Career Averages - Caolán Loughran
Career Averages - Angel Pacheco
Caolán Loughran - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Fletcher | 0 | 59 of 100 | 59% | 114 of 158 | 1 of 7 | 14% | 0 | 0 | 4:14 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 30 of 84 | 35% | 65 of 128 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 5:58 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathan Fletcher | 0 | 15 of 38 | 39% | 20 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 12 of 36 | 33% | 24 of 48 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 2:06 | |
| 2 | Nathan Fletcher | 0 | 20 of 26 | 76% | 64 of 73 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 3:31 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 3 of 14 | 21% | 14 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 | |
| 3 | Nathan Fletcher | 0 | 24 of 36 | 66% | 30 of 42 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 15 of 34 | 44% | 27 of 54 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:09 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Fletcher | 59 of 100 | 59% | 41 of 79 | 12 of 15 | 6 of 6 | 25 of 57 | 33 of 40 | 1 of 3 |
| Caolán Loughran | 30 of 84 | 35% | 22 of 67 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 4 | 24 of 75 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathan Fletcher | 15 of 38 | 39% | 8 of 31 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 11 of 30 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 3 |
| Caolán Loughran | 12 of 36 | 33% | 9 of 27 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 3 | 11 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Nathan Fletcher | 20 of 26 | 76% | 18 of 23 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 6 | 17 of 20 | 0 of 0 |
| Caolán Loughran | 3 of 14 | 21% | 3 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 10 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Nathan Fletcher | 24 of 36 | 66% | 15 of 25 | 7 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 21 | 13 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
| Caolán Loughran | 15 of 34 | 44% | 10 of 28 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 30 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Nathan Fletcher, expressing strong dislike for Caolán Loughran's fighting style and personality. He criticizes Loughran for being non-committal, low volume, and failing to use his skills. Fletcher is described as a pressure fighter with good cardio and a never-quit attitude. Angelo expects the fight to go to decision due to Loughran's hesitance.
Brady thinks Loughran has a striking advantage and can take down Fletcher, despite Loughran's poor performance against Jake Hadley. He notes Fletcher gets reversed often and was controlled by Conor O'Malley. Brady expects a competitive fight but picks Loughran to win by decision.
The host notes that Loughran has improved tremendously since their amateur fight six years ago, and his strength and physicality will shut down Fletcher's grappling. He expects Loughran to keep Fletcher on the defensive and grind out a win.
The Guru is confident in Nathan Fletcher, praising his fluidity, head movement, and grappling compared to Loughran's stiffness. He describes Loughran as a 'Marvin Vettori of bantamweight'—tough but non-fluid and hittable. He believes Fletcher's better defense, reach advantage, and dynamic scrambles will be decisive. He expects Fletcher to win, possibly by decision or submission.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Hadley | 0 | 81 of 154 | 52% | 107 of 181 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 66 of 181 | 36% | 68 of 188 | 1 of 8 | 12% | 0 | 0 | 1:47 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jake Hadley | 0 | 27 of 48 | 56% | 27 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 19 of 41 | 46% | 19 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jake Hadley | 0 | 24 of 49 | 48% | 36 of 62 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 22 of 67 | 32% | 24 of 73 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1:14 | |
| 3 | Jake Hadley | 0 | 30 of 57 | 52% | 44 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 25 of 73 | 34% | 25 of 74 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:33 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Hadley | 81 of 154 | 52% | 35 of 106 | 13 of 15 | 33 of 33 | 78 of 150 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Caolán Loughran | 66 of 181 | 36% | 33 of 136 | 18 of 29 | 15 of 16 | 64 of 178 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jake Hadley | 27 of 48 | 56% | 6 of 27 | 7 of 7 | 14 of 14 | 27 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Caolán Loughran | 19 of 41 | 46% | 8 of 27 | 9 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 19 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jake Hadley | 24 of 49 | 48% | 11 of 36 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 9 | 22 of 47 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Caolán Loughran | 22 of 67 | 32% | 13 of 52 | 4 of 9 | 5 of 6 | 21 of 66 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Jake Hadley | 30 of 57 | 52% | 18 of 43 | 2 of 4 | 10 of 10 | 29 of 55 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Caolán Loughran | 25 of 73 | 34% | 12 of 57 | 5 of 8 | 8 of 8 | 24 of 71 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Caolán Loughran due to the size advantage, as Jake Hadley is moving up on short notice. He notes that Loughran will use his size to bully Hadley against the cage and slow the pace. Angelo acknowledges that Hadley is the better technical striker but believes the weight difference and Loughran's pressure will be decisive. He also mentions a potential plus 3.5 round bet on Hadley.
Cody picks Caolán Loughran, citing his physicality, pressure, and durability. He notes that Jake Hadley has looked defeated in recent fights, has poor cardio, and is moving up on short notice. Cody believes Loughran's constant forward pressure and takedowns will overwhelm Hadley, who has shown no ability to overcome adversity.
Daniel picks Caolán Loughran, citing his physical strength and the fact that Hadley is moving up a weight class on short notice. He notes Hadley has been inconsistent and struggled in his last two fights, and doesn't think he'll fare better against a stronger opponent.
Daniel thinks Caolán Loughran is the more physical fighter who can bully Jake Hadley with takedowns and top control. He notes Hadley's takedown defense issues and Loughran's durability, though Loughran is hittable. He picks Loughran to win by grinding out a decision.
Paul also picks Loughran, noting that Hadley's pace is unsustainable and that Loughran's volume (140 significant strikes in his last fight) will be too much. He believes Hadley will get outmuscled and that Loughran's wrestling and pressure will secure the win.
The MMA Guru picks Caolán Loughran, calling Jake Hadley's decision to take this fight on short notice 'awful.' He believes Loughran will have a significant size and strength advantage, being a natural bantamweight, while Hadley is a small flyweight. The Guru notes that Hadley has been 'wet blanketed' by larger grapplers before and expects Loughran to dominate with his grappling. He thinks Hadley's submission skills won't be enough to overcome the weight difference.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 88 of 234 | 37% | 95 of 241 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 140 of 268 | 52% | 148 of 286 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 4:42 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caolán Loughran | 0 | 46 of 129 | 35% | 46 of 129 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 35 of 89 | 39% | 35 of 89 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Caolán Loughran | 0 | 17 of 38 | 44% | 21 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 51 of 89 | 57% | 59 of 107 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:19 | |
| 3 | Caolán Loughran | 0 | 25 of 67 | 37% | 28 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 54 of 90 | 60% | 54 of 90 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caolán Loughran | 88 of 234 | 37% | 44 of 180 | 32 of 38 | 12 of 16 | 80 of 226 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Angel Pacheco | 140 of 268 | 52% | 112 of 226 | 18 of 30 | 10 of 12 | 97 of 208 | 9 of 10 | 34 of 50 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caolán Loughran | 46 of 129 | 35% | 18 of 97 | 19 of 20 | 9 of 12 | 46 of 129 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Angel Pacheco | 35 of 89 | 39% | 29 of 76 | 5 of 11 | 1 of 2 | 35 of 89 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Caolán Loughran | 17 of 38 | 44% | 9 of 27 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Angel Pacheco | 51 of 89 | 57% | 47 of 83 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 37 | 1 of 2 | 34 of 50 | |
| 3 | Caolán Loughran | 25 of 67 | 37% | 17 of 56 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 61 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Angel Pacheco | 54 of 90 | 60% | 36 of 67 | 11 of 15 | 7 of 8 | 46 of 82 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo leans Caolán Loughran despite criticizing his debut. He thinks Loughran's wrestling and constant leg-diving can grind out a win against Angel Pacheco, who lacks one-punch power. He notes Loughran's takedown accuracy is poor but believes he can keep Pacheco against the cage. He avoids betting at -300.
Cody likes Loughran's physical strength, wrestling, and youth. He thinks Loughran will take Pacheco down and control him, noting Pacheco's lack of takedown defense and recent close fight with Danny Silva.
Loughran has relentless grappling and pressure, training at Team Kaobon with Mike Grundy. Pacheco showed heart but was outclassed on the Contender Series; his competition level is low. Loughran should overpower Pacheco in the clinch and on the ground, controlling the fight. Pacheco may land some shots but Loughran's wrestling and strength will be too much. Prediction: Loughran by decision, but could finish.
Paul agrees, seeing Loughran as a strong wrestler who can exploit Pacheco's weaknesses. He expects Loughran to win by decision or ground control, though the -350 price is not enticing.
The host picks Caolán Loughran to win dominantly via grappling. He believes Loughran will be able to get to his dominant positions and out-explode Pacheco early. He notes that Loughran's stand-up is not great, but Pacheco will be there in the pocket, opening up takedown opportunities. He predicts a TKO or submission in round one or two.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Lapilus | 0 | 84 of 163 | 51% | 87 of 166 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 48 of 132 | 36% | 70 of 166 | 2 of 11 | 18% | 0 | 0 | 6:26 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taylor Lapilus | 0 | 30 of 57 | 52% | 31 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 19 of 57 | 33% | 20 of 58 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:47 | |
| 2 | Taylor Lapilus | 0 | 19 of 37 | 51% | 19 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 28 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:55 | |
| 3 | Taylor Lapilus | 0 | 35 of 69 | 50% | 37 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 21 of 54 | 38% | 22 of 55 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:44 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Lapilus | 84 of 163 | 51% | 59 of 133 | 18 of 23 | 7 of 7 | 76 of 150 | 7 of 12 | 1 of 1 |
| Caolán Loughran | 48 of 132 | 36% | 28 of 100 | 13 of 23 | 7 of 9 | 44 of 125 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taylor Lapilus | 30 of 57 | 52% | 25 of 51 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 27 of 52 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
| Caolán Loughran | 19 of 57 | 33% | 11 of 44 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 3 | 17 of 53 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Taylor Lapilus | 19 of 37 | 51% | 9 of 25 | 6 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 16 of 32 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Caolán Loughran | 8 of 21 | 38% | 5 of 14 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Taylor Lapilus | 35 of 69 | 50% | 25 of 57 | 7 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 33 of 66 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Caolán Loughran | 21 of 54 | 38% | 12 of 42 | 4 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 20 of 52 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo has a slight lean towards Caolán Loughran, trusting his forward pressure and wrestling. He compares Loughran's grit to Erin Blanchfield's. He notes Taylor Lapilus has clean striking but Loughran can march forward and stay in his face. Angelo is waiting for prop bets before betting.
Big Brady picks Lapilus, impressed by his striking, takedown defense, and toughness. He notes Lapilus' previous UFC experience and superior competition compared to Loughran. He expects Lapilus to be the better striker and not be taken down, winning a decision. He questions Loughran's decision to take this tougher fight.
Cody picks Lapilus, highlighting his experience (3-1 in UFC previously), excellent kicks, defensive skills, high ring IQ, and cardio. He notes Loughran is undefeated but his competition has been weak, including opponents with losing records. Lapilus has wins over Nate Maness and Wilson Reis, while Loughran's best wins are against unproven fighters. Cody believes Lapilus's defensive grappling and takedown ability will be key.
Daniel Levi picks Taylor Lapilus, stating that Lapilus is a dynamic kickboxer who should light up Loughran on the feet. He notes that Loughran is a stationary target with poor defense and that Lapilus has the experience and skill advantage. Levi warns that Lapilus sometimes has low output and lets opponents back into fights, but he believes Lapilus will pick Loughran apart as long as he doesn't play with his food. He also mentions that Loughran's path to victory is via takedowns and back takes, which have troubled Lapilus in the past.
I'm going with Lapilus here. He has a speed and distance striking advantage, and his kicking game should keep Loughran at bay. Loughran is a promising prospect but this might be too much too soon. Lapilus has good takedown defense and works well back to his feet. I think Lapilus stops Loughran by KO due to the speed advantage.
Paul agrees with Cody, noting that Loughran's undefeated record is built on weak opposition, including two opponents with a combined 1-82 record. He says Lapilus is a proven veteran fighting in front of his home crowd, making him a justifiable favorite.
The MMA Guru picks Caolán Loughran, describing him as a physically strong tank who can take the fight wherever he wants. He notes Loughran's recent wins over good regional opponents and his dangerous hands, while Lapilus is a good fighter but Loughran's physicality will be too much. He predicts Loughran will squash Lapilus.
Angel Pacheco - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago Luna | 0 | 131 of 227 | 57% | 155 of 257 | 5 of 5 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:23 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 56 of 216 | 25% | 77 of 238 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santiago Luna | 0 | 26 of 56 | 46% | 31 of 61 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:50 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 25 of 74 | 33% | 26 of 75 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Santiago Luna | 0 | 56 of 92 | 60% | 63 of 103 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:31 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 14 of 68 | 20% | 23 of 77 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Santiago Luna | 0 | 49 of 79 | 62% | 61 of 93 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:02 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 17 of 74 | 22% | 28 of 86 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santiago Luna | 131 of 227 | 57% | 97 of 176 | 30 of 47 | 4 of 4 | 102 of 190 | 24 of 32 | 5 of 5 |
| Angel Pacheco | 56 of 216 | 25% | 41 of 195 | 13 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 52 of 210 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santiago Luna | 26 of 56 | 46% | 15 of 34 | 9 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 42 | 9 of 13 | 1 of 1 |
| Angel Pacheco | 25 of 74 | 33% | 20 of 68 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 24 of 72 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Santiago Luna | 56 of 92 | 60% | 44 of 77 | 11 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 46 of 79 | 6 of 9 | 4 of 4 |
| Angel Pacheco | 14 of 68 | 20% | 7 of 59 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 65 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Santiago Luna | 49 of 79 | 62% | 38 of 65 | 10 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 40 of 69 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Angel Pacheco | 17 of 74 | 22% | 14 of 68 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 73 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Luna (-425); Pacheco (+325)
Round 1
To kick off the main card, a pair of bantamweights with 100% finish rates square off. Repping the host nation, Luna (7-0, 1-0 UFC) firmly has the crowd on his side. He meets Minnesota native Pacheco (7-3, 0-1 UFC), who earned a contract off DWCS despite losing, and went on to drop his debut as well. Betting lines are appropriately lopsided in Luna’s favor. Referee Fernando Salas Navarro does not need to know the odds to do his job, and he stands guard for what is about to happen next. The fighters clap their hands together prior to engaging.
Luna gets his boxing going early, prodding Pacheco with his jab. Pacheco answers with a few of his own, and strings a trio of punches behind the jab to get Luna’s respect early. Luna backs him off with a front kick and a few body shots, and he even fakes a level change to keep Pacheco honest. Luna swats out when Pacheco closes in and grabs the back of his head, but he lets it go so he can trade more hands. Luna jams his foot on the belly, and he chains several punches into knees as he works the body. They both toss out low kicks, and Pacheco splits the guard with a strong jab. Luna scores a right hand, digs a kick to the body and changes levels to strip Pacheco’s feet away beneath him. The Minnesotan bounces back to his feet, where Luna controls him in the clinch as he frames off the face with his palm.
Pacheco fires off a one-two as he presses the action, and Luna meets him in the middle and scores a knee to the belly. Luna keeps pawing out his jab when there is a lull, and Pacheco thumps his inner thigh with a kick. Pacheco drives home an uppercut that Luna no-sells, and Luna swings a right hand on the temple and catches him a second time with a right hook as Pacheco’s legs go stiff for a second. Luna unleashes a torrent of strikes as Pacheco is stunned from the strikes, with Luna’s body shots already having an impact as Pacheco’s guard drops to protect his gut. Luna completes and easy double in the open cage, and Pacheco hits his back and sets up an armbar that forces Luna back to his feet. Pacheco flips to his knees to explode up, and Luna fires off a head kick at him that bangs into the gloves. Pacheco sneaks in a jump knee when Luna is about to change levels, and they both let fly big punches. Luna knocks Pacheco off his feet before the bell with a sweeping left hook, although it may have been a slip.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Luna
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Luna
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Luna
Round 2
Pacheco comes out of his corner no worse for wear, and Luna immediately stalks him down behind his jab. He follows his jabs with right hands and knees to the gut, and when Pacheco backs off, Luna targets the midsection with a kick. Pacheco digs his own left to the liver, but his volume significantly trails that of his opponent’s. Luna telegraphs a double, and Pacheco defends it and is forced to take a knee. Luna welcomes this by taking the back, and Pacheco blocks the hooks from getting in so Luna spins around to establish himself on top with Pacheco trying for butterfly hooks. The American considers an armbar again, but he is not in the right place to pull it off. Pacheco uses upkicks to push Luna away and stand back up, and he is met with a thumping knee to the abdomen. Luna drills his foe with two more knees, one to the stomach and one to the jaw, and Pacheco pushes him away and resets. Luna goes to the head and body, whiffing with a monstrous uppercut that would have knocked out a much larger man.
Luna strikes the body in the midst of his fluid combinations, and his jab has marked up the bridge of Pacheco’s nose. Luna lets fly a fast one-two and sets a knee behind it, and Pacheco stumbles back but is still in the fight. Luna chops at the front leg and is backed off with jabs, leading both men to attack the body. Pacheco tries for his own body shot, and Luna knocks him back with a right hand and then raises his arms to have Pacheco throw down with him. Luna stalks Pacheco down and unloads with a flurry, and he transitions to grappling and tries to hit a suplex rather than getting things done on the feet. Pacheco sells out for an armbar, so Luna presses his weight down to thwart it. Pacheco stands and blocks the knee he knows is coming, and he loops a left hand around the guard and gets popped with an overhand right. Pacheco uses a modified Philly shell to block when Luna lets go with combinations, and the two bang it out to the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Luna
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Luna
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Luna
Round 3
Luna scurries to the middle of the cage to start off in the final round, and he proceeds to let loose a combination of punches to the head and body. Pacheco counters him on the way back and dislodges the undefeated fighter’s mouthguard, and Salas retrieves it for him. Pacheco breaks off to get a modicum of space, lumbering forward with reaching punches and tossing out the occasional off-speed uppercut to catch Luna standing still. Luna swings far more furiously, and his knees are starting to have an impact as Pacheco nearly doubles over when absorbing one. Luna chains his punches together with ease, and Pacheco loads up on his counters as his volume is falling to one or two at a time. Luna backs him off with salvos of punches, and he ducks down to dodge a counter and complete a takedown. Pacheco’s upkicks keep Luna from establishing himself on top, and he is aware that a knee is coming when standing so he defends it. Luna gets right back in Pacheco’s face with his hands, resulting in a clinch as he bullies Pacheco to the wall.
With his back to the wall, Pacheco offers up a knee or two, but Luna is firmly in the driver’s seat. Pacheco’s swings rebound off the guard, and Luna splits it and slams a kick on the lead leg. Pacheco lowers himself down as if to take the fight down, and Luna snatches up his neck and jumps guard to hit a guillotine choke. Like most of Dustin Poirier’s attempts over the years, Luna fails to snare him in the submission, and he winds up on his back. Luna defends from most of the strikes that Pacheco hurls at him and smacks Pacheco in the face with an illegal upkick. Pacheco motions to Salas, who apparently did not see anything even though he was looking right at them, and they fight on. Luna walks forward without fear to let go with combos of punches and knees, and Pacheco is tough as a two-dollar steak and throws back with a vengeance. Luna tees off on the Minnesotan, nails him with a jump knee and connects with a looping right at the sound of the horn. It was one-way traffic, but it did go the distance.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Luna (30-27 Luna)
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Luna (30-27 Luna)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Luna (30-27 Luna)
The Official Result
Santiago Luna def. Angel Pacheco via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Santiago Luna as the better fighter, citing his athleticism, speed, and technique. He acknowledges Angel Pacheco's toughness and volume but believes Luna's superior skills will prevail. His only concern is Luna's lack of decision experience, as he has mostly finished fights early, but he still expects Luna to win.
Big Brady picks Santiago Luna, describing him as all offense and no defense but with more power and grappling upside than Angel Pacheco. He notes Pacheco has even worse defense and has been out for a while. Brady predicts a barn burner and expects Luna to knock out Pacheco in the second round.
Cody agrees Luna should win but warns about his inexperience and potential nerves. He notes Pacheco's high volume and durability, and suggests live betting or the KO prop rather than the heavy moneyline.
Connor also picks Luna, noting that Pacheco is a hard worker but simply not a UFC-level athlete. He points out that Luna has fast hands and power, and while his technical game needs work, he has been able to dominate lesser athletes. Connor expects Luna to beat Pacheco up, possibly with a finish.
Daniel does not discuss this fight in the transcript.
The host is strongly considering betting Pacheco because the odds are absurdly wide. He notes that Luna is very average and Pacheco is tough on the feet, but Pacheco gives up cheap takedowns and has been inactive for two years. The host wants to see how Pacheco weighs in before deciding. He believes Pacheco has a better than 18% chance of winning, making him a tempting value bet.
James is a big fan of Luna, calling him a top prospect with elite wrestling and power. He notes Pacheco's poor defense and tendency to take damage, predicting Luna will finish him. James expects Luna to win decisively.
The host is very confident in Santiago Luna, calling him far superior everywhere. He notes Luna's wrestling background, finishing ability, and youth (21). He expects Luna to finish Pacheco inside the distance, either by KO or submission. He is surprised the line is only -450 and expects it to balloon to -900 by fight time.
Paul believes Luna will knock out Pacheco, citing Pacheco's high volume of strikes absorbed and history of being knocked down. He likes Luna's youth and aggression, and recommends the KO prop at +160 rather than the moneyline.
The MMA Guru picks Santiago Luna, noting his solid wins including a TKO over Kwang Lee in his debut. He mentions that Luna is a very good prospect with wicked striking and is a massive favorite at -700. He believes Luna should easily win, though he struggles to remember details about his opponent Angel Pacheco, who lost to Caolan Loughran.
Zane picks Luna because Pacheco is not athletic enough for the UFC. He notes that Pacheco was outboxed by Colin Loughran, who is not a top athlete, and Luna is faster and more powerful. Luna's hand speed and combinations will overwhelm Pacheco, who has shown he cannot handle fast strikers.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caolán Loughran | 0 | 88 of 234 | 37% | 95 of 241 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 140 of 268 | 52% | 148 of 286 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 4:42 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caolán Loughran | 0 | 46 of 129 | 35% | 46 of 129 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 35 of 89 | 39% | 35 of 89 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Caolán Loughran | 0 | 17 of 38 | 44% | 21 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 51 of 89 | 57% | 59 of 107 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:19 | |
| 3 | Caolán Loughran | 0 | 25 of 67 | 37% | 28 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Angel Pacheco | 0 | 54 of 90 | 60% | 54 of 90 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caolán Loughran | 88 of 234 | 37% | 44 of 180 | 32 of 38 | 12 of 16 | 80 of 226 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Angel Pacheco | 140 of 268 | 52% | 112 of 226 | 18 of 30 | 10 of 12 | 97 of 208 | 9 of 10 | 34 of 50 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caolán Loughran | 46 of 129 | 35% | 18 of 97 | 19 of 20 | 9 of 12 | 46 of 129 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Angel Pacheco | 35 of 89 | 39% | 29 of 76 | 5 of 11 | 1 of 2 | 35 of 89 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Caolán Loughran | 17 of 38 | 44% | 9 of 27 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Angel Pacheco | 51 of 89 | 57% | 47 of 83 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 37 | 1 of 2 | 34 of 50 | |
| 3 | Caolán Loughran | 25 of 67 | 37% | 17 of 56 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 61 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Angel Pacheco | 54 of 90 | 60% | 36 of 67 | 11 of 15 | 7 of 8 | 46 of 82 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo leans Caolán Loughran despite criticizing his debut. He thinks Loughran's wrestling and constant leg-diving can grind out a win against Angel Pacheco, who lacks one-punch power. He notes Loughran's takedown accuracy is poor but believes he can keep Pacheco against the cage. He avoids betting at -300.
Cody likes Loughran's physical strength, wrestling, and youth. He thinks Loughran will take Pacheco down and control him, noting Pacheco's lack of takedown defense and recent close fight with Danny Silva.
Loughran has relentless grappling and pressure, training at Team Kaobon with Mike Grundy. Pacheco showed heart but was outclassed on the Contender Series; his competition level is low. Loughran should overpower Pacheco in the clinch and on the ground, controlling the fight. Pacheco may land some shots but Loughran's wrestling and strength will be too much. Prediction: Loughran by decision, but could finish.
Paul agrees, seeing Loughran as a strong wrestler who can exploit Pacheco's weaknesses. He expects Loughran to win by decision or ground control, though the -350 price is not enticing.
The host picks Caolán Loughran to win dominantly via grappling. He believes Loughran will be able to get to his dominant positions and out-explode Pacheco early. He notes that Loughran's stand-up is not great, but Pacheco will be there in the pocket, opening up takedown opportunities. He predicts a TKO or submission in round one or two.
Expert Picks (5)
Angelo leans Caolán Loughran despite criticizing his debut. He thinks Loughran's wrestling and constant leg-diving can grind out a win against Angel Pacheco, who lacks one-punch power. He notes Loughran's takedown accuracy is poor but believes he can keep Pacheco against the cage. He avoids betting at -300.
Cody likes Loughran's physical strength, wrestling, and youth. He thinks Loughran will take Pacheco down and control him, noting Pacheco's lack of takedown defense and recent close fight with Danny Silva.
Loughran has relentless grappling and pressure, training at Team Kaobon with Mike Grundy. Pacheco showed heart but was outclassed on the Contender Series; his competition level is low. Loughran should overpower Pacheco in the clinch and on the ground, controlling the fight. Pacheco may land some shots but Loughran's wrestling and strength will be too much. Prediction: Loughran by decision, but could finish.
Paul agrees, seeing Loughran as a strong wrestler who can exploit Pacheco's weaknesses. He expects Loughran to win by decision or ground control, though the -350 price is not enticing.
The host picks Caolán Loughran to win dominantly via grappling. He believes Loughran will be able to get to his dominant positions and out-explode Pacheco early. He notes that Loughran's stand-up is not great, but Pacheco will be there in the pocket, opening up takedown opportunities. He predicts a TKO or submission in round one or two.
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