Career Averages - Timmy Cuamba
Career Averages - Benardo Sopaj
Timmy Cuamba
Benardo Sopaj
Timmy Cuamba - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 29 of 80 | 36% | 29 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 1 | 37 of 56 | 66% | 66 of 92 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 2 | 0 | 1:54 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 20 of 60 | 33% | 20 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 11 of 20 | 55% | 17 of 28 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:52 | |
| 2 | Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 9 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 1 | 26 of 36 | 72% | 49 of 64 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timmy Cuamba | 29 of 80 | 36% | 12 of 54 | 9 of 13 | 8 of 13 | 29 of 80 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 37 of 56 | 66% | 34 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 23 of 24 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timmy Cuamba | 20 of 60 | 33% | 7 of 40 | 6 of 9 | 7 of 11 | 20 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 11 of 20 | 55% | 9 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Timmy Cuamba | 9 of 20 | 45% | 5 of 14 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 9 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 26 of 36 | 72% | 25 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 23 of 24 |
Angelo picks Benardo Sopaj, considering him the better fighter everywhere. He notes Sopaj is cleaner, faster, and a better wrestler. He trusts Sopaj's pressure and cardio despite a year layoff. He thinks -160 is a good spot.
Big Brady leans toward Benardo Sopaj, citing his power, wrestling, and grappling upside. He expects Sopaj to be more active in striking and have a grappling advantage, as long as his cardio holds up. He predicts a decision win in a close fight.
Cody picks Benardo Sopaj, citing his higher striking volume (4.24 significant strikes per minute vs Cuamba's 2.77) and aggression. He notes that Cuamba has a reach advantage and uses his jab well, but Sopaj lands more and is the better striker. He expects a close 29-28 decision but is not overly confident due to Sopaj's one-dimensional style.
Cuamba is well-rounded and has good cardio, but is passive. Sopaj is more technical but fades. The fight depends on Cuamba's aggression. No strong read, so pass.
Lucrative James leans toward Benardo Sopaj, citing his power, grappling upside, and potential ceiling. He notes Sopaj's ability to get takedowns and hurt opponents, while Cuamba may struggle with speed at bantamweight. He predicts a decision win for Sopaj.
The host is confident in Sopaj's ability to dictate the pace and pressure, exploiting Cuamba's discomfort in the pocket. He expects Sopaj's superior striking and scrambling to wear down Cuamba, leading to a clear decision win. He sees Cuamba's only path to victory as a lucky knockout.
The host picks Bernardo Sopai over Timmy Kuamba, liking Sopai's bright future. He expects Sopai's aggressiveness, grappling defense, and cardio edge to wear down Kuamba and win on the scorecards.
Paul also picks Benardo Sopaj, noting that he thought Sopaj would have success with offensive wrestling. He mentions that Cuamba has size issues and that Sopaj's volume and wrestling could be key. He hopes for a better price on fight day but is still going with Sopaj.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 23 of 32 | 71% | 39 of 48 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 5:55 |
| Lee Chang-ho | 0 | 15 of 26 | 57% | 88 of 141 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 | 0 | 6:25 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Lee Chang-ho | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 49 of 90 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:52 | |
| 2 | Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 21 of 28 | 75% | 23 of 30 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:35 |
| Lee Chang-ho | 0 | 11 of 22 | 50% | 13 of 25 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 | |
| 3 | Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 14 of 15 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 4:20 |
| Lee Chang-ho | 0 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 26 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timmy Cuamba | 23 of 32 | 71% | 17 of 26 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 22 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Lee Chang-ho | 15 of 26 | 57% | 10 of 18 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 13 of 24 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timmy Cuamba | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Lee Chang-ho | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Timmy Cuamba | 21 of 28 | 75% | 16 of 23 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 20 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Lee Chang-ho | 11 of 22 | 50% | 8 of 16 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Timmy Cuamba | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Lee Chang-ho | 3 of 3 | 100% | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cuamba (-140); Lee (+110)
Round 1
Two bantamweights who tend to punch first and ask questions later will handle their business in this three-round engagement. Cuamba (9-3, 1-2 UFC) cemented himself forever as a winner in the UFC by acing Roberto Romero with a flying knee in April. His South Korean opponent Lee (11-1, 2-0 UFC) plowed through the second season of the Road to UFC, and together they combine for exactly one submission win. Referee Eric McMahon dons his proverbial hard hat, expecting these 135-pounders to swing on one another as soon as he says go. He says go, and they speed towards one another, fists extended to greet.
It takes one punch landed on Lee’s cheek for him to shoot for a takedown. The South Korean whips around to take Cuamba’s back standing, and he wrenches him to the mat from behind while getting both hooks in. Lee wraps up a body lock, and Cuamba stands up and puts his back against the cage all while Lee is threatening him. Cuamba hand-fights to defend any choke from getting set up, so Lee chills on his back smacking him on the sides of the head and body.
Cuamba uses the wall behind him to keep the weight of Lee, who remains busy softening away at Cuamba and making his life miserable. This results in a stalemate, as Lee cannot find a choke, and his strikes are not terribly damaging. The round ends with Lee trying to force the fight horizontally, with tons of time spent with Lee on Cuamba’s back controlling him but doing little else.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Lee
Round 2
Cuamba does not want to get taken down or otherwise controlled for this round, so he opens up with a flying knee. Cuamba meets an advancing Lee with his right hand cocked back, as Lee wants to take the fight down. Lee punches his way into his takedowns, backing off to find another way in. Cuamba hits his seat and pulls for an unorthodox submission, and Lee explodes out of it to pursue his grappling in another way.
Lee lumps Cuamba up with his clean right hand, which seems to connect almost every time he is about to go for a takedown. Cuamba stuffs the takedown and knees him in the chest to stand him back up, and Lee is not about to back off. Lee walks through a spinning back elbow and a number of knees to the body, with “Twilight Timmy” cranking up his offense while Lee appears to be more plodding forward straight ahead. Cuamba counters a front kick with a takedown shot, where he forces Lee to drop to his knees so he can turn the tables complete and take the Korean’s back. Cuamba isolates the neck and settles to wrap it around the jaw. Lee hand-fights to stave it all off, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Round 3
Cuamba wants to touch gloves, but Lee wants to fight instead. It is Cuamba who engages his wrestling first, however, and Lee easily shuts him down but gets his back pushed against the wire. The two split up, and Cuamba fires off a body kick that Lee snatches so he can take the back. Cuamba tries to slide out the back door, and his arm is in a precarious position as Lee wants to set up an armbar or something from the limb. He is positioned upside-down, and Cuamba flips him about to stop him from the submission. Lee tries to pursue a single, but he does not have the gas to do so.
Cuamba laces his leg around Lee’s to keep him grounded, and he lets Lee stand up so he can take his back standing. Lee drops back to his knees to try to get Cuamba off of him, and Cuamba’s hooks are preventing his escape. Cuamba stretches out Lee’s torso by pulling back on his shoulders while Lee’s legs are pushed down from the body triangle. Lee toughs it out and keeps preventing chokes from materializing, but Cuamba is firmly in the driver’s seat with 30 seconds to go. With Lee twisting and turning, Cuamba hangs on until the rough match ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba (29-28 Cuamba)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba (29-28 Cuamba)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba (29-28 Cuamba)
The Official Result
Timothy Cuamba def. Chang Ho Lee via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Timmy Cuamba, but it's a lean. He notes both fighters are similar, with forward pressure, striking, and takedowns. He likes Cuamba's body work and toughness, but worries about Lee's grappling (Korean Khabib style). He wishes the line were closer and may sit this one out in DFS due to the risk of Cuamba being on his back.
Big Brady leans toward Lee Chang-ho, calling it a striker vs grappler matchup. He notes Timmy Cuamba has a striking advantage with power, but Lee is a relentless wrestler with good cardio, nicknamed the South Korean Khabib. He sees Lee mixing in takedowns and cage pushing to win a decision, though he acknowledges Cuamba could win if he keeps it standing.
Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Lee is aggressive and will take a crazy fight to his opponent. He acknowledges Cuamba might feel bigger at bantamweight but thinks Lee's established aggression gives him the edge.
Lucrative James picks Timothy Cuamba, believing he is the superior striker with better boxing, footwork, and range control. He notes that Cuamba can be hurt but expects him to land the cleaner shots and potentially drop Lee. He acknowledges Lee's pace and pressure but thinks Cuamba will win a close decision, possibly with a knockdown.
Lee can cut off the cage as Cuamba likes to move a lot. Lee will be more successful in grappling and put together a better body of work to win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Chang Ho Lee, impressed by his grappling and pressure against Cortavious Romious. He thinks Timmy Cuamba's win over a low-level opponent is not convincing. He believes Lee's layers of attack (stand-up and grappling) will be too much, predicting a finish by ground and pound or rear naked choke in the first or second round.
Zane picks Lee Chang-ho because he is an aggressive front-foot fighter who will press a hard pace, while Cuamba is inactive and tends to neutralize himself. He notes that Cuamba has potential but hasn't realized it consistently, and Lee's aggression should overwhelm him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timmy Cuamba | 1 | 33 of 64 | 51% | 35 of 66 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Roberto Romero | 0 | 35 of 67 | 52% | 45 of 79 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:19 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 9 of 27 | 33% | 9 of 27 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Roberto Romero | 0 | 22 of 34 | 64% | 27 of 40 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:28 | |
| 2 | Timmy Cuamba | 1 | 24 of 37 | 64% | 26 of 39 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Roberto Romero | 0 | 13 of 33 | 39% | 18 of 39 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:51 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timmy Cuamba | 33 of 64 | 51% | 25 of 53 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 29 of 59 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
| Roberto Romero | 35 of 67 | 52% | 5 of 32 | 19 of 22 | 11 of 13 | 29 of 60 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timmy Cuamba | 9 of 27 | 33% | 7 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Roberto Romero | 22 of 34 | 64% | 2 of 13 | 14 of 15 | 6 of 6 | 17 of 28 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Timmy Cuamba | 24 of 37 | 64% | 18 of 29 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 22 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Roberto Romero | 13 of 33 | 39% | 3 of 19 | 5 of 7 | 5 of 7 | 12 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Romero (-115), Cuamba (-105)
Round 1
The overstuffed prelims roll on with a featherweight contest, one pitting two men against one another that have yet to earn a UFC victory in three combined tries. Cuamba (8-3, 0-2 UFC) tried and failed twice last year, while Romero (8-4-1, 0-1 UFC) came up short in his single UFC appearance in 2024. Something’s gotta give, and referee Nick Berens will know first which man will break out of a short slump. Gloves are touched, and Cuamba goes to start circling on the outside. Romero stands firmly in the center of the cage, and eventually pitches out a single leg kick. After some inaction, the “woo” birds come out, and Cuamba answers them by shooting in for a takedown when absorbing a few strikes. Romero turns him about and presses him on the fencing, and Berens warns for glove grabbing. The fighters stall out, and fans are not thrilled. They trade short knees and the occasional elbow, all while stuck in a clinch. Cuamba goes low with a knee to the groin—it looks like Romero lands his own at the same time in the exchange—and Berens calls time. After about 30 seconds, both fighters are good to go, and they resume where they started the fight, with Romero in the middle of the Octagon and Cuamba searching for angles. The latter finds one, driving through a one-two on the chin to get Romero’s attention. Romero fires back, but Cuamba is quicker and more accurate as reddens the Mexico native’s nose with his one-two. He flashes another one-two out when Romero offers a body kick, and Romero takes advantage of a body kick by catching it and looking for a takedown. Cuamba scrambles back to his feet, and he adjusts his glove in discomfort. Romero lets fly his body kick, and Cuamba’s one-two quickly meets him on the forehead to open up a tiny cut. Romero breaks off and lets go with two hard body kicks, the second of which makes Cuamba frown. Romero walks his foe down, not selling out to walk into a flying knee, and instead measuring his foe with a head kick. The round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Round 2
Romero starts the round as the aggressor, offering a glove touch that is partially accepted so that he can start kicking. Cuamba spins with a back kick to the ribcage, and Romero is not amused. As Romero bears down on his opponent, he trips Cuamba up but cannot keep him on the mat. Cuamba breaks free and again checks his left glove, but seems good to go. They trade single punches, with Romero beating him to the punch and not taking a flying knee on the chin. Romero grabs hold of the leg to take the fight down, and Cuamba’s balance holds out as he bounces to the side and introduces his fist to Romero’s face. Romero leans back to give him a pair of body kicks, and he gets in a low kick after it. Cuamba surges into action with a flurry of punches, and Romero answers him with a high kick. Cuamba’s right hand finds the mark again, staggering the Mexican but not backing him down. Romero keeps pushing forward despite the damage, and Cuamba boots him in the face. Once more, Romero is rocked, and he has to blink it out as he marches ever forward, blood streaming down his face. As Romero shoots in on his hips,
Cuamba times a picture-perfect flying knee that blasts Romero square on the jaw, and Romero crashes to the canvas in big trouble. Berens is immediately rushing in to rescue Romero, but not before Cuamba hammers his downed foe with a pair of thudding punches
. Romero rushes back to his feet and races towards Cuamba to re-engage, unaware that Berens has called the fight. Romero is upset, but the fight is already over and there is nothing that can be done tonight about what commentators questioned may have been a bit premature. Regardless of the stoppage, it is a crucial win for “Twilight Timmy,” who demonstrates that he is not in the twilight of his UFC career and instead earns a mighty victory to save his place on the roster.
The Official Result
Timothy Cuamba def. Roberto Romero R2 3:55 via TKO (Flying Knee)
Angelo picks Roberto Romero, citing his forward pressure, grappling, and toughness. He notes that Romero dropped David Onama early in his last fight and has a gritty demeanor. He is waiting for better odds before placing a bet, as Romero is a slight favorite.
Big Brady leans toward Roberto Romero, emphasizing his doggedness and urgency compared to Timmy Cuamba's lack of finishing instinct. He notes Romero's impressive short-notice debut against David Onama, where he had early success but faded. He criticizes Cuamba for sparring-like performances and lack of urgency, predicting a close decision win for Romero.
The host picks Cuamba based on his speed and athleticism advantage, expecting him to land better shots from distance and use wrestling at opportune moments to secure a decision win.
The MMA Guru picks Roberto Romero, impressed by his debut against David Onama where he hurt Onama early and showed pressure. He notes Cuamba has lost both UFC fights and didn't look good. He expects a gritty decision win for Romero, likely 29-28, as Romero leads the dance and is hard to finish.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Almeida | 0 | 59 of 116 | 50% | 73 of 136 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 2:18 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 1 | 70 of 196 | 35% | 91 of 220 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucas Almeida | 0 | 13 of 26 | 50% | 13 of 26 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 1 | 22 of 59 | 37% | 30 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 | |
| 2 | Lucas Almeida | 0 | 22 of 44 | 50% | 22 of 44 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 32 of 84 | 38% | 36 of 88 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 | |
| 3 | Lucas Almeida | 0 | 24 of 46 | 52% | 38 of 66 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 16 of 53 | 30% | 25 of 62 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Almeida | 59 of 116 | 50% | 35 of 87 | 14 of 17 | 10 of 12 | 48 of 100 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 16 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 70 of 196 | 35% | 43 of 153 | 13 of 28 | 14 of 15 | 65 of 190 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucas Almeida | 13 of 26 | 50% | 6 of 19 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 22 of 59 | 37% | 13 of 42 | 3 of 11 | 6 of 6 | 21 of 58 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Lucas Almeida | 22 of 44 | 50% | 14 of 33 | 3 of 5 | 5 of 6 | 22 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 32 of 84 | 38% | 18 of 66 | 9 of 12 | 5 of 6 | 28 of 79 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Lucas Almeida | 24 of 46 | 52% | 15 of 35 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 13 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 16 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 16 of 53 | 30% | 12 of 45 | 1 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 16 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cuamba (-205), Almeida (+170)
Round 1
When he punted Michael Stack at the beginning of February, “Twilight Timmy” Cuamba (8-2, 0-1 UFC) could have scarcely predicted his UFC debut would come one week later. While it did not go his way against Bolaji Oki, Cuamba gets a second chance to make a first impression. He takes on aggressive Almeida (14-3, 1-2 UFC) and his 100% finish rate. Referee Mike Beltran dons his hard hat, and he tells the fighter’s it’s time to fight. The 145ers do not bother bumping fists, as Almeida wants to start something. He does that with a low kick, and he jabs the body shortly thereafter. Almeida cuts Cuamba off around the cage, walking him down and throwing a low kick. Cuamba pays him back with a speedy one-two, and he gets off a jab on the outside. Another one-two from “Twilight Timmy” finds its home on the chin, and Almeida shakes it off and continues pressuring. The Brazilian swipes out with a left hand, and he chips at the front leg with kicks. Cuamba stands his man up with a left hand, but the right misses. On the way back, Cuamba plants a stern kick on the lead leg of his adversary. Almeida jabs with the fall of his foot, and a ferocious one-two stuns Cuamba and sits him down. Almeida tries to pound him out with ground strikes while leaning on Cuamba, but Cuamba does not go all the way down and instead muscles his way back upright. Almeida keeps firing the right hand, drawing a shot in response from the Las Vegas native. Almeida stands his foe up and knees him once before splitting off, and he returns to stalking mode. Two punches get around the guard, and Cuamba takes them flush and keeps retreating. Almeida tags him with another right hand to set him down, and Cuamba scrambles and gets up. To take some of the venom out of his foe’s shots, Cuamba presses Almeida against the cage wall for a time. Almeida escapes and starts potshotting Cuamba, until Cuamba is tired of the one-sided exchanges and starts brawling. Cuamba dislodges the mouthpiece of his foe, but Almeida puts on the pace with punches and a high kick that wraps up around the guard. Almeida ducks back to dodge a head kick, and he eats a right hand while plodding forward. Cuamba strikes the body a few times, and he makes it to the end of the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Almeida
Round 2
Almeida is loaded for bear to start off the second round, as he gets right back to cutting Cuamba off while throwing hands. Cuamba sits down on single strikes, thumping a left to the body and one to the head. Almeida lunges forward, and Cuamba counters him with a sharp left. Cuamba checks a low kick and tosses one back, and they trade jabs shortly thereafter. The jabs are landed again at the same time, and Cuamba again targets the liver with a left. Almeida steps through a punch to wing three of his own, and he scores a solid low kick. They both start swinging bungalows, and Almeida catches Cuamba with a clean left hand that drops “Twilight Timmy” to a knee. Cuamba sits up and rushes after a single-leg takedown, but Almeida is able to shove him away without much concern. Cuamba gets his sea legs with the successful dilatory tactic, but he is not slowing Almeida’s momentum. Almeida chops at his leg and walks through a jab to rifle off a right hand, and he slips a counter jab. Almeida sinks in a left hand and laughs off a leg kick, and a one-two along with two hooks at least partially connect. Almeida surges into a left hand, and he clips Cuamba once more as he lines up punches to the head and then body. Cuamba strafes away, and Almeida is on him with a left to the body and right to the head. Cuamba’s legs wobble, but Almeida is buttering his bread as he seems to find that right hand any time he wants. Cuamba scrambles to the side, and Almeida plants two fists and a head kick up top right before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Almeida
Round 3
The fighters reach the last round and share a brief glove touch, and Almeida returns quickly to his predatory best. Walking Cuamba down, throwing jabs, follow-up punches, leg kicks and the occasional power strike, Almeida beats Cuamba to the punch while not getting answered by anything overly concerning. Cuamba slams a kick to the ribs, but it is one-and-done as Almeida walks him down. Cuamba shoots for a single, and he drags the Brazilian to his seat but does not establish control. Almeida turns the corner and pushes down on the back of Cuamba’s head to stop him from going anywhere until he moves enough to escape and reset. Almeida jabs the head and body without fear of reprisal, and he shrugs off a front kick to pump out more jabs. Cuamba lands at the end of a right hand, drawing a wide counter from his foe. They both jab at one another, and Almeida’s range gives up the upper hand. Cuamba lands once, but Almeida rings him up for four in the same flurry. Almeida just misses with a high kick, and they double jab at one another. Almeida hacks at the front leg and absorbs a body kick, and the two start swinging recklessly. Cuamba catches his adversary with a left hook, and he moves to take the brunt out of the overhand right counter. Almeida collides his fist on the dome and spins with a wheel kick that buzzes the tower, and Cuamba decides two can spin and lands his own back kick on the belly. Cuamba closes in to strike, and although Almeida lands two on the inside, Cuamba uses the momentum and a trip to put the Brazilian on the canvas. Cuamba sits up and drops down a few punches and some fierce elbows, and he looks for a finish with seconds to go and rains down blows until time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (30-27 Almeida)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Almeida (30-27 Almeida)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba (29-27 Almeida)
The Official Result
Lucas Almeida def. Timothy Cuamba via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Lucas Almeida as an underdog, citing his deeper resume and higher level of competition. He notes Lucas is a powerful striker who comes forward, while Timmy is more technical but less experienced. He thinks Lucas's power and chin could be the difference, though Timmy's accuracy is a concern. He mentions the plus 165 odds are appealing.
Cody picks Lucas Almeida as a dog, arguing that Cuamba is a low-volume striker who relies on a knockout and has shown poor cardio and wrestling. He notes that Almeida has better wins and has fought tougher competition, including a competitive fight with Daniel Zellhuber. Cody believes Almeida's volume and leg kicks can overwhelm Cuamba, and that the line is too wide for a fighter of Cuamba's level.
Daniel Vreeland is concerned about Lucas Almeida's recent performances, noting he only landed two strikes in his last fight and looked stiff. He speculates a possible health issue. He likes Timothy Cuamba's technical soundness and ability to fight everywhere, though he's not the most physical. He believes Cuamba can pick Almeida apart and mix in wrestling.
Jacob picks Timmy, thinking he is the more technical striker and could mix in takedowns against Lucas's poor takedown defense. He notes Timmy held his own against Bolaji on short notice. He acknowledges Lucas is more dangerous but believes Timmy's technique will prevail.
Cuamba's lateral movement will frustrate Almeida, opening up takedown opportunities and allowing Cuamba to land damage from distance. The line is too wide for someone taking a step up in competition, but Cuamba's potential and body of work should get the judges' favor.
Paul agrees with Cody, stating that Cuamba is a low-volume Contender Series guy and that he would never bet that type of fighter at minus 200. He notes that Almeida gave Zellhuber a tough fight and that plus 180 is generous. Paul thinks Almeida can win with volume and pressure.
The MMA Guru picks Timmy Cuamba by decision. He notes Cuamba stepped up on short notice in his debut against Boki and took him to a split decision, showing composure. He thinks Cuamba has been tested and that Lucas Almeida's wins have asterisks, including a first-round KO loss to Andre Fili. He believes Cuamba's experience against a larger, powerful opponent in Boki will help him handle Almeida's physicality.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolaji Oki | 0 | 60 of 152 | 39% | 61 of 157 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:49 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 33 of 94 | 35% | 35 of 96 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bolaji Oki | 0 | 29 of 61 | 47% | 30 of 64 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 9 of 43 | 20% | 9 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Bolaji Oki | 0 | 10 of 25 | 40% | 10 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:19 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 11 of 21 | 52% | 13 of 23 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 | |
| 3 | Bolaji Oki | 0 | 21 of 66 | 31% | 21 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:20 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 13 of 30 | 43% | 13 of 30 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolaji Oki | 60 of 152 | 39% | 51 of 139 | 5 of 8 | 4 of 5 | 58 of 145 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 3 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 33 of 94 | 35% | 20 of 67 | 8 of 14 | 5 of 13 | 26 of 86 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bolaji Oki | 29 of 61 | 47% | 24 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 5 | 28 of 56 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 3 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 9 of 43 | 20% | 5 of 30 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 10 | 9 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Bolaji Oki | 10 of 25 | 40% | 10 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 11 of 21 | 52% | 9 of 15 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 14 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Bolaji Oki | 21 of 66 | 31% | 17 of 60 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 64 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Timmy Cuamba | 13 of 30 | 43% | 6 of 22 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 29 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: N/A
Round 1
On August 29, 2023, both Oki (8-1, 0-0 UFC) and Cuamba (8-1, 0-0 UFC) competed on the fourth episode of Dana White’s Contender Series in its 2023 season. Both men ended up getting their hands raised—Oki by knockout, and Cuamba by decision—and the former was signed. The latter went back to the regionals, where he fought at Tuff-N-Uff, the former all-amateur promotion, and smoked Michael Stack just one week ago. The round robin of fighters ends with this lightweight pairing of 8-1 newcomers, and it will be joined in the cage by referee Chris Tognoni. There is no plan on touching gloves, as they would rather get down to business. Oki presents himself as the immediate aggressor, chasing Cuamba down and reaching out with a low kick and some wide punches. Cuamba does not engage with much of his own offense in the opening 90 seconds, but for a few jabs and low kicks. Oki throws back one leg kick and unloads with two big right hands that mark up Cuamba’s face. Cuamba looses a right hand of his own back Oki off, but Oki is driving jabs to the increasingly red eye of his opponent. Oki times an advancing Cuamba with a short right, and the offense slows down from both parties. Oki shuffles in place as he tosses out a single right hand, and when that misses, Cuamba lets rip two overhand rights. Oki pokes out several more jabs and avoids the counter, and he lands a low kick with an audible thud. Cuamba comes back with a jab and slings a right hand after it, and he presses forward but pulls back before shooting. Oki gladly remains in boxing range, jabbing his opponent up, until Cuamba spurs into action with a head kick. Oki catches it and pushes Cuamba to the floor, where he unloads with a series of punches until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oki
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Oki
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Oki
Round 2
The lightweights reach out to exchange a glove touch to start off the round, and Oki starts to chase Cuamba around the cage with jabs. Cuamba looks to mix things up with low kicks, but Oki walks through it and doubles up a jab to nail Cuamba with a right hand. Cuamba comes back with a two-punch combination, but it does not fluster Oki in the slightest. Oki continues to jab without fear of reprisal, and even when a counter comes from Cuamba, it is one-and-done. Oki peppers his man with a jab and occasional follow-up punches, and Cuamba attacks in response with a single-leg takedown effort. Oki backs up to the wall in defense, and he stifles Cuamba from getting him down and ends up taking Cuamba’s back in the process. Oki considers a rear-naked choke but falls off the side, although he gets a single hook in momentarily. Cuamba turns him back and stays doggedly pursuing the single, and he transitions to a double and manages to ground Oki after all. Cuamba steps over to the side and sits in an open half guard as he postures up to elbow Oki. When Oki sits up, Cuamba considers a guillotine choke at the 10-second clapper. Oki stands up, ignores a few elbows on the side of his head, and he hangs on as the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cuamba
Round 3
The final round commences as Oki looks to pick up where he left off on the feet with a veritable cornucopia of jabs. Cuamba attempts a kick, but Oki is too close and irritating him with jabs. Oki drops his hands and puts them behind his back to showboat, and Cuamba punches him square in the face. Oki continues to march forward with jabs outstretched, and he surprises his adversary by attempting a level change. Cuamba pushes him away and returns to kickboxing range. Oki welcomes this by reintroducing his jab to the face of his opponent, and he is light enough on his feet to dodge the counters that careen his direction. Cuamba sneaks out a left hand as he gets constantly driven back, but he cannot seem to stop the methodical strategy of “The Zulu Warrior.” Cuamba tries to swing for the fences, and Oki watches them soar past him. Oki sprawls to stop a takedown, and he marches down Cuamba and strings four punches together. Oki catches Cuamba with an uppercut, as he puts a bit more mustard on his punches with less than a minute to go. Cuamba keeps circling and absorbing punches, and he occasionally looks for a brawl but is telegraphing the majority of his power strikes. Oki fearlessly presses ahead with punches in bunches, gets in a knee, and reaches out with a Superman punch right before this lackluster offering comes to a close.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oki (29-28 Oki)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Oki (29-28 Oki)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Oki (29-28 Oki)
The Official Result
Bolaji Oki def. Timothy Cuamba via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo describes Bolaji Oki as a busy striker with a good jab, power, and fast sprawl, though he slows down. He notes that Timmy Cuamba (referred to as deir hadzic) is an okay striker who relies on closing distance and takedowns, but his wide strikes leave him open to counters. Angelo believes Oki can defend takedowns and land effectively, and picks him to win. He suggests under 2.5 rounds might make sense.
Big Brady picks Bolaji Oki to win by decision. He notes that Oki has many ways to win, including wrestling, as Cuamba has the worst takedown defense in the lightweight division. He thinks Oki can brawl on the feet but can also take Cuamba down easily. He is not laying -300 on a debutant but picks Oki.
Cody picks Oki, noting his size and power. He thinks Cuamba is taking the fight on short notice and moving up a weight class, which are disadvantages. Oki has shown good wrestling and knockout power. Cody expects Oki to land the bigger shots and win by decision or late stoppage.
Oki is a young, powerful striker with speed and explosiveness. He should be able to find an early knockout against the aging and injury-returning Hadzovic. Hadzovic's ring rust and knee surgery recovery are major concerns. Oki's power will be too much, and he should win by first-round knockout.
Paul also picks Oki, citing size and preparation. He notes Cuamba fought last week and is moving up, which could affect his performance. Oki is the more proven prospect. Paul is not planning to bet it but leans Oki.
The MMA Guru picks Bolaji Oki because he is a dangerous athlete with good reach and power, and he is facing Timothy Cuamba on short notice. He recalls Oki's nasty first-round finish on the Contender Series. He notes that Cuamba is moving up from featherweight and taking the fight on short notice, which he sees as a disadvantage.
Benardo Sopaj - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 29 of 80 | 36% | 29 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 1 | 37 of 56 | 66% | 66 of 92 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 2 | 0 | 1:54 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 20 of 60 | 33% | 20 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 11 of 20 | 55% | 17 of 28 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:52 | |
| 2 | Timmy Cuamba | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 9 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 1 | 26 of 36 | 72% | 49 of 64 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timmy Cuamba | 29 of 80 | 36% | 12 of 54 | 9 of 13 | 8 of 13 | 29 of 80 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 37 of 56 | 66% | 34 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 23 of 24 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timmy Cuamba | 20 of 60 | 33% | 7 of 40 | 6 of 9 | 7 of 11 | 20 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 11 of 20 | 55% | 9 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Timmy Cuamba | 9 of 20 | 45% | 5 of 14 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 9 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 26 of 36 | 72% | 25 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 23 of 24 |
Angelo picks Benardo Sopaj, considering him the better fighter everywhere. He notes Sopaj is cleaner, faster, and a better wrestler. He trusts Sopaj's pressure and cardio despite a year layoff. He thinks -160 is a good spot.
Big Brady leans toward Benardo Sopaj, citing his power, wrestling, and grappling upside. He expects Sopaj to be more active in striking and have a grappling advantage, as long as his cardio holds up. He predicts a decision win in a close fight.
Cody picks Benardo Sopaj, citing his higher striking volume (4.24 significant strikes per minute vs Cuamba's 2.77) and aggression. He notes that Cuamba has a reach advantage and uses his jab well, but Sopaj lands more and is the better striker. He expects a close 29-28 decision but is not overly confident due to Sopaj's one-dimensional style.
Cuamba is well-rounded and has good cardio, but is passive. Sopaj is more technical but fades. The fight depends on Cuamba's aggression. No strong read, so pass.
Lucrative James leans toward Benardo Sopaj, citing his power, grappling upside, and potential ceiling. He notes Sopaj's ability to get takedowns and hurt opponents, while Cuamba may struggle with speed at bantamweight. He predicts a decision win for Sopaj.
The host picks Bernardo Sopai over Timmy Kuamba, liking Sopai's bright future. He expects Sopai's aggressiveness, grappling defense, and cardio edge to wear down Kuamba and win on the scorecards.
The host is confident in Sopaj's ability to dictate the pace and pressure, exploiting Cuamba's discomfort in the pocket. He expects Sopaj's superior striking and scrambling to wear down Cuamba, leading to a clear decision win. He sees Cuamba's only path to victory as a lucky knockout.
Paul also picks Benardo Sopaj, noting that he thought Sopaj would have success with offensive wrestling. He mentions that Cuamba has size issues and that Sopaj's volume and wrestling could be key. He hopes for a better price on fight day but is still going with Sopaj.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 78 of 144 | 54% | 113 of 187 | 1 of 9 | 11% | 0 | 0 | 1:56 |
| Ricky Turcios | 1 | 81 of 139 | 58% | 97 of 155 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:30 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 25 of 44 | 56% | 45 of 64 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 |
| Ricky Turcios | 0 | 18 of 35 | 51% | 20 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:48 | |
| 2 | Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 30 of 52 | 57% | 42 of 68 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 |
| Ricky Turcios | 0 | 25 of 48 | 52% | 29 of 52 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 | |
| 3 | Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 23 of 48 | 47% | 26 of 55 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:19 |
| Ricky Turcios | 1 | 38 of 56 | 67% | 48 of 66 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benardo Sopaj | 78 of 144 | 54% | 30 of 86 | 24 of 32 | 24 of 26 | 60 of 120 | 18 of 22 | 0 of 2 |
| Ricky Turcios | 81 of 139 | 58% | 64 of 117 | 8 of 11 | 9 of 11 | 48 of 99 | 16 of 20 | 17 of 20 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benardo Sopaj | 25 of 44 | 56% | 6 of 23 | 8 of 10 | 11 of 11 | 23 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Ricky Turcios | 18 of 35 | 51% | 13 of 28 | 1 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 14 of 30 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Benardo Sopaj | 30 of 52 | 57% | 13 of 29 | 11 of 15 | 6 of 8 | 18 of 37 | 12 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
| Ricky Turcios | 25 of 48 | 52% | 19 of 41 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 37 | 9 of 11 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Benardo Sopaj | 23 of 48 | 47% | 11 of 34 | 5 of 7 | 7 of 7 | 19 of 41 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 2 |
| Ricky Turcios | 38 of 56 | 67% | 32 of 48 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 5 | 18 of 32 | 4 of 5 | 16 of 19 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sopai (-355), Turcios (+280)
Round 1
The day before UFC Fight Night 247, also known as Magny vs. Prates, went down last November, Turcios (12-4, 2-2 UFC) fell ill during his weight cut and was forced out of his match with Sopai (11-3, 0-1 UFC). It took over two months to get the bantamweight pairing on the books again, but both fighters appear healthy and good to go this time around. They settle their business under the watchful eye of referee Frank Trigg, choosing to touch gloves before getting after it. Sopai pushes the pace immediately, allowing kicks from “Pretty Ricky” to fly past him so he can smack the Texan in the face with the instep of his foot. As Sopai keeps kicking, Turcios strafes left and right to set something up on his end. This results in a lot of chasing from the Albanian, who times a solid head kick to bean Turcios in the forehead. Turcios shakes it off and kicks the lead leg of his opponent two times in a row. Turcios chains a low kick into a spinning back kick to the midsection, and he keeps his gloves up to defend the head kick that aims at his dome. The two fire off low kicks, and one slides up the lead leg and bumps into Sopai’s cup. Trigg tells them to keep it clean and they fight on, with chants of “Let’s go, Ricky” as the Texan finds some success. Turcios steps on the gas and stalks down “The Lion King,” connecting with front kicks and pushing forward so he can grapple his opponent. As they clinch up against the fence, Turcios clings on tight while firing off several knees up the middle, and he keeps in close even as Sopai tries to escape. Sopai manages to get away, but Turcios races after him and tackles him down to his knees. Sopai defends it and stands up, but the second attempt from Turcios drags him down. Sopai scrambles to stand up, and Turcios leaps on his back to threaten with something. Sopai twists to put Turcios on his back, and he lines up some ground-and-pound. The strikes open up a cut on the corner of the face of “Pretty Ricky,” who explodes back to his feet and starts brawling it out with his foe. Sopai welcomes the slugfest, and he eats a hefty low kick, a right hand and some knees with shoved against the wall. The horn sounds to end the close round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sopai
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Sopai
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sopai
Round 2
The fighters touch ‘em up to get started in the second round, and Sopai quickly backs Turcios to the wall and boots him upside the head. Sopai jabs his way in, and he slips back to avoid a low kick but is not able to get out of the way as Turcios is on him. “Pretty Ricky” lets fly two body kicks and tries to wrench Sopai to the floor, and they land in 50/50 position before pushing off to return to striking range. Turcios chips at the front leg a few times, getting away with naked kicks without reprisal. Sopai bears down on him and slugs him in the chops with a fierce right hand, forcing Turcios to turn tail and sprint away to reset. Sopai chases after him swinging hard, and Turcios gathers his thoughts and wings his own punches back when sitting down on them. Turcios leaps after a takedown, and Sopai turns him about and down to the ground. A furious scramble from Turcios leads to both men getting back upright, and he walks through an uppercut so he can get in close. Sopai connects with a knee that shakes Turcios up, and he pushes Turcios down to his hands to further slow him. Turcios twist and stands up, working the sides with punches only to get met with two crisp knees from the Albanian. Turcios consistently presses forward, backing Sopai off and making him work, and this appears to be bearing fruit as Sopai starts taking deep breaths with 90 seconds left in the round. Turcios, meanwhile, is fresh as a daisy and hurls big punches with bad intentions behind them. A pair of them clip Sopai, who ties his foe up and connects with a few knees to keep Turcios honest. Sopai pushes away a takedown shot to blast the Texan in the face with ferocious punches, and he trips Turcios up but elects not to follow him down so he can keep hitting him. Turcios drops down for a potential takedown, shakes it off and tries to keep swinging until the bell separates them.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sopai
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Sopai
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sopai
Round 3
There is a glove touch to start the final round, and Sopai further reintroduces himself with a low kick and a body kick. The latter appears to take the wind out of the Texan’s sails, who drops to his knees and is in a bad way. Sopai tries to pound him out, ultimately settling to push Turcios all the way to his back so he can start bludgeoning him with elbows. Turcios’ nose busts open as blood sprays out of it, down his chest and all over the mat. Turcios practically laughs, somehow willing himself back to his feet so he can put hands on the man that hurt him. Sopai backs off, and Turcios races after him to clinch fight him. Turcios walks through punches to land some of his own, and Sopai eats them, shakes his head and knees “Pretty Ricky” in his not-so-pretty face. Swelling, a crunched nose and blood have transformed Turcios’ visage to something out of a European fairy tale, but Turcios has no concern for his outer appearance and just wants to bleed and fight. Turcios runs towards Sopai, throwing everything he has at his tiring opponent, and he hops on Sopai’s back only to slide off thanks to the sweat and blood. Sopai climbs into his guard, and he fights off a triangle choke setup to shift to the side. Turcios turns over to his knees and stands up, and they fire off jabs at one another with about 90 seconds on the clock. Turcios checks a kick and charges into the fray, absorbing plenty of strikes so he can hope to catch Sopai with something. Sopai pushes him away with front kicks, and he leaps in the air with a knee that glances off the target. Turcios walks directly into a knee, and an uppercut puts him down on his face for a moment. Turcios bounces off the mat, head-first, and does not just pop up but is appears totally fine and ready to keep banging. With “Fight of the Night” already having a frontrunner, the two add to it by going for broke with seconds to spare. Sopai flips at his opponent with a somersault kick, and Turcios takes it flush and chucks his opponent to the floor like a 135-pound side of beef. As Turcios tries to beat down his foe, Sopai throws his legs up to hang tight on a triangle choke until the bloody battle comes to a close.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sopai (30-27 Sopai)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Sopai (30-27 Sopai)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sopai (30-27 Sopai)
The Official Result
Bernardo Sopai def. Ricky Turcios via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo picks Benardo Sopaj, citing his speed, power, takedown defense, and overall skill advantage over Ricky Turcios. He acknowledges Turcios' high pace and pressure but believes Sopaj can slow it down and take advantage of the skill gap. However, he warns against betting Sopaj at -400 due to the risk from his recent knockout loss.
Cody picks Benardo Sopaj, noting that the line is 100 points better than when the fight was first booked. He believes Sopaj is a legitimate prospect with strong wrestling and improving striking. Turcios has poor takedown defense, as seen against Kevin Natividad and Brady Hiestand, and his wins are split decisions. Sopaj is younger and more dynamic. Cody expects Sopaj to take Turcios down and secure rounds, possibly earning a finish. Sopaj is part of the Saftic Super Boost.
Daniel picks Sopaj, noting that he has never been a fan of Turcios' style. He believes Sopaj is a real prospect with impressive knockouts on the regional scene. Daniel thinks Sopaj's physical attributes and raw skill will overcome Turcios' experience. He mentions that Sopaj's only loss was to a dangerous fighter (Lock Dog) and that Turcios is not a threat.
The host believes Sopaj won fans with a close fight against Vinicius Oliveira and can put on a high-paced fight, landing more damage and outworking Turcios on route to a decision victory.
Paul agrees with Cody, picking Sopaj. He notes that Turcios has been taken down multiple times by opponents who committed to wrestling, and Sopaj has the wrestling to do the same. Paul believes Sopaj's power and takedowns will be decisive. He is comfortable adding Sopaj to tickets despite the chalk.
The MMA Guru picks Benardo Sopaj over Ricky Turcios. He heavily criticizes Turcios' mentality and performance, citing low strike accuracy and lack of will to win. He praises Sopaj's short-notice debut against Vinicius Oliveira, where Sopaj won the first round and was winning the second before getting reversed. He believes Sopaj is a good fighter and will get the job done.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinicius Oliveira | 1 | 67 of 144 | 46% | 88 of 170 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:37 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 45 of 86 | 52% | 92 of 146 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 4:28 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vinicius Oliveira | 0 | 7 of 31 | 22% | 9 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 14 of 26 | 53% | 33 of 48 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:45 | |
| 2 | Vinicius Oliveira | 0 | 17 of 31 | 54% | 36 of 54 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:36 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 18 of 24 | 75% | 46 of 62 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:43 | |
| 3 | Vinicius Oliveira | 1 | 43 of 82 | 52% | 43 of 82 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 0 | 13 of 36 | 36% | 13 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinicius Oliveira | 67 of 144 | 46% | 39 of 91 | 11 of 20 | 17 of 33 | 49 of 112 | 3 of 13 | 15 of 19 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 45 of 86 | 52% | 42 of 81 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 21 of 55 | 0 of 2 | 24 of 29 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vinicius Oliveira | 7 of 31 | 22% | 1 of 12 | 2 of 5 | 4 of 14 | 7 of 29 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 14 of 26 | 53% | 12 of 22 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 9 | |
| 2 | Vinicius Oliveira | 17 of 31 | 54% | 14 of 25 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 5 | 2 of 7 | 15 of 19 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 18 of 24 | 75% | 17 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 16 of 20 | |
| 3 | Vinicius Oliveira | 43 of 82 | 52% | 24 of 54 | 6 of 10 | 13 of 18 | 42 of 78 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Benardo Sopaj | 13 of 36 | 36% | 13 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: N/A
Round 1
It’s back-to-back 135-pound contests of Zahabi-Basharat and now Oliveira (19-3, 0-0 UFC) vs. Sopai (11-2, 0-0 UFC), with this pairing between UFC debutants. Both fighters do not like to involve the judges often, with “Lok Dog” posting a finish rate of 89%, and Albania’s Sopai countering with 91%. While the final bell might not play a factor, referee Keith Peterson almost certainly will before it is all said and done. Ahead of the action, there is a no-nonsense fist bump to commence this short-notice contest. Oliveira introduces himself with a rangy body kick, and he stalks forward with a sweeping leg kick. Sopai replies with a high kick that whizzes past his foe’s head, and Oliveira kicks him on the calf two more times. Oliveira aims a side kick to the knee, and keeps is guard up to defend from another head kick. The two crash together, and their excitement causes them to flail madly and miss wide on both sides. Oliveira goes to chase after his opponent, and Sopai chops him down with an inside low kick. Oliveira winds up with a power punch, and Sopai gets him back with another kick. Oliveira spins his man around with a leg kick, and Sopai tries and fails to wing a right hand when he spins about. Oliveira chips away with his calf kicks, keeping a safe range from the lunging Sopai. Oliveira spins for a wheel kick, and Sopai intercepts him and tackles him to the canvas. Sopai jumps to side control, and Oliveira counters with a heel hook attempt. Sopai lowers himself down to thwart the submission setup, and he settles down inside of the Brazilian’s guard. Oliveira throws up an armbar to threaten from his back, and Sopai backs off and lets them stand back up. Sopai chases after the Brazilian and lays into him with a huge right hand, and Oliveira responds with a head kick and a hard right hand to follow. Sopai winds up on power punches, blocks a head kick and scoots back to dodge a leg kick. Oliveira aims a kick that slaps into the guard, and Sopai chops his lead leg with a kick before charging to land a takedown. Sopai lands in full mount, but Oliveira bucks him back to the guard. Oliveira hacks with elbows from his back and kicks Sopai off of him, but Sopai lowers himself and smacks Oliveira in the face several times until the horn stops the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sopai
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sopai
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sopai
Round 2
The bantamweights clap hands to re-engage, and Oliveira starts off with a leg kick. Sopai aggressively hunts for a takedown, and when Oliveira counters with a trip, Sopai is able to bowl his man over and set him down. Oliveira turns to his side and then gives up his back, and Sopai wraps a hook around the waist and starts slamming the Brazilian in the side of the head with right hands. Sopai clobbers his fading opponent with punches and occasional elbows, and Peterson looks closely at the undefended strikes adding up. Oliveira keeps turning, and he gets flattened out briefly as Sopai hammers him with ground-and-pound. Sopai allows Oliveira to turn all the way around and follows him every step of the way, claiming Oliveira’s back once more and slamming down fierce right hands. Sopai sits up and rides Oliveira’s back like a professional bull rider, and he beats on Oliveira with several more right hands. Oliveira stands up with Sopai still on his back, and Sopai threatens with a rear-naked choke when he sees the opening. Oliveira grabs hold of one arm and slings Sopai over, and he chucks Sopai on his back. Oliveira unleashes a fury of power strikes, hurting Sopai and stepping into a partial mount until Sopai muscles his way back to his feet. Oliveira wrenches him away from the wall and climbs into top position with about a minute to go, and he drives down standing-to-ground punches and elbows that do some serious damage. Oliveira flattens himself down to grab hold of an arm-triangle choke, and he drives down punches and elbows until Sopai kicks him off. Sopai stands back up and walks into a head kick, and Oliveira races after him throwing hands. Sopai retaliates with a big punch, and he gets blasted with a head kick as he turns away before the round ends. When the round does conclude, Sopai puts his hands on his waist, and he appears totally exhausted.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Oliveira
Round 3
The fighters touch ‘em up to start the last round, and Oliveira walks Sopai down. When Sopai misses with a punch, Oliveira flails with several punches and a leg kick that does connect. Oliveira’s wild offense largely misses, and Sopai appears to still be catching his wind, as he only offers an occasional single strike. Oliveira charges forward with a right hand, and Sopai’s legs are barely beneath him as he partially absorbs a high kick. Oliveira drills him with two right hooks in rapid succession, and Sopai takes a sharp exhale in response. Oliveira meanders forward, no concern for his physical well-being, and he throws everything he has into every one of his strikes. Sopai allows most of them to soar past him, but the ones that do connect hurt him. Oliveira lands a few leg kicks as well, and he turns away to his corner and then lances Sopai with a few straight punches. Sopai is sucking wind as he tries to give something back, but Oliveira’s offense forces him to backpedal constantly. Oliveira winds up with a fierce right hand, and Sopai staggers back to the wall. Oliveira follows it with a leg kick, and he dings Sopai with another right. Oliveira loads up on power right hands and sweeping leg kicks, and Sopai is displaying his toughness but is getting knocked around the cage. Oliviera lands yet another big right hand, and Sopai bounces off the cage wall and offers back a single jab. Oliveira shoots down for a takedown, and when that fails, he swings inaccurately. Sopai reaches him with a swiping left hook, and Oliveira chops at his leg and belts him with a left hand that sends Sopai staggering back. Sopai turns away, his hands down, and the Brazilian sees his opening.
Oliveira sprints at his opponent, leaping in the air with and colliding in Sopai’s chin with about as clean of a flying knee as anyone will ever see. Sopai collapses lifelessly to the mat like a puppet whose strings have been cut, and Oliveira strides off, knowing there is nothing more he needs to do today but sign the check for his post-fight bonus.
Chalk this up as an immediate “Knockout of the Year” frontrunner, with the brutal flying knee to conclude the thrilling battle. Thankfully, Sopai eventually regains his senses, but he needs to be carried out of the Octagon from all the damage he sustained after nearly 15 minutes of ridiculous action and violence.
The Official Result
Vinicius Oliveira def. Bernardo Sopai R3 4:41 via KO (Flying Knee)
Angelo picks Vinicius Oliveira, expecting him to bring forward pressure and aggression. He notes that Oliveira is sloppy but dangerous, while Benardo Sopaj is a patient, boring striker. He thinks Oliveira will win and the fight will not go the distance.
Cody picks Oliveira but is hesitant, noting the fight was just announced. He mentions Oliveira's solid wins and finishing ability, but also his questionable durability. He notes Sopaj is undersized and on short notice. Cody says he would have bet Oliveira at -150 but now at even money it's more appealing, though he needs to see weigh-ins.
Paul tentatively picks Oliveira, noting he has no strong opinion due to the fight being added late. He mentions Oliveira's size advantage and leg kicks as key factors. He acknowledges Sopaj is a young prospect but undersized. Paul says he needs to do more research and let the line settle before feeling confident.
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks Benardo Sopaj, considering him the better fighter everywhere. He notes Sopaj is cleaner, faster, and a better wrestler. He trusts Sopaj's pressure and cardio despite a year layoff. He thinks -160 is a good spot.
Big Brady leans toward Benardo Sopaj, citing his power, wrestling, and grappling upside. He expects Sopaj to be more active in striking and have a grappling advantage, as long as his cardio holds up. He predicts a decision win in a close fight.
Cody picks Benardo Sopaj, citing his higher striking volume (4.24 significant strikes per minute vs Cuamba's 2.77) and aggression. He notes that Cuamba has a reach advantage and uses his jab well, but Sopaj lands more and is the better striker. He expects a close 29-28 decision but is not overly confident due to Sopaj's one-dimensional style.
Cuamba is well-rounded and has good cardio, but is passive. Sopaj is more technical but fades. The fight depends on Cuamba's aggression. No strong read, so pass.
Lucrative James leans toward Benardo Sopaj, citing his power, grappling upside, and potential ceiling. He notes Sopaj's ability to get takedowns and hurt opponents, while Cuamba may struggle with speed at bantamweight. He predicts a decision win for Sopaj.
The host picks Bernardo Sopai over Timmy Kuamba, liking Sopai's bright future. He expects Sopai's aggressiveness, grappling defense, and cardio edge to wear down Kuamba and win on the scorecards.
The host is confident in Sopaj's ability to dictate the pace and pressure, exploiting Cuamba's discomfort in the pocket. He expects Sopaj's superior striking and scrambling to wear down Cuamba, leading to a clear decision win. He sees Cuamba's only path to victory as a lucky knockout.
Paul also picks Benardo Sopaj, noting that he thought Sopaj would have success with offensive wrestling. He mentions that Cuamba has size issues and that Sopaj's volume and wrestling could be key. He hopes for a better price on fight day but is still going with Sopaj.
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