close range. He throws nasty calf and body kicks, hits hard in the pocket and gets especially dangerous when he has someone trapped near the fence. He’s 7-0 and has finished every pro fight in the first round.
Luca Borando is another Muay Thai-heavy striker, but he fights a little looser and generally throws more volume. He attacks the body well and is particularly nasty in the clinch with knees and elbows. He’s won five straight by stoppage and most recently finished Leandro Camargo with an elbow.
Interesting fight. I like this one, but Borando is younger and taller, which should only help his style. It could go to a decision, but I think he can get a lot of work done in the clinch, more than people think. Cut ‘em up.
Adama Diop vs. Zaurbek Sabanov
Adama Diop is a big, aggressive heavyweight with legitimate punching power and a background in Senegalese wrestling. His striking can get pretty wild, but he moves surprisingly well for his size and is at his most dangerous when he can drag someone into a brawl. He’s won five straight and most recently stopped Matunga Djikasa to win the EFC heavyweight title.
Zaurbek Sabanov is a big, athletic heavyweight who leans heavily on wrestling and top control. He likes to use explosive strikes to get himself inside, then work cage takedowns and ground-and-pound, although he’ll also throw things like spinning kicks and flying knees. He’s undefeated and has knocked out four of his five opponents.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! This is what I love and hate about heavyweight. Adama Diop sucks, but so does the heavyweight division. Sabanov knows how to actually throw a punch, and Adama… idk what he’s doing. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that a man that size throwing limbs at that speed can put anyone in danger at heavyweight.
Loai Abushaar vs. George Staines
Loai Abushaar is a massive lightweight at 6’4” who likes using that length to strike from the outside. He has real power, keeps his hands fairly high and is also dangerous with front-headlock submissions, especially the guillotine and D’Arce. All seven of his wins have been finishes, and he’s won four straight.
George Staines is a very complete lightweight with a strong wrestling and grappling base. He pressures well, chains takedowns together, scrambles extremely well and is constantly looking to take the back, while his striking is more about clean volume and staying defensively responsible than huge power. He’s 10-0 as a pro after an excellent 16-1 amateur run and is coming off a second-round submission of Conor McCarthy.
Being 6’4” at this weight class should be illegal, but it has given him a lot of advantages in both striking and submissions. Staines is going to have to proceed with caution. I’m a bit surprised the odds are this far in Staines’ favor. I’m guessing that mostly has to do with his amateur career and Abushaar’s shaky striking defense at times. How old is Abushaar? Tapology doesn’t say, but Sherdog lists him at 30.
IDK, man. Tougher one for me to choose, but I do think having a strong amateur career is always helpful. Boxing has a much clearer track record of that translating to the pros than MMA does, but it’s still something I value. Let’s roll with Staines to make good choices and win a decision.
