Career Averages - Sumudaerji
Career Averages - Mitch Raposo
Sumudaerji - Fight History
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Perez (-140); Mudaerji (+115)
Round 1
The six-fight main card kicks off with Sumudaerji (19-7; 6-4 UFC) looking to put the brakes on a ghastly 0-4 run for Chinese fighters thus far—even if one was an iffy decision—against perennial flyweight contender Perez (26-10; 8-6 UFC). The referee is Mark Craig. Perez is standing orthodox, Sumudaerji southpaw, and the “Tibetan Eagle” towers over the American. There are a couple of awkward-looking collisions at kicking range as both men learn to navigate the distance on the feet, but neither man has landed much of consequence a minute in when Perez drives his foe to the cage. He takes an underhook and punches with the free hand, perhaps looking for a takedown opportunity, but makes no real attempt to do so before Sumudaerji shoves him off. They reset and Perez surges forward with a trio of hard punches that back Sumudaerji off. Half the round gone and it’s still an awkward, somewhat tentative fight, with each fighter taking turns exploding with bursts of offense, but most of the hardest shots are coming from Perez, who is having an increasingly easy time getting inside the taller man’s range and landing to the head. Perez changes levels for a takedown and Sumudaerji sprawls beautifully. With 30 seconds to go, the Tibetan drops for a surprise takedown of his own and is snared in a tight guillotine. Perez adjusts his grip and Sumudaerji is stuck, but in danger of being choked, until the horn.
10-9 Perez.
Round 2
In the first serious exchange of the round, Sumudaerji lands a clean left hand that hurts Perez badly. He gives chase, landing in Perez’s half guard and dropping big shots. Some are blocked, but enough get through cleanly that referee Craig is looking on with new interest. Perez recovers, however, and once he wraps his foe back up in full guard, the action slows enough that Craig stands them up. Seconds later, Sumudaerji reaches out with a left front kick that impacts the cup of Perez, who goes down as if shot with a Taser. Perez motions for a bucket and promptly (and loudly) vomits. UFC color commentator Laura Sanko is nauseated by the sound of Perez retching, and we’re right there with her. Perez appears to recover, but then calls for the bucket once again and hurls. We still don’t know whether this thing is going to resume, but Craig indicates that Sumudaerji is being docked a point. After the prescribed five-minute break for the foul, Perez is still unable to stand, let alone fight, and Craig waves it off. Considering that he had already called the foul a point deduction, that should mean we have a disqualification on the way, but we get a no contest instead because rules don’t mean anything.
The Official Result
Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji ends R2 1:45 via No Contest (Inadvertent Groin Strike)
AJ picks Sumudaerji as his underdog lock of the week. He highlights Sumudaerji's length advantage (72-inch reach vs 65.5), improved takedown defense, and distance striking as key factors. He questions Alex Perez's consistency, weight cutting issues, and momentum, noting Perez has only one win since 2021. AJ predicts a decision win for Sumudaerji, citing his technical striking and defensive grappling.
AJ picks Sumudaerji, citing his southpaw stance, clean boxing, distance management, and improved wrestling defense. He thinks Perez's calf kicks are neutralized by the stance switch, and Perez may have weight-cut issues. AJ expects Sumudaerji to win a decision in China, using his reach and precision to outpoint Perez.
AJ picks Sumudaerji, citing his length as an X-factor and his momentum from recent evolution. He notes Sumudaerji's takedown defense has improved significantly, and his striking at range will cause problems for Perez. AJ thinks Perez will have to resort to wrestling, which won't be easy. He predicts Sumudaerji's technicality will lead to a decision win, outstriking Perez and quieting the grappling flaw narrative.
Angelo picks Alex Perez because he is the better fighter with power and footwork. He notes that Perez has fought a murderer's row and is coming off a knockout win. He thinks the power will be the difference, but he is not betting on the fight.
Angelo picks Alex Perez, believing he is the better overall fighter with more power, better footwork, and higher fight IQ. He acknowledges that Sumudaerji has speed and volume, but thinks Perez's experience against top competition and his striking advantage will be the difference. He considers the odds appropriate.
Angelo picks Alex Perez, arguing that Perez's losses are to elite fighters (Figueiredo, Pantoja, etc.) and that he is a very good fighter. He expects Perez to win a decision, though he notes Perez may not score enough for DraftKings.
Big Brady picks Alex Perez by second-round submission, citing Perez's wrestling advantage and Sumudaerji's poor durability and grappling. He notes Sumudaerji's wins are weak and he has been finished six times, while Perez has lost only to elite fighters. He believes Perez will take him down and choke him out, though he acknowledges Perez is a 'ball dropper' who has lost to top competition.
Cody leans Sumudaerji due to Perez's history of injuries, weight misses, and cardio issues. He notes that Perez often fades in later rounds and has pulled out of many fights. Sumudaerji is younger, taller, and fighting in China. Cody believes if Perez doesn't finish early, Sumudaerji can take over. He is waiting for weigh-ins to decide.
Levi picks the underdog Sumudaerji, citing his improved grappling defense and overall game. He criticizes Perez for missing weight, quitting in fights, and being inconsistent. Levi believes Sumudaerji can pick Perez apart and possibly submit him.
Jacob picks Alex Perez because he is the better fighter and Sumudaerji has not faced someone of Perez's level. He notes that Perez has wrestling and striking, while Sumudaerji's wins are against lower-level opponents. He uses a graph analogy to explain that Perez is above Sumudaerji in skill.
Lucrative James leans Alex Perez, citing his elite wrestling which should exploit Sumudaerji's grappling weakness. He notes that Perez can dominate on the ground, while Sumudaerji is a much better striker but Perez can compete there. He worries about Perez's history of mental lapses and submission losses but believes his recent frequent fighting helps his mental game. He predicts a submission win, though he is not confident and may not bet the fight.
The host picks Perez to win inside the distance, citing his aggression, durability, and improved striking. He believes Perez will crowd Sumudaerji's space and mix in takedowns, leading to a finish. He loves the minus 140 line and thinks Perez's confidence is sky-high after knocking out Charles Johnson.
The host loves Alex Perez in this spot, citing his continuous improvement and recent knockout win. He expects Perez to bring an aggressive striking game and possibly take the fight to the mat, finishing Sumudaerji inside the distance via knockout or submission.
Paul is torn but leans Perez skill-wise, noting that when Perez is on, he is a top-10 flyweight. However, he acknowledges Perez's mental lapses, injuries, and weight issues. Paul thinks -133 could be value if Perez shows up, but he is wary of the China factor and Sumudaerji's reach. He is not confident and may wait for weigh-ins.
The Guru picks Su Mudaerji (Sumudaerji) over Alex Perez, citing Mudaerji's length, patience, and sniping ability. He believes Mudaerji's range control and punishing jabs will neutralize Perez's pressure. He notes Mudaerji's improved wrestling and is surprised he is an underdog.
The Guru picks Perez due to his wrestling advantage. He notes Sumudaerji is a good striker with improved grappling but still vulnerable to submissions. If Perez gets takedowns, he should dominate on the ground. However, he expresses uncertainty about which version of Perez shows up and says the striking is competitive.
The MMA Guru picks Alex Perez to win by knockout. He notes that Sumudaerji needs patient fighters who stand in front of him, but Perez is aggressive with power and offensive wrestling. He believes Perez will pressure and land big shots, knocking out Sumudaerji, who has been hurt before.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 62 of 148 | 41% | 69 of 156 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 0 | 0 | 2:36 |
| Jesus Aguilar | 0 | 31 of 106 | 29% | 42 of 120 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 2:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 16 of 44 | 36% | 19 of 47 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Jesus Aguilar | 0 | 13 of 35 | 37% | 16 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:59 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 17 of 47 | 36% | 19 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:22 |
| Jesus Aguilar | 0 | 6 of 27 | 22% | 10 of 34 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 29 of 57 | 50% | 31 of 59 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:01 |
| Jesus Aguilar | 0 | 12 of 44 | 27% | 16 of 48 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 62 of 148 | 41% | 44 of 116 | 11 of 23 | 7 of 9 | 55 of 141 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 4 |
| Jesus Aguilar | 31 of 106 | 29% | 12 of 63 | 8 of 24 | 11 of 19 | 30 of 105 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 16 of 44 | 36% | 10 of 34 | 1 of 3 | 5 of 7 | 16 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Jesus Aguilar | 13 of 35 | 37% | 4 of 19 | 4 of 6 | 5 of 10 | 12 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 17 of 47 | 36% | 9 of 32 | 6 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 14 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
| Jesus Aguilar | 6 of 27 | 22% | 1 of 14 | 1 of 9 | 4 of 4 | 6 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 29 of 57 | 50% | 25 of 50 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 25 of 53 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Jesus Aguilar | 12 of 44 | 27% | 7 of 30 | 3 of 9 | 2 of 5 | 12 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mudaerji (-278), Aguilar (+225)
Round 1
The early prelims wrap up with a classic matchup of China vs. Mexico in the flyweight division, as two men trying to build momentum in the currently logjammed division fight it out. Mudaerji (18-7, 5-4 UFC) finds himself on a win streak, while Aguilar (12-3, 4-2 UFC) did get his hand raised in his last time out as well. Gloves are touched before they are traded, with referee Chris Tognoni standing by.
Mudaerji, with a huge reach advantage, looks to take advantage of it with long kicks and even a spinning kick. Aguilar ducks the kicks and crowds his foe with an overhand right, but Mudaerji is out of the way in time. Mudaerji chops at the front leg of his opponent and sways past the looping counters, with Aguilar putting thunder into his hurls that have not connected yet. Mudaerji jams him up with a jump knee that bangs hard into the guard, and Aguilar grabs hold of the lead leg to take the fight down. Mudaerji puts his back to the fence to keep himself upright, and Aguilar grabs the fence to maintain position. Aguilar grinds but cannot get the takedown, and Mudaerji manages to wriggle out and stick out a left hand. When Mudaerji offers out a low kick, Aguilar grabs his cup and Tognoni calls time. They do not need long before resuming, as Aguilar wants to get right back into the thick of it.
Mudaerji walks Aguilar down and boots him in the face, strafing back to not get taken down in response. Mudaerji spins with a wheel kick that pounds into the guard, and Aguilar tanks it and winds up to throw haymakers that only end up with him off-balance. Mudaerji potshots with his range advantage, allowing Aguilar to charge him so that he can peck away. Aguilar scores at the end of a right hand, but his lands are few and far between as he struggles to find his distance. Mudaerji leans back to watch a spinning kick soar past him, and he chews up the front leg with his kicks. Mudaerji splits the guard with a left hand, and Aguilar rushes towards him to take the fight down but falls victim to a counter throw. Mudaerji climbs on top with 25 seconds to go, landing a strike or two while backing off to stop a counter takedown. Both men stand up, and Aguilar charges recklessly to partially land a few blows before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Round 2
Aguilar is all smiles between rounds, pacing back and forth until he can go after the taller man again. They touch gloves, and he backs off rather than engaging. This allows Mudaerji to pick and poke away with jabs, follow-up left hands and kicks to anywhere he feels like striking. Aguilar is miles away from getting to him on the counter, and Mudaerji keeps him guessing by cracking him with check right hooks. Aguilar gets off a single inside low kick, but it is one-and-done as Mudaerji revs up his volume again. Aguilar tries to take the fight down, and the Team Alpha Male rep chucks him to the floor like a side of beef. Mudaerji thwarts the sweep attempts to keep Aguilar on his back, smacking him with the occasional offensive burst but otherwise sticking the shorter man on his back.
Aguilar looks for butterfly hooks in hopes of pushing Mudaerji off of him, and he hacks with elbows off his back to stay busy. Mudaerji gets pushed off just enough so that Aguilar can explode back to his feet, where the Mexican gets to chasing the lanky flyweight down and missing with winging hooks. Mudaerji is easily able to parry and stick him with straight lefts and jabs, and he just misses on an intercepting uppercut. Mudaerji backs off Aguilar with his punches and plants a knee on the jaw, and he tries to follow with a head kick and stumbles. Mudaerji climbs back up and is chased down, and he grabs hold of Aguilar’s ankle and pulls him to the floor as the round wraps.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Round 3
A glove touch opens the final round, with Mudaerji standing firm and putting punches on the Mexican athlete right out of the gate. Aguilar strikes back, but his momentum is used against him as Mudaerji throws him to his back. Mudaerji lashes out with an elbow and nearly gets a back take while Aguilar scrambles, and he sweeps the leg to set Aguilar back down again. Aguilar hacks with elbows to the side of the head, leading to Mudaerji stepping over to sit on his face. Aguilar scrambles to his knees, and Mudaerji gladly takes his back and sucks him back down to the floor. Mudaerji ends up sliding off the back as he does not have a hook in, and Aguilar gets back to his feet and breaks off to belt Mudaerji in the face with a right hand. Mudaerji backs off, and Aguilar lines up another. Mudaerji gets some space, and he rifles off a left hand that makes Aguilar take a quick count of his teeth. Aguilar is swinging for the fences, and while he has found his range to a degree, Mudaerji is still able to shoulder-roll or otherwise take most of the sting out of the blows.
Mudaerji dances away from a low kick and lets loose a knee, but this is poorly timed as Aguilar tackles him to the mat. Mudaerji wraps up Aguilar’s shoulder to work himself upright, and he pushes Aguilar back and rushes to his preferred range. Mudaerji stabs a kick to the body and pops Aguilar with a combination, with Aguilar relying on head movement as his hands are low. Aguilar crowds his way forward to tie the Chinese athlete up, and Mudaerji answers with standing tomahawk elbows to the mouth. Mudaerji frames off with an elbow to the jaw, and he slashes open the bridge of the nose and spins with a flush kick to the body. Aguilar bites down on his mouthpiece and swings with everything he has, and Mudaerji decides to engage him in a slugfest. Mudaerji busts up Aguilar and eats some shots on the way back, and Aguilar stumbles and regathers himself to trade leather right to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
The Official Result
Su Mudaerji def. Jesus Santos Aguilar via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo acknowledges that Sumudaerji is the better striker with laser accuracy, but Jesus is gritty and tough. He notes Jesus has a clear grappling advantage but his takedowns are poor. He goes with his gut, picking the dog Jesus to make it ugly and stay in Sumudaerji's face, negating his footwork.
Big Brady picks Jesús Santos Aguilar as an underdog over Sumudaerji. He notes Sumudaerji is a good striker with a 4-inch height and 9.5-inch reach advantage, but has been submitted six times and can be hurt. Aguilar has improved striking, good wrestling (1.5 takedowns per 15 minutes), and next-level durability. Brady believes Aguilar can get the fight to the ground and submit Sumudaerji, predicting a third-round submission.
Cody also picks Sumudaerji, highlighting his length and striking. He notes Aguilar's difficulty closing distance and lack of wrestling. He expects Sumudaerji to win by decision or knockout.
Connor picks Sumudaerji hesitantly, citing his significant height and reach advantage. He notes that Aguilar is a submission threat and that Sumudaerji has been submitted six times due to his aggressive grappling. However, he believes Sumudaerji can win at range and that Aguilar's style is less effective against a long fighter.
Daniel Vreeland picks Jesús Santos Aguilar as a plus-230 underdog, citing Sumudaerji's history of being submitted and Aguilar's opportunistic guillotine. He believes Aguilar can make the fight dirty and drag Sumudaerji into a grappling exchange. Vreeland acknowledges Sumudaerji's striking advantage but sees value on the dog.
The host believes Sumudaerji should win easily due to his rapid improvement, technical striking, length advantage, and improved takedown defense. Aguilar is smaller, one-dimensional on the feet, and Sumudaerji should keep the fight standing and light him up. The host is considering using Sumudaerji in a parlay but notes he already has a big bet on Max Holloway.
James picks Sumudaerji, citing his higher level of competition and superior striking. He believes Sumudaerji's accuracy and sharpness will outpoint Aguilar, who relies on power and guillotine submissions. James notes that Aguilar's path to victory is narrow, requiring a takedown and guillotine, which Sumudaerji is prepared to defend. He predicts a decision win for Sumudaerji.
Sumudaerji is a superior striker with a 10-inch reach advantage. He can stick and move, counter Aguilar effectively, and defend takedowns. Aguilar will struggle to close distance and likely lose a decision. Sumudaerji by decision at +210 is a good prop, and he's a solid parlay piece.
Paul picks Sumudaerji, citing his reach advantage and improved takedown defense. He notes Aguilar's wins are over low-level opponents. He expects Sumudaerji to keep the fight at range and win by striking.
The MMA Guru picks Sumudaerji, citing his reach and height advantage. He notes Sumudaerji's ability to outstrike at range and his recent win over Mitropoulos. He believes Aguilar lacks the finishing power to trouble Sumudaerji, predicting a decision win.
Zane picks Aguilar as a lean, noting that Aguilar keeps surprising him by winning fights he seems to be losing. He highlights Aguilar's athleticism and ability to scramble out of bad positions. He is concerned about Sumudaerji's reach but thinks Aguilar's physicality and submission threat could be decisive.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 73 of 129 | 56% | 91 of 150 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Kevin Borjas | 0 | 16 of 44 | 36% | 23 of 51 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:29 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 17 of 35 | 48% | 17 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Borjas | 0 | 3 of 13 | 23% | 3 of 13 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:00 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 32 of 47 | 68% | 36 of 51 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Kevin Borjas | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 15 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:49 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 24 of 47 | 51% | 38 of 64 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kevin Borjas | 0 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 5 of 12 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:40 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 73 of 129 | 56% | 33 of 75 | 17 of 25 | 23 of 29 | 67 of 121 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Borjas | 16 of 44 | 36% | 7 of 30 | 5 of 7 | 4 of 7 | 10 of 37 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 17 of 35 | 48% | 6 of 15 | 3 of 9 | 8 of 11 | 16 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Borjas | 3 of 13 | 23% | 1 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 32 of 47 | 68% | 14 of 25 | 7 of 8 | 11 of 14 | 30 of 44 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Borjas | 9 of 20 | 45% | 4 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 17 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 24 of 47 | 51% | 13 of 35 | 7 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 21 of 43 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Borjas | 4 of 11 | 36% | 2 of 8 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Flyweights Sumudaerji and Borjas face off under the watchful eye of referee Vitor Ribeiro. Borjas is orthodox, Sumudaerji southpaw. “The Tibetan Eagle” throws a lunging side kick to the midsection. He follows up with a solid inside kick to Borjas’ lead leg. Sumudaerji with a high kick that slaps off his opponent’s raised guard. A minute and a half in, Borjas has thrown next to no strikes. Sumudaerji flicks out a long jab. Ribeiro pauses the action and cautions Sumudaerji about extending his fingers. They go back to work and Sumudaerji lands a loud low kick. Borjas comes back with a jab that glances, then changes levels and runs his man all the way to the cage. Borjas locks his hands and tries to elevate the taller man, but Sumudaerji uses an overhook/underhook and his height advantage to keep his feet firmly under him. They break off the clinch and go back to work in the middle of the cage, where Borjas continues to struggle with the range against the much taller man. Sumudaerji backs Borjas off with a side kick to the midsection at the 10-second clapper, then a pair of spinning back kicks—one from each side—right before the horn. Neither lands with much impact, but the impression is that Sumudaerji is starting to get into a flow.
10-9 Mudaerji.
Round 2
Sumudaerji paws Borjas’ face with an open hand in the first real exchange of the round, leading the Peruvian to back away blinking. Referee Ribeiro reiterates his warning, this time making it a “hard” one, for whatever that’s worth, before letting them go back to work. Sumudaerji reaches out with long side kicks again, landing to Borjas’ body, where they do their damage, but just as importantly, keep Borjas from getting anywhere near punching range. Borjas surges forward, clinches and shoves the taller man to the fence, where he is unable either to secure a takedown or land any short-range offense. They separate and return to open space, but Sumudaerji is still very much in control of the action there. Borjas lowers his head again and drives Sumudaerji to the cage, but “The Tibetan Eagle” uses an underhook to force a stalemate there. They disengage once again and Sumudaerji goes right back to working the Peruvian’s legs and body with his kicks. Under a minute to go and Sumudaerji opens up with a spinning back kick that lands to the midsection. The horn sounds on another frustrating round for “El Gallo Negro.”
10-9 Mudaerji.
Round 3
Borjas comes out aggressively to enter the final frame, forcing the issue rather than be stranded on the outside for yet another five minutes. Sumudaerji responds with a reactive takedown attempt which goes nowhere, but perhaps gives Borjas something else to think about. Borjas continues on the front foot, backing Sumudaerji to the fence, where he briefly sits him down with a clean punch. The Tibetan smiles and motions that it was a slip, which seems to fit the visual evidence, and they return to kickboxing. Sumudaerji throws a spinning wheel kick that glances without damage, and Borjas collapses the distance, clinching and shoving him to the fence. The referee separates them after a few uneventful moments, and they meet once again near the center of the cage, where Sumudaerji has thus far been an unsolvable riddle. Borjas steps inside a spinning technique, nearly takes Sumudaerji’s back standing, but settles for pushing him to the fence yet again. Under a minute to go and Borjas’ corner is imploring him to do something big. He tries his best, but only succeeds in opening up an opportunity for his foe to land a big elbow. That turns out to be the last significant offense of the fight, as the horn sounds moments later on a methodical near shutout for the Chinese fighter.
10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji).
The Official Result
Su Mudaerji def. Kevin Borjas via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Kevin Borjas as the dog, calling him the better striker and more dangerous and durable. He notes that Sumudaerji is fast and accurate but lacks power. He suggests prop bets like win inside distance or plus 3.5 rounds, as he doesn't see Borjas getting stopped. He is confident in Borjas winning.
Big Brady picks Kevin Borjas to win a damage-based decision, despite Sumudaerji being a good striker. He notes that Sumudaerji has been submitted six times and has looked rough recently, but Borjas is not a grappler. He believes Borjas has power and can land big shots, and that Sumudaerji is not a finisher at this level. He expects a close fight with Borjas having big moments.
Connor likes Borjas's game and thinks he will dictate the pace, forcing Sumudaerji to brawl. He notes that Sumudaerji tends to let opponents lead and then engages, but Borjas is a backfoot counter puncher who will likely start first. Connor worries about Borjas's defensive acumen and high chin, but believes Sumudaerji lacks knockout power, having only finished Malcolm Gordon in the UFC. He compares the fight to Sumudaerji's loss to Charles Johnson, where Johnson set the early pace and won.
The host acknowledges Borjas looked his best last time, but thinks he will struggle against the superior striking of Sumudaerji. He expects Sumudaerji to keep Borjas at bay, avoid counter-strikes, pick him apart, and win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Sumudaerji to win by decision, citing his range and ability to make fights low-output. He believes Sumudaerji's length will be a problem for Kevin Borjas, who he describes as a one-two merchant. He notes that Borjas had a close fight with Ronaldo Rodriguez, and that Sumudaerji looked good against Charles Johnson. He expects a 30-27 schooling victory.
Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Borjas has shown good stuff in his fights and that Sumudaerji is a technical step up but not a huge one. He points out that Sumudaerji is tough but often starts fights going second, which could allow Borjas to take control. Zane also mentions that Borjas has never been knocked out and took shots from Ronaldo Rodriguez well, so Sumudaerji's lack of power is a factor.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 45 of 114 | 39% | 78 of 150 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 9 of 26 | 34% | 13 of 30 | 6 of 19 | 31% | 0 | 0 | 4:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 11 of 30 | 36% | 17 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 8 of 15 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 1:05 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 14 of 39 | 35% | 17 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 20 of 45 | 44% | 44 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 3 of 10 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:57 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 45 of 114 | 39% | 25 of 84 | 5 of 8 | 15 of 22 | 39 of 104 | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 9 of 26 | 34% | 8 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 11 of 30 | 36% | 5 of 18 | 1 of 3 | 5 of 9 | 11 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 5 of 12 | 41% | 5 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 14 of 39 | 35% | 6 of 27 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 10 | 14 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 20 of 45 | 44% | 14 of 39 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 36 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 2 of 9 | 22% | 2 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mudaerji (-185), Raposo (+154)
Round 1
The lone flyweight contest of the evening plays out next, between two men who could reach a .500 UFC record should they prevail. Mudaerji (16-7, 3-4 UFC), the far more experienced fighter of the two, is aiming to notch his first win since 2021. Massachusetts native Raposo (9-2, 0-1 UFC) would like to spoil that party and hand his Chinese opponent his walking papers, and referee Andrew Glenn will be there every step of the way. Gloves are touched before they are traded, and chants of “USA” in favor of Raposo rain down in the building. Mudaerji takes the center of the cage and fights behind his jab, using his superior reach to poke and prod. Raposo closes the distance and connects with a series of punches before bouncing away to avoid the counter. Mudaerji misses the mark on a one-two, and Raposo zings him back with a trio of fists. Mudaerji pitches out low kicks, frustrating the New Englander into shooting on his hips. Mudaerji defends with his back against the wall and breaks free, and he reaches out with an inaccurate side kick. Mudaerji lets fly a high kick that bounces off the guard, and he skirts out of the way of a looping left hand. Raposo surges forward swinging his arms, and Mudaerji’s range gives him issues as he kicks him from far enough away to not get caught back. Mudaerji thumps up the lead leg with a kick that forces a stance switch, and Raposo sprints forward and takes Mudaerji off his feet with a tackling takedown. Mudaerji easily posts off the mat to stand back up, and he Granby rolls to attempt to escape. Raposo follows him, arms wrapped around the waist from behind, and he leans Mudaerji against the wire and starts kneeing him. Raposo hangs on to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Round 2
The fighters touch gloves, and Raposo quickly gets on his bike to strafe laterally and find a way in. Mudaerji chips at him with leg kicks, aiming at the thigh and knee rather than the calf. Raposo’s leg shows welts all over it, and he struggles to fire back. Although Mudaerji beats him to the punch with a one-two, Raposo’s right hand grazes the cheek in response. Raposo shoots in for a double-leg takedown, and Mudaerji scoots his way to the wire to defend and break out of it. Mudaerji pokes out with a jab and a low kick, and the crowd starts to shower the fighters with boos at the perceived lack of activity. Raposo tries to answer their calls for action with a looping left hand, and Mudaerji snipes him with a one-two and leans back to avoid another big left. Mudaerji flies by his opponent when attempting a jump knee, and he lands and kicks the front leg only to get checked. Mudaerji stumbles back and points at Raposo, and then offers a few more kicks. When Mudaerji misses a spinning wheel kick by a matter of inches, Raposo’s eyes light up as he charges like a bull and takes Mudaerji clear off his feet with a takedown. The Chinese fighter climbs back to his feet, only to be met with a mat return. As he gets up again, Mudaerji breaks off and flashes out a jab. The jab quickly bloodies Raposo’s nose up, who shoots for a single-leg takedown and finds the taller, longer fighter able to easily stifle his shot. Raposo doggedly pursues the takedown, and Mudaerji’s balance holds up until the horn blares. The crowd is not amused.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Round 3
Hands are clapped to begin the final frame, and Mudaerji reassumes Octagon control and uses his rangy punches and kicks to keep Raposo at bay. Raposo presses forward to unload a big right hand, and Mudaerji pushes him back with jabs that further bloody the Massachusetts native’s nose up. Raposo moves left and right, with Mudaerji chasing him around, and Glenn has to ask for them to fight because they do not engage with much in the first 90 seconds. When they throw, they are largely out of range, with Mudaerji the more accurate of the two. As he reaches out with a right hand, Raposo shoots in on his hips and dumps him to the mat. Mudaerji wall-walks to get back up easily, elbowing on the break and returning to his kickboxing approach. When Raposo leans and sways, Mudaerji times him with a combination. Mudaerji kicks low, and Raposo signals that he was kicked in the groin. Glenn calls time, and the crowd boos in disbelief that it was a foul. The replay shows it was a legal blow, and Glenn tells them to fight on. Fight on they do, with Mudaerji letting his hands go for a second while Raposo throws back hard—but misses. Raposo grapples Mudaerji to the mat, and Mudaerji bounces back to his feet as if he had springs in his seat. Raposo leans heavily when clinched up, hoping to take some of the weapons away from the “Tibetan Eagle,” and he hunts for a mat return and drags Mudaerji to a knee. Mudaerji returns upright and smacks Raposo from around his head, and he brilliantly sprawls to shut Raposo’s attempt down. Raposo gains a full head of steam and charges in, completing a double only to learn very quickly that Mudaerji does not stay down for even one second. Raposo clings tightly looking for wrestling, and Mudaerji elbows him in the face three times until the less-than-stellar matchup comes to a close.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
The Official Result
Su Mudaerji def. Mitch Raposo via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Daniel Levi questions how Mitch Raposo lost every round against Sumudaerji yet still got a split decision. He implies Sumudaerji clearly won, expressing confusion about the judging.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Johnson | 1 | 65 of 150 | 43% | 84 of 177 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:58 |
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 75 of 144 | 52% | 78 of 149 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 2 | 1 | 0:50 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Johnson | 0 | 19 of 50 | 38% | 33 of 64 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 |
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 24 of 43 | 55% | 24 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 2 | Charles Johnson | 1 | 30 of 60 | 50% | 34 of 72 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:03 |
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 23 of 44 | 52% | 25 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 1 | 0:30 | |
| 3 | Charles Johnson | 0 | 16 of 40 | 40% | 17 of 41 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 |
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 28 of 57 | 49% | 29 of 58 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Johnson | 65 of 150 | 43% | 42 of 113 | 15 of 22 | 8 of 15 | 49 of 123 | 5 of 10 | 11 of 17 |
| Sumudaerji | 75 of 144 | 52% | 41 of 96 | 7 of 15 | 27 of 33 | 68 of 135 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Johnson | 19 of 50 | 38% | 12 of 42 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 16 of 44 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Sumudaerji | 24 of 43 | 55% | 12 of 26 | 2 of 3 | 10 of 14 | 20 of 39 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Charles Johnson | 30 of 60 | 50% | 20 of 41 | 5 of 11 | 5 of 8 | 19 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 17 |
| Sumudaerji | 23 of 44 | 52% | 15 of 32 | 2 of 5 | 6 of 7 | 22 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Charles Johnson | 16 of 40 | 40% | 10 of 30 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 4 | 14 of 36 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Sumudaerji | 28 of 57 | 49% | 14 of 38 | 3 of 7 | 11 of 12 | 26 of 54 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Johnson (-225), Mudaerji (+185)
Round 1
Once with his back firmly against the wall, Johnson (16-6, 5-4 UFC) has given himself plenty of breathing room with a three-fight win streak. While he has plenty of momentum on his side, the matchmaking results him in facing Mudaerji (16-6, 3-3 UFC), who has lost his last two. Whether fortune continues to smile on “InnerG” or the Chinese fighter gets back in the win column, referee Mark Smith will be there for it every step of the way. Fists are bumped, and Johnson walks through a leg kick to immediately swarm Mudaerji with a flurry of fists. Johnson pressures Mudaerji up to and against the wall, kneeing him when they tie up. Johnson lifts knees to the gut while “The Tibetan Eagle” is pinned against it, and Mudaerji tries to get away and ultimately wrenches his way out and raps a right hand on the side of Johnson’s dome. Johnson shakes it off and plods forward, absorbing a few punches and a flush calf kick so he can charge in with his own offense. Johnson misses his strikes, dodges a low kick and keeps marching forward. Mudaerji sticks his man with a calf kick and jabs him to mix things up, and Johnson preemptively picks his leg up after these kicks start to add up. Mudaerji goes on the inside with two kicks, and Johnson sits down on a right hook to drive Mudaerji back. Mudaerji steps in with an elbow, and he flicks out a few jabs and splits the guard with a left. Mudaerji batters the front leg with a kick, and Johnson eats a jab and drops his hands to reset. Johnson checks a kick when crashing the pocket, and he loads up on power punches to the body. Johnson ties him up, and he knees his man in the chest and thighs while Mudaerji is warned for grabbing inside the glove. Mudaerji lashes out with an elbow to break, and he keeps his volume high by picking jabs and low kicks from his preferred range. Johnson crowds his man and unleashes a big right hand, only to get pulled into a Thai clinch and a sharp knee on the chin. Johnson frantically chases after his opponent, loading on up big strikes and forcing Mudaerji to ricochet off the fencing. Mudaerji dodges and weaves the worst of the attacks coming his way, and Johnson backs him against the wall and loads up on him. Johnson lets him have it until the bell sounds mid-exchange.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Round 2
The fighters touch ‘em up to get going in the second stanza, and Johnson dashes out of his corner to engage. Mudaerji is prepared to defend the initial blitz, succeeding in staving off the most threatening of the strikes. Mudaerji keeps shifting and moving actively, occasionally getting backed to the wall but never truly cornered. Mudaerji catches Johnson coming in with a right hand, and he scores two low kicks before Johnson can get to him. Johnson goes high with a kick that bounces off the guard, and he stomps the knee with his foot twice. Mudaerji shifts to the left to tag Johnson with a straight strike, and he flicks out a front-leg side kick and a number of punches to follow. Mudaerji wings big right hands that land behind the head, and he stumbles Johnson coming forward thanks to a low kick. Johnson finds his range with a left hook, but it is one-and-done as Mudaerji keeps moving and did not take the brunt of it. Mudaerji lines up a left hook around the guard, and Johnson barely blocks it in time. Mudaerji intercepts Johnson coming in once more, with Johnson leaving his hands low after throwing big. Johnson runs forward, hands by his side, and he jacks Mudaerji in the jaw with a vicious right hand. Mudaerji tries to escape, but Johnson is a dog with a bone chasing after him. Johnson backs Mudaerji to the fence and uppercuts him so hard, Mudaerji’s head snaps back like a Pez dispenser. Johnson lays into his opponent with a long barrage of punches, hurting Mudaerji badly and putting him down. Johnson tries to finish the job, swinging his way into the guard, where Mudaerji manages to survive and circle around to threaten with a triangle that transitions into an armbar. Johnson fights through it, gets put on his back, fights back up and somehow puts Mudaerji on the mat. Mudaerji sweeps him as soon as his seat hits the floor, and a mad exchange of grappling magic ensues until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Round 3
The third round kicks off with Mudaerji tough as nails ready and willing to trade. Mudaerji sticks out two front kicks, spins with a wheel kick and smashes it on the side of Johnson’s dome. The forward pressure of Mudaerji allows him to trip Johnson up, and he slams the American to the mat. Johnson jumps back up and meanders forward, checking kicks but otherwise breathing hard and not striking. Mudaerji splits the guard with a left hand, potshotting Johnson coming forward while Johnson’s offense is practically nonexistent. Johnson grits his teeth after taking a few jabs to plow forward with telegraphed hooks, and the Chinese fighter sees them coming from a mile away. Johnson slings a right to open up a straight left, and the latter catches Mudaerji on the chin. Mudaerji chops his front leg back a few times, and he turns his hips into a body kick and then resets to land one more to the inner calf of “InnerG.” Johnson stalks Mudaerji down, walking through strikes but taking more than he is landing back. Johnson’s pressure results in a brief clinch, and Mudaerji fights his way out of it and just misses with a head kick. Mudaerji times a level change when Johnson wings a right hand, and Johnson reverses him with a throw to put “The Tibetan Eagle” on his back. Mudaerji scrambles wildly to get to his feet, and he breaks away from a clinch with an overhand right. Mudaerji puts three punches on the chin as Johnson shoots for a takedown, and he sets up a brabo choke to hurl Johnson to his knees. Johnson fights the hands to break up the submission, and he drops to one knee so he does not absorb a knee from the Chinese fighter. Johnson and Mudaerji swing it out right to the final bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (29-28 Mudaerji)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (29-28 Mudaerji)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (29-28 Mudaerji)
The Official Result
Charles Johnson def. Su Mudaerji via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo is very confident in Charles Johnson, citing his high output, technical striking, and ability to maintain pace for 15 minutes. He notes Sumudaerji's takedown defense is untested (only one takedown attempt in UFC) and that Johnson has survived tough moments before. He expects Johnson to pressure forward, be the cleaner striker, and take over as the fight goes on. He also mentions Johnson's activity and recent success.
Big Brady picks Charles Johnson by second-round submission. He highlights Sumudaerji's poor takedown defense and six submission losses. Johnson has good wrestling and submission attempts, though no UFC submission wins. He warns that if Johnson strikes, it's a different fight, but expects him to mix in takedowns and submit Sumudaerji.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Johnson as a craftsman who should handle Sumudaerji's straightforward style. He notes that Sumudaerji lacks footwork to be a true sniper and that Johnson is durable and calculating. He expects Johnson to get on his front foot and take over in round two.
This fight was not discussed in the transcript.
Both are strikers, but Johnson has a better gas tank, better discipline striking, and good enough footwork and defensive striking to stay away from Sumudaerji's power. Johnson will chip away and win by decision or get a late finish.
The Guru picks Charles Johnson despite not liking him personally, citing Johnson's recent momentum and wins over Joshua Van and Jake Hadley. He criticizes Sumudaerji's lack of power and relevant wins, noting he was dominated by Tim Elliott and struggled against Matt Schnell. He believes Johnson can take the fight to the ground if needed and predicts a later-rounds finish.
Zane picks Johnson, expecting him to calculate and counter Sumudaerji's linear, lunging strikes. He notes that Sumudaerji is a one-track fighter who backs straight out after throwing, and Johnson's durability and craftiness should allow him to take over in round two. He acknowledges that Johnson might be lackadaisical against a less dangerous opponent.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Elliott | 0 | 10 of 21 | 47% | 26 of 37 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 2:05 |
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 10 of 25 | 40% | 10 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Elliott | 0 | 10 of 21 | 47% | 26 of 37 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 2:05 |
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 10 of 25 | 40% | 10 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Elliott | 10 of 21 | 47% | 6 of 13 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 7 | 8 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Sumudaerji | 10 of 25 | 40% | 6 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Elliott | 10 of 21 | 47% | 6 of 13 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 7 | 8 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Sumudaerji | 10 of 25 | 40% | 6 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Elliott (-165), Mudarji (+135)
Round 1
Stepping up a few days ago to replace Allan Nascimento, former flyweight title challenger Elliott (19-13-1, 8-11 UFC) pops into this now-bantamweight bash with Mudaerji (16-5, 3-2 UFC). This scrap that could—and very well may—take place anywhere will be overseen by referee Herb Dean, and he is ready for what comes next. The fighters touch ‘em up, and Elliott somersaults his way in to kick Mudaerji. Mudaerji shrugs it off, and Elliott keeps his knee up high to fluster his opponent. Mudaerji tries to pick off the veteran from range, and he gets in long strikes every so often to get Elliott’s attention. Mudaerji stays composed and does not fall for many of the awkward movements from Elliott, and he picks his shots carefully and stings Elliott with a right hand. Mudaerji boots Elliott upside the head, and Elliott grabs hold of the leg and tries to take him down. Mudaerji keeps his balance, but he gets clipped with a right hook when setting it down. Mudaerji connects with a clean left hand, and he strings several punches together until Elliott charges at him to go after a single. Elliott lifts Mudaerji’s leg above his head and elbows the Chinese fighter in the face, and he trips Mudaerji up and tosses him to the canvas. Elliott slithers his way over to half guard as he grinds on Mudaerji with elbows, and he draws blood as Mudaerji turns to his side. Elliott keeps his arm around Mudaerji’s head to threaten with a potential submission should Mudaerji sit up, and Elliott drills him with an elbow.
Elliott leaps over to the other side and locks down an arm-triangle choke, and the choke is instantly in and tight. Elliott presses down his full body weight, and blood sprays from Mudaerji’s mouth in a brutal, cinematic moment as Mudaerji loses consciousness.
Dean recognizes that Mudaerji is done, checking the arm of “Tibetan Eagle” and seeing there is no resistance, and he yanks Elliot off of the unconscious fighter. This is a great feather in the cap of the veteran, who earns his first finish since December 2017 with the technical submission.
The Official Result
Tim Elliott def. Su Mudaerji R1 4:02 via Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Cody picks Sumudaerji because he doubts Tim Elliott's conditioning. He notes that Elliott took the fight on three days' notice and has only trained twice. Cody thinks Elliott's cardio is already suspect and will fade quickly. He believes Sumudaerji has a good left hand and can capitalize if Elliott tires. Cody suggests this is a better live bet opportunity, but for a pre-fight pick, he goes with Sumudaerji.
Lucrative James acknowledges the volatility due to Elliott taking the fight on short notice after a recent grappling match. He sees a massive striking advantage for Sumudaerji and thinks he could crack Elliott. However, he notes Elliott's massive grappling edge and that Sumudaerji has been submitted in all his losses. He leans Sumudaerji but passes on betting because the line is +110 and he can't lay that with the grappling disparity. He picks Sumudaerji for the win.
Paul picks Tim Elliott but is curious about the submission prop. He notes that Elliott's wrestling and ground game are superior, and Sumudaerji has poor submission defense. Paul thinks Elliott can find a submission if he plays his cards right. He acknowledges Elliott's cardio issues but believes the grappling advantage is significant. Paul is waiting for the Elliott by submission prop to open and hopes for a price around +400 to +500.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Schnell | 0 | 47 of 81 | 58% | 79 of 120 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 | 1 | 2:40 |
| Sumudaerji | 1 | 58 of 83 | 69% | 67 of 92 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 2 | 2:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Schnell | 0 | 13 of 29 | 44% | 27 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 1 | 2:03 |
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 19 of 23 | 82% | 28 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:19 | |
| 2 | Matt Schnell | 0 | 34 of 52 | 65% | 52 of 74 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:37 |
| Sumudaerji | 1 | 39 of 60 | 65% | 39 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:54 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Schnell | 47 of 81 | 58% | 36 of 70 | 5 of 5 | 6 of 6 | 16 of 40 | 9 of 12 | 22 of 29 |
| Sumudaerji | 58 of 83 | 69% | 37 of 61 | 10 of 11 | 11 of 11 | 35 of 53 | 13 of 19 | 10 of 11 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Schnell | 13 of 29 | 44% | 8 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 9 |
| Sumudaerji | 19 of 23 | 82% | 5 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 9 | 13 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 7 | |
| 2 | Matt Schnell | 34 of 52 | 65% | 28 of 46 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 20 | 9 of 12 | 17 of 20 |
| Sumudaerji | 39 of 60 | 65% | 32 of 52 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 37 | 13 of 19 | 4 of 4 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Su Mudaerji (-260), Schnell (+220)
Round 1
This upcoming 125-pound matchup will almost certainly give referee Jacob Montalvo a good workout with the movement that Schnell (15-6, 1 NC; 5-4, 1 NC UFC) and his Chinese counterpart Mudaerji (16-4, 3-1 UFC) employ. This fast-paced fight between finish-friendly and fleet of foot flyweights is first friendly as the fighters’ fists meet. Mudaerji starts with a chopping low kick that surprises Schnell, and it stops Schnell from landing a pair of punches he intends to smack Mudaerji with. Schnell goes after a few leg kicks of his own, and Mudaerji answers with two more. Mudaerji circles on the outside and slaps away a front kick, and he gets countered with a left hook when aiming a kick. The leg kicks continue to come, and Schnell checks one and points at his opponent. Mudaerji is not slowed from striking with these, and Schnell is having difficulty pinning him down. Schnell ducks a punch and changes levels to hit a takedown. In an instant, Schnell moves right to full mount, and he starts releasing heavy right hands and elbows. Mudaerji turns to his knees and allows Schnell to take his back. Mudaerji turns with all of his might, and he manages to move through the tight body triangle and claim top position. Mudaerji holds his hand on Schnell’s mouth to disrupt the breathing, and Schnell closes his guard tight when he cannot toss his legs up in pursuit of a triangle. Schnell bucks his opponent off of him, and Mudaerji climbs down into the guard and straight into a triangle choke. When Mudaerji moves his way out of the position, Schnell grabs the arm and shoulder to hunt for an omoplata. Mudaerji lifts Schnell all the way up and powerbombs him to break the grip, but Schnell winds up on top. “Danger” puts Schnell in the Danger Zone with vicious ground-and-pound, and he shakes Mudaerji up but takes a few hacking elbows from Mudaerji off his back. Schnell stacks Mudaerji up and scores a single punch before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Schnell
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Schnell
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Schnell
Round 2
Mudaerji comes out throwing fire, and an inside low kick slides up into Schnell’s cup. Schnell drops to a knee, and Montalvo calls time to allow him to recover for about a minute. Mudaerji is warned through a translator, and the two flyweights get back to it. They start throwing fire, and Mudaerji clips Schnell and nearly drops Schnell to his knees. Schnell gathers himself but is still off-balance, as he is taking punishment from the Chinese fighter. The left hand from Mudaerji nails Schnell, and Schnell replies with a leg kick that trips Mudaerji up. When back on his feet again, Mudaerji splits the guard with a straight left hand that stuns Schnell. Mudaerji celebrates this by firing off another, and this one puts Schnell down on the canvas. Schnell looks to turn things around with a takedown effort, but Mudaerji backs off and lets him back up so that he can continue bombing. Mudaerji rails Schnell with a brutal elbow, and Schnell is hurt badly and continues to take punishment. Mudaerji unloads with impunity, throwing punches, knees and elbows, and Schnell is bent over and very possibly out on his feet. Montalvo is watching on closely, and when Schnell is nearly at the end of his rope, he fires off a right hand that shakes Mudaerji up. Mudaerji continues to work Schnell over, and Schnell eats the strikes and counters effectively to blast Mudaerji. It is now Mudaerji who is on the rocks, and when Mudaerji overswings, Schnell takes him down and moves straight into mount. Schnell drops down an elbow, and commentator Daniel Cormier shrieks with a sound that echoes through the arena. Schnell batters Mudaerji with unanswered strikes, punching and elbowing Mudaerji’s face off, and Mudaerji is bloodied and beaten. Mudaerji somehow keeps his wits about him to flip Schnell over, but Schnell throws his legs up for a triangle choke.
Mudaerji starts slugging from on top, but danger danger, high voltage, “Danger” locks down that choke and Mudaerji is in dire trouble. Schnell slashes from his back to rip Mudaerji’s face open and cause blood to splatter all around them. Schnell adjusts the triangle choke up high, and he pulls down on the neck to completely secure it. Mudaerji is still with it and ready to keep fighting…until he isn’t anymore, as he goes out on his shield completely, blood still leaking from his now-unconscious person.
Montalvo recognizes that Mudaerji is sleeping on the job and steps in to break them up, awarding Schnell the absolutely incredible comeback and putting a stamp on what should go down as an instant contender for the best round of the year. What a terrific fight, one that went everywhere and had something for everybody. The mere write-up of this battle does not remotely do it justice, and this is a must-see match that also could be contention for “Fight of the Year” as well. Outstanding.
The Official Result
Matt Schnell def. Su Mudaerji R2 4:24 via Technical Submission (Triangle Choke)
Angelo picks Sumudaerji, citing his forward pressure and volume. He notes Schnell's counter-striking and BJJ, but believes Sumudaerji's style will impose itself. He thinks the fight should be closer than the odds suggest and considers a plus 3.5 bet on Schnell.
Big Brady picks Sumudaerji to win by knockout, likely in the second round. He states that Sumudaerji is the better striker and more durable, while Schnell has been knocked out multiple times. He notes that Schnell could win if he wrestles, but he doesn't expect Schnell to do so. He predicts a knockout finish.
Cody picks Schnell as an underdog, arguing that Sumudaerji's four losses are all by submission and he has not faced a grappler since his debut. He notes Schnell's improved chin and grappling, including submissions off his back. Cody believes if the fight hits the ground, Schnell has a big advantage, and the -270 line on Sumudaerji is too high given his unproven ground game.
Daniel Levi picks Sumudaerji, viewing it as a prospect test. He notes Sumudaerji's talent and improvements after a long layoff, while Schnell has durability issues and has been knocked out before. Levi expects Sumudaerji to win, possibly by finish, but acknowledges Schnell's guillotine threat and the question of Sumudaerji's ceiling.
Paul picks Sumudaerji, believing his power and striking will be too much for Schnell's suspect chin. He notes that Sumudaerji has knocked out opponents quickly and that Schnell has been knocked out multiple times. However, he admits the -270 line is steep and that he is not betting it himself, but he expects Sumudaerji to win by KO in the first round.
The MMA Guru picks Sumudaerji over Matt Schnell, citing Schnell's weak chin and poor submission defense. He notes Sumudaerji's elusiveness and range, and believes he will TKO Schnell in the second round. He also mentions Schnell's recent loss to Brandon Royval and his tendency to get finished in spectacular fashion.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 50 of 127 | 39% | 50 of 127 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Zarrukh Adashev | 0 | 28 of 123 | 22% | 28 of 123 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 17 of 39 | 43% | 17 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Zarrukh Adashev | 0 | 7 of 36 | 19% | 7 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 15 of 38 | 39% | 15 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Zarrukh Adashev | 0 | 13 of 38 | 34% | 13 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 18 of 50 | 36% | 18 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Zarrukh Adashev | 0 | 8 of 49 | 16% | 8 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 50 of 127 | 39% | 22 of 87 | 9 of 16 | 19 of 24 | 50 of 127 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Zarrukh Adashev | 28 of 123 | 22% | 20 of 102 | 3 of 13 | 5 of 8 | 24 of 117 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 17 of 39 | 43% | 6 of 26 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 11 | 17 of 39 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Zarrukh Adashev | 7 of 36 | 19% | 4 of 29 | 1 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 7 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 15 of 38 | 39% | 7 of 25 | 4 of 8 | 4 of 5 | 15 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Zarrukh Adashev | 13 of 38 | 34% | 11 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 32 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 18 of 50 | 36% | 9 of 36 | 3 of 6 | 6 of 8 | 18 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Zarrukh Adashev | 8 of 49 | 16% | 5 of 38 | 1 of 7 | 2 of 4 | 8 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Back at flyweight, surging Chinese upstart Mudaerji (13-4, 2-1 UFC) steps in on short notice against Adashev (3-2, 0-1 UFC). Populating the cage along with these two quick men is referee Jason Herzog, and the touch of gloves is the first of many strikes to come. Mudaerji lands a powerful leg kick that makes Adashev change stances, but “The Lion” charges back with a left hand that makes Mudaerji stumble. Mudaerji gathers his thoughts and fires off a side kick that makes Adashev bounce away. Mudaerji swings and misses with another leg kick, but he lands one from his other leg. Mudaerji just barely misses a head kick, and he ducks out of the way when Adashev darts at him. The Chinese fighter chips away at the lead leg a few more times, all while evading a looping combination from his foe. Mudaerji works the lead leg as Adashev has changed stances, and he sticks Adashev with a right hand when Adashev comes in at him. Adashev swings and misses once more, with Mudaerji able to keep him at arm’s reach thanks to a significant reach advantage. Mudaerji gets off a sharp jab, and he looks for a right hook but Adashev does not come at him this time. Mudaerji peppers the lead leg with kicks, only to change it up with a kick up high to keep his foe guessing. Adashev hits nothing but air with a wide combination, allowing Mudaerji to land a stiff body kick and a leg kick from afar. Mudaerji lunges with a jab, and when he reaches out another, Adashev lands a heavy left hand. Mudaerji backs off, and Adashev is on him and connects with a right hand as well. Mudaerji looks to counter with a right hand when Adashev advances, and he stings Adashev with a right hook as Adashev has no choice but to blitz forward. Mudaerji slaps out a jab, and another breaks up a prospective combination from his opponent. The round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Round 2
Mudaerji offers a glove touch, and his foe obliges him before taking a punch across the forward bow. Adashev charges in to attack, and although he misses with the majority of his strikes, one punch at the end of a shot collides with the chin. Mudaerji takes a quick count of his teeth before pushing out with a front kick. Adashev once more tries his charge, and this time Mudaerji is ready for it as he snipes him with a few jabs and a left hand. Adashev crashes the pocket to force a grappling exchange, but Mudaerji keeps his balances and pushes off to prevent any possible takedown. When Mudaerji attempts a spinning kick, Adashev circles around to take his back and slams his right hand in the side of Mudaerji’s head repeatedly. Mudaerji powers back up, and he barely misses getting clipped with a left hook. Mudaerji jumps and lands a switch kick, but Adashev brushes it off and circles away. When Mudaerji tries to land a body kick, Adashev drops him with a right hand. “The Tibetan Eagle” quickly leaps back to his feet, and his hands are down as he tries to pressure his opponent but gets tagged once more. Mudaerji lands a few punches and a front kick up the middle to get back into his groove, and he ducks away to dodge the strikes that come his way. As Adashev races forward, Mudaerji cracks him with a right hand. Adashev gets nailed with another right hand, and he turns away for a moment and falls into the fence. Mudaerji chains together a few punches as he chases him, but he lets Adashev off the hook and backs off. A possibly recovered Adashev circles the edge of the cage to gather his thoughts, and he swings and misses with a looping right hand. Mudaerji fakes a flying knee to get Adashev to retreat, and he lands a leg kick as Adashev’s volume has completely fallen away. Mudaerji chips away with a few kicks before the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Round 3
Mudaerji begins the final round with a kick, and when Adashev tries to come at him with strikes, Mudaerji ducks away and lands another kick. Mudaerji has a head kick blocked, and he defends himself from the looping right hand that soars towards his face. Adashev is well short of his target as Mudaerji jabs at him from a great distance, all while Mudaerji kicks at him. The feints and fakes from Mudaerji are getting Adashev to react and guess, allowing Mudaerji to tee off on him with long punches and leg kicks. The pace wanes as Mudaerji is in his groove with his hands by his waist, throwing head kicks and wildly inaccurate spinning kicks unconcerned about the response. Adashev loads up on his punches but they are not able to get any traction, with Mudaerji styling on him with single, effective strikes. Mudaerji takes a leg kick as he hops out of the way, and a body kick gets blocked but still has some impact. Adashev gets off a solid right hand, and Mudaerji stops and mocks him to claim the strike did not do anything. Adashev whiffs but is pressuring his opponent, who is now struggling to keep his range and land anything of merit. Mudaerji hops forward with a left hand, and Adashev charges like a bull with booming punches. Adashev throws bombs, and falls over with how hard he is throwing, but Mudaerji rolls with the punches and lands one final spinning wheel kick for good measure. The fight ends, and Mudaerji sticks his tongue out.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
The Official Result
Su Mudaerji def. Zarrukh Adashev via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Big Brady is high on Sumudaerji, citing his striking skills, reach advantage, and upside. He notes that Zarrukh Adashev got knocked out quickly in his UFC debut and looked out of shape. He predicts a first-round knockout for Sumudaerji, believing he is on a different level. He mentions that Sumudaerji's takedown defense has been improving.
The host is confident in Sumudaerji due to his distance management, footwork, and reach advantage. He thinks Sumudaerji will pick apart Adashev from the outside and potentially land a counter KO. He notes Adashev's recent KO loss and poor defensive habits when throwing leg kicks. He predicts a first-round KO.
The MMA Guru picks Sumudaerji to win by first-round TKO. He notes Sumudaerji's power and size advantage at flyweight, and that Adashev was recently KO'd by Tyson Nam and is now cutting weight, which could be detrimental. He expects a beatdown, calling it a birthday present for Sumudaerji.
Mitch Raposo - Fight History
Angelo picks Mitch Raposo as an underdog, noting that Nascimento's striking looked poor in his last fight and that Raposo's striking advantage should prevail if he avoids the ground. He compares the matchup favorably to Raposo's previous win over a wrestler, as Nascimento is more BJJ-oriented.
Big Brady picks Mitch Raposo as an underdog, citing his solid wrestling and improved grappling. He notes Raposo's ability to get up from takedowns, as shown against Murzakanov. Brady thinks if Nascimento doesn't get a submission, the fight becomes close, and Raposo's youth and power could edge a split decision. He expects a stinker of a fight.
Cody picks Allan Nascimento, citing his dangerous submission game. He notes that Raposo has improved but Nascimento's grappling is a major threat. He is wary of betting against Nascimento's X-factor.
Connor picks Nascimento because he is a fun, good fighter who stays busy on the feet and has a reactive submission game that can catch opponents who close distance recklessly. He notes that Raposo is a wrestle-boxer still figuring out UFC pace, and Nascimento's ability to annoy opponents into mistakes should be too much for him.
Daniel acknowledges Raposo's decent hands but believes Nascimento's ground game is devastating and opportunistic. He thinks if Nascimento gets on top or dangles off the neck, the fight ends quickly. He picks Nascimento to win.
James picks Mitch Raposo as a big underdog, believing his wrestling and striking will neutralize Nascimento's grappling. He thinks Raposo can keep the fight on the feet and outpoint Nascimento, who has poor wrestling and cardio issues.
The host likes Raposo to replicate his performance against Askarov, using stick-and-move, calf kicks, and countering Nascimento when he crashes the pocket. He believes Raposo's confidence is high and his defensive grappling will keep him safe from submissions. He predicts a decision win, and mentions a possible shot on round three as Nascimento slows.
Paul picks Mitch Raposo, citing his wrestling and speed advantage. He notes that Nascimento has poor offensive wrestling and low volume striking. He believes Raposo can keep the fight standing and win rounds.
Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Nascimento has a trustworthy reactive submission game and can tap opponents who dive into his guard. He points out that Raposo has been scraping by in the UFC and that Nascimento's pressure should force him into big mistakes. He also mentions that Nascimento's fight with Tajiro Lanbokov was close, showing his level.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azat Maksum | 0 | 19 of 88 | 21% | 30 of 101 | 7 of 19 | 36% | 0 | 0 | 5:27 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 30 of 66 | 45% | 53 of 92 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:49 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azat Maksum | 0 | 4 of 27 | 14% | 9 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:18 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 4 of 18 | 22% | 8 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Azat Maksum | 0 | 12 of 34 | 35% | 15 of 38 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:24 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 17 of 25 | 68% | 24 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 | |
| 3 | Azat Maksum | 0 | 3 of 27 | 11% | 6 of 30 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 0 | 0 | 1:45 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 9 of 23 | 39% | 21 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:45 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azat Maksum | 19 of 88 | 21% | 14 of 80 | 1 of 3 | 4 of 5 | 17 of 85 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Mitch Raposo | 30 of 66 | 45% | 20 of 50 | 7 of 13 | 3 of 3 | 30 of 65 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azat Maksum | 4 of 27 | 14% | 1 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 4 of 18 | 22% | 2 of 14 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Azat Maksum | 12 of 34 | 35% | 10 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 33 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Mitch Raposo | 17 of 25 | 68% | 10 of 16 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Azat Maksum | 3 of 27 | 11% | 3 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 9 of 23 | 39% | 8 of 20 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Maksum (-325), Raposo (+260)
Round 1
A fight initially booked at 125 pounds between a pair of struggling flyweights will now take place at a catchweight of 129 pounds because Maksum (15-2, 1-2 UFC) felt it was in his best interest to exceed the cap by three pounds. He gives away 30% of his purse to Raposo (9-3, 0-2 UFC) before the latter even sets foot in the ring, and this becomes a must-win for both athletes. Referee Rich Mitchell draws the short straw to handle this preliminary offering, standing back as the two decide against touching gloves.
Maksum moves right to the center of the cage and walks into a clean right hand on the temple. Maksum has to shake it off and stays out of punching range for a time, eventually flashing his jab out a few times to work his distance. He lets fly a body kick that is easily blocked, and Raposo rushes after him with swirling hooks. Maksum evades them and keeps his jab extended to prevent Raposo from crashing the pocket, but Raposo still manages to race at him. Raposo has an overhand right bang into the shoulder, and he escapes before getting countered. Both fighters miss when looking for their jabs, and Maksum smacks his foe’s lead calf to decent effect. Raposo jams Maksum in the jaw with a straight left hand down the pipe, and he looks to follow with a couple hooks. Maksum thanks him for this with a kick to the gut and a takedown shot.
“Kazakh” completes the takedown, putting Raposo on his seat in the blink of an eye. The New England native posts off and works to his feet, leaning on the fencing while Maksum has him from behind looking to get a hook in. Maksum elevates his man from behind after softening him with knees to the thigh and slams Raposo to the mat with a partial suplex. Mitchell asks for more activity when the two grind up against the wall, and he wraps a leg around Raposo’s for an earnest takedown effort. Raposo breaks out of that and puts his back firmly again the chain links, sprawling to defend a low single-leg entry. Maksum’s attempts lead only to Mitchell asking for more, and he abandons it with seconds to go and lets his hooks fly. Raposo zips out of the way and counters with a right hand over the top as the narrow round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maksum
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Maksum
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Maksum
Round 2
Maksum again assumes the center of the Octagon to get going in the round, finally landing a strike at the 20-second mark. Raposo snaps into action with a huge right hand that shakes Maksum up, and as Maksum has to reset, Raposo guns for him with another. Maksum probes out with his distant jab and pecks at Raposo when Raposo unloads with one more massive hook. Maksum tries to defend with a knee shield, and Raposo still reaches him at the end of a punch. Maksum checks a low kick and swats out with a left hook, and Raposo dings him with his overhand right. Raposo slips a punch combo to fire off another, sliding it above Maksum’s forehead. Maksum shoots for a takedown, and Raposo is nowhere to be found.
Raposo lets his foe reset so he can stand in the pocket with him, and stand in the pocket and trade they do. Both men land cleanly, but it appears that Maksum has stung Raposo as Raposo has to backpedal for a moment. The American parries a one-two and swings out a left hand and a right, and Maksum adjusts his nose and shoots for a double-leg takedown. Raposo cannot defend the initial attempt, looking to his corner directly behind him for advice how to at least get back to his seat. He follows their instructions to kick back to his feet, so Maksum lifts him off the ground and slams him down. Raposo wraps up a triangle choke off his back when he hits the mat, and he transitions to an omoplata shoulder lock before Maksum tosses it all aside and nails him with an elbow. Raposo scoots back upright, and Maksum sucks his hips out and puts him back on the floor. Maksum tries for one more mat return, but the round ends in the clinch instead.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Raposo
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Raposo
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Raposo
Round 3
Like the previous two rounds, Maksum locates himself directly in the center of the Octagon and presses forward. Raposo meets him in the middle and throws hands, only for Maksum to scoop him off his feet and put him on the floor. Raposo wall-walks to get back upright, leaning his weight on the fence to take some of the pressure off of him. Maksum hits a suplex to put Raposo on the floor, and the American rebounds easily to put his back to the wall again. Raposo pummels to break out of the clinch, and he walks down “Kazakh” loaded for bear. He scores a right hand over the top and leans to evade the counter, and dips in to pop Maksum in the chops with a shovel left. Maksum walks Raposo down around the cage and pushes a front kick after him, and Raposo replies with a spirited overhand right. Raposo shuts down a takedown shot and threatens with his right hand.
Raposo puts everything behind his big swings, and Maksum takes advantage of one with a deep double-leg shot. When Raposo shuts it down, Maksum transitions to a single, looking for anything to work with but unable to find it. Raposo breaks free and dodges a front kick, and he loads up on power punches. Raposo goes with a right to the body and left to the head, and Maksum shoots low and is shut down. Raposo pushes Maksum to the ground, and Maksum blatantly grabs the fence to reverse his position and stop a takedown from materializing. Mitchell is enraged by the foul, pausing the action and deduction a point for the fight-altering foul. It is unclear if Maksum understands, but one point is one point and likely a major factor as only a few seconds are left in the fight. Raposo is the one to push the pace despite Maksum being down on the scorecards, and Maksum flips his foe to the floor but cannot keep him there for more than a second. The horn blares, and another betting upset may be in the cards.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Raposo (29-27 Raposo)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Raposo (29-27 Raposo)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Raposo (29-27 Raposo)
The Official Result
Mitch Raposo def. Azat Maksum via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)
Angelo picks Azat Maksum, emphasizing his well-rounded skills and composure. He argues that Azat's losses are close fights against established opponents, while Mitch Raposo's wins are less impressive. Angelo is surprised Azat is only minus 350, calling it an insult compared to Hamdy's minus 450 line.
Big Brady is high on Azat Maksum, believing he is a top-15 flyweight with top-10 upside. He notes Maksum's impressive takedown ability against Tagir Ulanbekov and sees a clear path to victory via grappling against Mitch Raposo, who has been taken down and submitted easily in the past. Brady expects Maksum to finally put it all together and make a statement, predicting a first-round submission.
Cody picks Azat Maksum, noting that Raposo's wrestling is not enough to win fights, as he lacks control time and striking. Maksum has shown he can wrestle and strike, and has fought tough competition. Cody believes Maksum will win a decision, possibly close, but should get the nod in Abu Dhabi.
Connor picks Maksum, noting that Raposo does not do enough volume and has poor footwork, constantly circling to his weak side. He believes Maksum, despite being a low-output fighter, is more proactive and can set up takedowns with his strikes. Connor also points out that Raposo's striking output is very low (1.62 strikes per minute) and that he is not effective at this level.
Daniel Vreeland believes Maksum is too big, physical, and skilled for Raposo, who he considers too small for the UFC. He notes that Maksum has faced much tougher competition and that Raposo's regional scene is weak. He predicts Maksum will dominate and possibly finish, but acknowledges the -400 price is steep given Maksum's close UFC fights.
Lucrative James picks Azat Maksum, predicting a submission win. He believes Maksum is more skilled in boxing and striking, and has excellent anti-grappling as shown against Tiger Ulybekov. He expects Raposo to shoot takedowns, but Maksum can reverse or submit him. He notes Maksum's tendency to fight to the level of his competition but still favors him heavily.
The host notes that Raposo has been given the benefit of the doubt in recent fights but sees this as a bad matchup for him. He expects Maksum to stuff takedowns, control the striking, and possibly land his own takedowns, grinding out a decision win.
Paul also picks Maksum, citing Raposo's risk-averse style and lack of power. He notes that Maksum has good takedown defense and can strike, while Raposo relies on takedowns that may not score well with judges. Paul expects a decision win for Maksum.
The MMA Guru picks Azat Maksum by 30-27 decision, but warns of a possible split decision due to bias. He believes Maksum has a height and reach advantage, and will win scrambles and grappling exchanges. He criticizes Mitch Raposo (referred to as Mitrione Vusa in transcript) for low output and being overhyped by commentary. He notes that Maksum fought Tagir Ulanbekov closely and should have won rounds, while Raposo has been given undeserved split decisions.
Zane agrees, citing Raposo's inability to put together enough work. He notes that Maksum, while not dangerous, is at least capable of being proactive and using strikes to set up takedowns. Zane also highlights that Raposo's footwork constantly takes him out of range and position, making him ineffective.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 0 | 45 of 114 | 39% | 78 of 150 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 9 of 26 | 34% | 13 of 30 | 6 of 19 | 31% | 0 | 0 | 4:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 11 of 30 | 36% | 17 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 8 of 15 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 1:05 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 14 of 39 | 35% | 17 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 0 | 20 of 45 | 44% | 44 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 3 of 10 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:57 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumudaerji | 45 of 114 | 39% | 25 of 84 | 5 of 8 | 15 of 22 | 39 of 104 | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 9 of 26 | 34% | 8 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sumudaerji | 11 of 30 | 36% | 5 of 18 | 1 of 3 | 5 of 9 | 11 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 5 of 12 | 41% | 5 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sumudaerji | 14 of 39 | 35% | 6 of 27 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 10 | 14 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sumudaerji | 20 of 45 | 44% | 14 of 39 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 36 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 2 of 9 | 22% | 2 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Mudaerji (-185), Raposo (+154)
Round 1
The lone flyweight contest of the evening plays out next, between two men who could reach a .500 UFC record should they prevail. Mudaerji (16-7, 3-4 UFC), the far more experienced fighter of the two, is aiming to notch his first win since 2021. Massachusetts native Raposo (9-2, 0-1 UFC) would like to spoil that party and hand his Chinese opponent his walking papers, and referee Andrew Glenn will be there every step of the way. Gloves are touched before they are traded, and chants of “USA” in favor of Raposo rain down in the building. Mudaerji takes the center of the cage and fights behind his jab, using his superior reach to poke and prod. Raposo closes the distance and connects with a series of punches before bouncing away to avoid the counter. Mudaerji misses the mark on a one-two, and Raposo zings him back with a trio of fists. Mudaerji pitches out low kicks, frustrating the New Englander into shooting on his hips. Mudaerji defends with his back against the wall and breaks free, and he reaches out with an inaccurate side kick. Mudaerji lets fly a high kick that bounces off the guard, and he skirts out of the way of a looping left hand. Raposo surges forward swinging his arms, and Mudaerji’s range gives him issues as he kicks him from far enough away to not get caught back. Mudaerji thumps up the lead leg with a kick that forces a stance switch, and Raposo sprints forward and takes Mudaerji off his feet with a tackling takedown. Mudaerji easily posts off the mat to stand back up, and he Granby rolls to attempt to escape. Raposo follows him, arms wrapped around the waist from behind, and he leans Mudaerji against the wire and starts kneeing him. Raposo hangs on to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Round 2
The fighters touch gloves, and Raposo quickly gets on his bike to strafe laterally and find a way in. Mudaerji chips at him with leg kicks, aiming at the thigh and knee rather than the calf. Raposo’s leg shows welts all over it, and he struggles to fire back. Although Mudaerji beats him to the punch with a one-two, Raposo’s right hand grazes the cheek in response. Raposo shoots in for a double-leg takedown, and Mudaerji scoots his way to the wire to defend and break out of it. Mudaerji pokes out with a jab and a low kick, and the crowd starts to shower the fighters with boos at the perceived lack of activity. Raposo tries to answer their calls for action with a looping left hand, and Mudaerji snipes him with a one-two and leans back to avoid another big left. Mudaerji flies by his opponent when attempting a jump knee, and he lands and kicks the front leg only to get checked. Mudaerji stumbles back and points at Raposo, and then offers a few more kicks. When Mudaerji misses a spinning wheel kick by a matter of inches, Raposo’s eyes light up as he charges like a bull and takes Mudaerji clear off his feet with a takedown. The Chinese fighter climbs back to his feet, only to be met with a mat return. As he gets up again, Mudaerji breaks off and flashes out a jab. The jab quickly bloodies Raposo’s nose up, who shoots for a single-leg takedown and finds the taller, longer fighter able to easily stifle his shot. Raposo doggedly pursues the takedown, and Mudaerji’s balance holds up until the horn blares. The crowd is not amused.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji
Round 3
Hands are clapped to begin the final frame, and Mudaerji reassumes Octagon control and uses his rangy punches and kicks to keep Raposo at bay. Raposo presses forward to unload a big right hand, and Mudaerji pushes him back with jabs that further bloody the Massachusetts native’s nose up. Raposo moves left and right, with Mudaerji chasing him around, and Glenn has to ask for them to fight because they do not engage with much in the first 90 seconds. When they throw, they are largely out of range, with Mudaerji the more accurate of the two. As he reaches out with a right hand, Raposo shoots in on his hips and dumps him to the mat. Mudaerji wall-walks to get back up easily, elbowing on the break and returning to his kickboxing approach. When Raposo leans and sways, Mudaerji times him with a combination. Mudaerji kicks low, and Raposo signals that he was kicked in the groin. Glenn calls time, and the crowd boos in disbelief that it was a foul. The replay shows it was a legal blow, and Glenn tells them to fight on. Fight on they do, with Mudaerji letting his hands go for a second while Raposo throws back hard—but misses. Raposo grapples Mudaerji to the mat, and Mudaerji bounces back to his feet as if he had springs in his seat. Raposo leans heavily when clinched up, hoping to take some of the weapons away from the “Tibetan Eagle,” and he hunts for a mat return and drags Mudaerji to a knee. Mudaerji returns upright and smacks Raposo from around his head, and he brilliantly sprawls to shut Raposo’s attempt down. Raposo gains a full head of steam and charges in, completing a double only to learn very quickly that Mudaerji does not stay down for even one second. Raposo clings tightly looking for wrestling, and Mudaerji elbows him in the face three times until the less-than-stellar matchup comes to a close.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mudaerji (30-27 Mudaerji)
The Official Result
Su Mudaerji def. Mitch Raposo via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Daniel Levi questions how Mitch Raposo lost every round against Sumudaerji yet still got a split decision. He implies Sumudaerji clearly won, expressing confusion about the judging.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| André Lima | 0 | 32 of 76 | 42% | 32 of 76 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 51 of 100 | 51% | 52 of 101 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | André Lima | 0 | 7 of 20 | 35% | 7 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 17 of 29 | 58% | 17 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | André Lima | 0 | 8 of 24 | 33% | 8 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 13 of 29 | 44% | 13 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | André Lima | 0 | 17 of 32 | 53% | 17 of 32 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Mitch Raposo | 0 | 21 of 42 | 50% | 22 of 43 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| André Lima | 32 of 76 | 42% | 20 of 58 | 12 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 32 of 76 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 51 of 100 | 51% | 14 of 47 | 7 of 12 | 30 of 41 | 49 of 98 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | André Lima | 7 of 20 | 35% | 6 of 17 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 17 of 29 | 58% | 4 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 12 of 17 | 17 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | André Lima | 8 of 24 | 33% | 3 of 17 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 13 of 29 | 44% | 3 of 11 | 2 of 5 | 8 of 13 | 13 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | André Lima | 17 of 32 | 53% | 11 of 24 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Mitch Raposo | 21 of 42 | 50% | 7 of 26 | 4 of 5 | 10 of 11 | 19 of 40 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Lima (-218), Raposo (+180)
Round 1
Just a little over a year ago, the promotion turned to an old favorite city it used to frequent back in the mid-2010s, putting on an interesting title fight with a non-title five-rounder in the co-headliner spot. The UFC swings back again in relative short order, deciding to post up outside of New York City while still drawing plenty of eyeballs. As a note, this will be the first event to feature the newly designed gloves, ones that were touted to reduce eye pokes. A dozen bouts with plenty of ranking’s significance from women’s 135 pounds all the way up to pound-for-pound consideration will play out, but the first of 12 has zero relevance in that metric because it comes at an unplanned catchweight. Raposo (9-1, 0-0 UFC) and his shiny new contract will contend with the heavy Lima (8-0, 1-0 UFC), who appears to still be reeling from his “Charlie Bit Me” incident against Igor da Silva in March. Referee Herb Dean will make sure no chomping happens this time around, and the fight begins with a glove touch. Lima moves to the center of the cage, walking Raposo down, and he sits down on a heavy calf kick that immediately forces a stance switch. Raposo finds a way in and dives forward with two punches, and Lima bats them away and chops at the calf hard while chants of “USA” rain down against him. Lima goes for another kick low down to the calf, and each time he has struck it, Raposo has changed stances. Raposo replies with a rapid-fire combination to keep Lima honest, but Lima does not pay it much mind as he attacks the front leg once more. Raposo lashes out with a pair of punches, and Lima’s composure never wavers and instead pounds the front leg twice after a stance switch from the Massachusetts native. Raposo strides forward to throw hands, and Lima intercepts him with a crisp knee up the middle. When Raposo settles down, Lima blasts his front leg, and Raposo shakes his leg out in response. Lima keeps battering either lead leg that is presented to him, and Raposo tries to check one by turning his shin in, and the sound of the shins clacking together echoes in the cage. Raposo circles his way into punch strings, but his general lack of offense prompts a clapping of Dean to fight more. Lima nails the lead when once more, prompting Raposo to let go with hands to the body. Lima turns his hips into a particularly harsh leg kick, and Raposo spins all the way around to get his bearings. Lima pushes off with his fingers outstretched, grazing Raposo’s eye, and Raposo waves Dean off and unloads a right hand that catches the Brazilian standing still. Lima lets loose with two high kicks that bounce off the guard, and he is warned for his fingers pointed towards his foe’s face. Lima keeps working on the front legs of his opponent, allowing Raposo to change his stance so he can smack the other. This continues until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to lead off the second round, and Raposo is much more active to get going. A few series of punches come from the American, with quick hands largely targeting the body. Lima no-sells the punches and continues stalking Raposo down, where he chambers and releases a head kick that slams into the guard. Lima attempts another step-in knee, and he parries the oncoming punches when Raposo tries to close the distance. Lima drills the front calf with a kick, and Raposo backpedals and considers a stance switch but would rather present his left leg. Raposo comes up short on a haymaker, and Lima allows him to fall off-balance so he can work the leg again. Raposo targets the body with punches, and Lima switches up to attack the inside of his adversary’s legs with ruthless kicks. Lima cuts Raposo off, and Raposo tries to drive him back with a trio of punches that all get blocked. Lima slams his shin into Raposo’s calf, and he pushes out his finger and swipes Raposo in the eye. Dean calls time and issues Lima a hard warning, and Lima gives an apology. They restart, and Raposo reaches him with a left hand. Lima comes back at him with low kicks, and Dean once more admonishes the Brazilian for his fingers pointed out. Lima fakes a kick, and Raposo jumps away with a major reaction. Lima pokes his man in the eye, and Raposo steps back and wipes his eye. A confused moment for both fighters results in Dean telling Lima to be careful, and they restart again. Raposo shoots for a takedown and hits it, and Lima blatantly grabs the cage to pull himself back up to his feet. Lima chases Raposo down and kicks him a few more times before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Lima
Round 3
The fighters tap hands together to get going, and Raposo gives chase early to throw hands. Raposo swipes out with overhand rights, and Lima calmly backs him off with a straight right hand in response. Lima gets off a low kick, and he fires a second one off to the ribs. Lima reaches out with a right hand and a front kick to the solar plexus, and he springs away from a double jab. The Brazilian fearlessly stalks forward, setting up a heavy body kick and seemingly unconcerned about anything Raposo gives back. The two men trade body shots, and Lima follows one with a kick down at the base of the calf. Lima plants a second kick down low, and Raposo’s punch salvo ricochets off the raised guard. Lima splits the guard with a left hand, and Raposo walks through it and gives one single blow back. Lima slaps the front leg with yet another kick, and a second is checked. Raposo slips in a left hand, but it is one-and-done before he backpedals. Lima measures a straight left hand, and Raposo stands him up with an uppercut and a left hand. Raposo ducks and connects with a left hand, and Lima frazzles him with two leg kicks that briefly put him down. Raposo bounces up and away from a sweeping body kick, and Lima manages to find him with a sharp jab. Raposo tries to attempt a takedown, only for Lima to toss him aside and push him to the wall. Lima gets off one knee before they split up, and he chases after Raposo until the fight wraps.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lima (30-27 Lima)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Lima (30-27 Lima)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Lima (30-27 Lima)
The Official Result
Andre Lima def. Mitch Raposo via Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Angelo acknowledges that Mitch Raposo is skilled and could win with a full camp, but the short notice, distractions from friends/family, and the step up in competition lead him to pick André Lima. He notes the odds are too far gone for him to bet. He respects Raposo's abilities but feels the circumstances favor Lima.
Big Brady thinks Mitch Raposo is live as a dog, with a path to get the fight to the mat via takedowns. He notes André Lima's takedown defense is a major concern. However, Raposo is on short notice, which worries him. He expects a close fight if it goes the distance.
Cody picks Lima, criticizing Raposo's level of competition and short-notice fight. He notes Raposo is a career bridesmaid who lost on The Ultimate Fighter and Contender Series. Cody believes Lima's size, strength, and kickboxing will be too much. He expects Lima to win by decision or late TKO, and mentions Raposo's takedowns may not be effective against Lima's scrambling.
Daniel praises Lima's striking, athleticism, and takedown defense. He dismisses Raposo's regional wins as against cans and notes Raposo's short notice. He expects Lima to get a finish.
The host believes Raposo's pace, pressure, and wrestling will overwhelm Lima, who has cardio issues. Raposo's calf kicking and improved striking give him confidence, and his gas tank should allow him to grind out a win via control time and damage. Lima's power is a threat early, but Raposo's durability and wrestling volume should carry him to a decision victory.
Paul picks Lima, noting his technical kickboxing and size advantage. He mentions Lima's win over Igor Severino (by DQ due to bite) and believes Lima's striking will be too much for Raposo. Paul notes Raposo is taking the fight on short notice and has struggled to get over the hump. He expects Lima to win by decision or late finish.
The MMA Guru picks André Lima regardless of opponent, noting that Lima has good takedown defense and fundamentally correct grappling defense. He mentions that Lima's opponent (either Mitch Raposo or a short-notice replacement) is not a threat, and that Lima's kickboxing background will prevail. He also points out that the opponent looked mediocre on Road to UFC.
Expert Picks (1)
Daniel Levi questions how Mitch Raposo lost every round against Sumudaerji yet still got a split decision. He implies Sumudaerji clearly won, expressing confusion about the judging.
Comments (3)
Su by sub maybe at 18+
Boring fight from both. Would have put both contracts in the shredder
Mitch doesn't seem to have a gameplan.
NOT