Career Averages - Mark Vologdin
Career Averages - Josias Musasa
Mark Vologdin - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Castañeda | 0 | 135 of 253 | 53% | 160 of 279 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:15 |
| Mark Vologdin | 0 | 91 of 217 | 41% | 96 of 222 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Castañeda | 0 | 25 of 44 | 56% | 28 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
| Mark Vologdin | 0 | 24 of 52 | 46% | 29 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 | |
| 2 | John Castañeda | 0 | 45 of 86 | 52% | 49 of 90 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Mark Vologdin | 0 | 38 of 69 | 55% | 38 of 69 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 | |
| 3 | John Castañeda | 0 | 65 of 123 | 52% | 83 of 142 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
| Mark Vologdin | 0 | 29 of 96 | 30% | 29 of 96 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Castañeda | 135 of 253 | 53% | 79 of 181 | 19 of 31 | 37 of 41 | 124 of 233 | 10 of 18 | 1 of 2 |
| Mark Vologdin | 91 of 217 | 41% | 53 of 165 | 26 of 34 | 12 of 18 | 84 of 202 | 7 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Castañeda | 25 of 44 | 56% | 8 of 22 | 4 of 7 | 13 of 15 | 25 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Mark Vologdin | 24 of 52 | 46% | 10 of 30 | 6 of 9 | 8 of 13 | 23 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | John Castañeda | 45 of 86 | 52% | 24 of 59 | 3 of 8 | 18 of 19 | 44 of 83 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Mark Vologdin | 38 of 69 | 55% | 23 of 53 | 13 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 37 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | John Castañeda | 65 of 123 | 52% | 47 of 100 | 12 of 16 | 6 of 7 | 55 of 106 | 9 of 16 | 1 of 1 |
| Mark Vologdin | 29 of 96 | 30% | 20 of 82 | 7 of 11 | 2 of 3 | 24 of 83 | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Castaneda (-120); Vologdin (+100)
Round 1
While initially booked as a bantamweight fight, someone in the Castaneda (21-8, 4-4 UFC) vs. Vologdin (12-4-1, 0-0 UFC) matchup appeared to be struggling to get down to 136 pounds and requested it be set for 139 pounds. The catchweight contest will have gold-standard referee Jason Herzog watching over the fighters, and they are glad to still be competing and show it with a shared clap of hands.
Castaneda says hello with his leg, firing off kicks high and low to make Vologdin nod at him in appreciation of his game. Castaneda even goes for an axe kick when Vologdin crowds him, and Vologdin settles to kick his foe back a few times. Castaneda bounces out of the way when the shorter Russian lunges at him, and he watches Vologdin miss on a body shot to stick him with a left cross and two low kicks. Vologdin returns fire with a kick that appears to frustrate his opponent, resulting in a clinch as the fans immediately start booing. It’s going to be one of those nights. “Sexi Mexi” breaks out of the tie-up and steps back to evade a knee, and the two have their legs entangled when throwing them at the same time. Castaneda bounces back up, and he is gifted a high-five when standing up. He lets fly a low kick to counter a jab that bangs square into the bottom of Vologdin’s cup, who stumbles around the cage in serious pain as Herzog calls time. Vologdin drops to his knees as he tries to shake out some of the discomfort, and he steels himself and is good to go after about 50 seconds of break. They both let fly kicks, and Castaneda follows one with a sharp right hand on the temple.
Vologdin has to blink out the impact of the blow and gets right back into the melee, flashing his jab to find his range. When Vologdin commits to big hooks, Castaneda slips them, counters and shoves his foe back. Vologdin bounces forward and has a low kick checked, and he stands in the pocket to trade but cannot pin “Sexi Mexi” down, even with a spinning wheel kick try. The jabs of Vologdin have bloodied up Castaneda’s nose, who pitches out a kick and shoots in for a level change. There is no takedown to be found from this, so Castaneda backs off and picks and pokes with body kick and long punches. Vologdin tries to pay him back with crisp pocket boxing, but he finds that he is beaten to the punch and kick by the speedster from Minnesota. Vologdin keeps marching forward to force Castaneda to fight off the back foot, but this plays at least partially into the game plan of Castaneda, who is potshotting him at range. Vologdin just misses with a rolling thunder kick, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda
Round 2
A fist bump opens the round, and Castaneda gets right going peppering with kicks. Vologdin throws three back in rapid succession to think about, but the volume is in favor of the American for now. Vologdin drives through a one-two, and Castaneda stands firm and jabs him in the nose to back him off. Vologdin loops two right hand that bang into the guard, but his left to the ribs does score. Castenada goes low to the body, and he sticks around and gets popped by three punches from the debuting fighter. Castaneda bounces in and out behind his jab, just dodging the worst flying his way in time but still eating some shots when engaging. Vologdin jabs and shoots in for a single-leg takedown, and Castaneda bounces off his knee and hops back to the cage wall to set up a guillotine choke. Vologdin elevates and dumps him, breaking out of the choke, but he does not have Castaneda down.
Castaneda is able to break out of the attempt and release his own submission grip to reset, where he stands in front of Vologdin and strings together quick combos. Vologdin winds up with a power left hand, and Castaneda shoulder-rolls it to take the sting out of it and gives back a heavy right up top. Castaneda leads off an exchange with a low kick that bangs into the groin, and he follows it with heavy punches as Vologdin turns away to recover from the foul. Herzog has to peel Castaneda away, as Castaneda claims he did not land the low strike, and Vologdin eats a few more before Herzog is in place. Vologdin sits down to get his wind back, and Herzog deducts one point from Castaneda for his second groin kick. After 75 seconds, the round resumes, and thank goodness rules are being enforced around here. They proceed to go right after one another, with Castaneda leading the dance with power and volume. Vologdin is comfortable to sit on his right hand and launch it when it feels right, and he gets caught in a clinch and takes a spinning back elbow on the noggin before separating. Castaneda slips and ducks his way in, constantly changing his target with weapons like a knee up the middle, two left hands and a right to the ribs. Vologdin is largely headhunting, and Castaneda is giving him a lot to think about as the second round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 9-9
Brian Knapp scores the round: 9-9
Tyler Treese scores the round: 9-9
Round 3
They are off to the races in the final round, sharing a fist bump before throwing hands and feet en masse. Castaneda puts it on Vologdin, who fires back and opens a cut on the forehead. Castaneda keeps pouring it on the Russian, who is reeling from taking shots but still ready to swing for the bleachers. Castaneda stays just out of boxing range from his opponent to measure his blows appropriately, and he punches his way into a clinch and is boxed out of it. Vologdin’s nose starts to leak from the oncoming fire, as Castaneda is turning on the jets while Vologdin appears to be fading. The reactions from Vologdin taking damage are starting to get more exaggerated, as he shoots in for a double-leg takedown that is easily sprawled. Castaneda lets his foe back up so he can put hands on him, and he lets rip low kick and high punches as Vologdin is now leaking from a cut on the bridge of his nose.
Castaneda lets rip a big flurry of punches, knocking Vologdin back and knocking him down. Vologdin muscles his way back upright, and Castaneda starts working the body to shut him down. Vologdin grits his teeth and throws everything he has back, but Castaneda sees it coming and tees off on him. Castaneda goes after a big right hand and a left high kick, and he slips back when Vologdin tries another rolling thunder kick. Vologdin holds his hand up awkwardly as if he were asking a question in class—he does have the youthful type of face where he looks like he was plucked from study hall—and Castaneda backs off. Castaneda motions to the center of the Octagon to initiate a brawl, and unlike many others who have offered this and bailed on it, they proceed to bust one another up. Castaneda gets the better of the exchanges but only by a small margin, and he stings Vologdin and gets taken down. The fun slugfest ends with Vologdin on top, and it may all come down to the scoring of the first round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda (29-27 Castaneda)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda (29-27 Castaneda)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Castaneda (29-27 Castaneda)
The Official Result
John Castaneda
vs.
Mark Vologdin
is Ruled a Majority Draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
Angelo picks John Castañeda, citing his wrestling advantage and ability to close range against Mark Vologdin, who has short reach. He worries Castañeda may be past his prime but believes he is the better overall fighter. He expects Castañeda to use takedowns to secure a win.
Big Brady leans toward John Castañeda, noting he would have liked him better as an underdog. He criticizes Mark O. Madsen's striking defense (34%) and hittability, and praises Castañeda's experience and solid wins. Brady believes Castañeda can dictate where the fight takes place and get takedowns, predicting a decision win.
Cody picks John Castañeda, citing his experience and multiple paths to victory. He notes that Vologdin is one-dimensional and has poor striking defense. He expects Castañeda to win by decision or submission.
Connor picks Castañeda because he is a seasoned action fighter who can set a pace that Vologdin may not be ready for. He notes that Vologdin is a natural flyweight who is raw technically, often leaving his chin exposed when throwing combinations. Castañeda's experience and ability to push a brutal pace should overwhelm Vologdin, who is not yet comfortable as a high-output pressure fighter.
Daniel has never been high on Castañeda and thinks Vologdin can push a pace that Castañeda can't handle. He picks Vologdin as an underdog to win his UFC debut.
James picks John Castañeda as an underdog, citing his superior UFC experience and wins. He believes Castañeda's wrestling and left high kick will be key, and that Vologdin is too hittable and unproven. He predicts a decision win.
The host leans on Castañeda's strength of schedule, well-roundedness, and cardio edge. He thinks Castañeda's durability, movement, calf kicks, and wrestling will cause Vologdin issues as the fight goes into deeper water. He predicts a decision win, though acknowledges Vologdin could land a big shot early.
Paul also picks Castañeda, agreeing with Cody. He notes that Vologdin lost on the Contender Series and has poor wrestling defense. He expects Castañeda to use his wrestling and volume to win.
Zane leans toward Castañeda but acknowledges Vologdan could catch him and put him away. He notes that Vologdan is a natural flyweight who fights well in spots but not as a pace fighter, and Castañeda's experience in wars should give him the edge. However, he expresses concern about Castañeda's tendency to let opponents impose their game, as seen against Chris Gutierrez.
Josias Musasa - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colby Thicknesse | 0 | 62 of 111 | 55% | 126 of 199 | 2 of 14 | 14% | 1 | 0 | 7:45 |
| Josias Musasa | 0 | 43 of 89 | 48% | 62 of 118 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:52 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colby Thicknesse | 0 | 43 of 75 | 57% | 72 of 111 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 1 | 0 | 2:43 |
| Josias Musasa | 0 | 12 of 27 | 44% | 18 of 36 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 | |
| 2 | Colby Thicknesse | 0 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 16 of 27 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:56 |
| Josias Musasa | 0 | 18 of 35 | 51% | 26 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:37 | |
| 3 | Colby Thicknesse | 0 | 11 of 22 | 50% | 38 of 61 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 3:06 |
| Josias Musasa | 0 | 13 of 27 | 48% | 18 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colby Thicknesse | 62 of 111 | 55% | 48 of 95 | 8 of 10 | 6 of 6 | 15 of 31 | 4 of 6 | 43 of 74 |
| Josias Musasa | 43 of 89 | 48% | 26 of 61 | 7 of 10 | 10 of 18 | 27 of 62 | 16 of 25 | 0 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colby Thicknesse | 43 of 75 | 57% | 38 of 70 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 37 of 62 |
| Josias Musasa | 12 of 27 | 44% | 9 of 20 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 6 | 9 of 20 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 2 | |
| 2 | Colby Thicknesse | 8 of 14 | 57% | 4 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Josias Musasa | 18 of 35 | 51% | 9 of 23 | 3 of 4 | 6 of 8 | 7 of 20 | 11 of 15 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Colby Thicknesse | 11 of 22 | 50% | 6 of 16 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 12 |
| Josias Musasa | 13 of 27 | 48% | 8 of 18 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 4 | 11 of 22 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Musasa (-160); Thicknesse (+130)
Round 1
For most of the fights tonight, the matchmaking set a regional athlete against someone from elsewhere in the world. That trend continues in this bantamweight tilt, as Thicknesse (7-1, 0-1 UFC) reps the Down Under in a classic matchup of Australia vs. the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Musasa (8-1, 0-1 UFC), who calls himself “The K.O. Wizard,” will do everything in his power to channel that nickname and magically spark someone. Referee Jim Perdios draws the charge for this matchup, and they decide not to touch gloves to get started.
Musasa comes out with pressure, and Thicknesse is the one who strikes first with a quick head kick. Musasa takes a second kick upside the head and bashes “Slickness” with a heavy left hand. Thicknesse hits the deck and scrambles to get back up, where Musasa is chasing after him looking for bombs. Thicknesse spins with a kick, and Musasa pushes through it and smashes him in the jaw with another mighty left hand. Thicknesse takes a second huge left and whips two hooks back at his foe, but the power advantage is stark. Thicknesse circles on the outside and lumbers in behind a right hand, and Musasa reddens his nose with his power punches. Thicknesse pursues a takedown, getting a body lock and trying to trip the Congolese fighter up. Musasa keeps his balance and leans against the cage, but a second effort from Thicknesse drags the fight down to the canvas. Thicknesse does not need long to get to full mount.
Musasa flat on his back, he starts taking serious punishment from the Aussie, who is beating him down with punches and elbows. Musasa tries to scramble but actually puts himself in a worse position by trapping his own arm beneath Thicknesse’s legs. Thicknesse keeps bludgeoning him, and he turns to set up a mounted triangle but is more interested in ground-and-pound. Musasa bucks his legs up, but Thicknesse shrugs it off and keeps beating Musasa like a rented mule. The punches keep landing for Thicknesse, and Musasa feels it is in his best interest to swing back rather than defend himself. Musasa explodes to his seat, but Thicknesse sees an opening and wraps up a bulldog choke. Musasa offers a thumbs-up multiple times as his face starts to turn purple from the submission, and he miraculously survives it to the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Thicknesse
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Thicknesse
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Thicknesse
Round 2
Musasa appears mad as a hornet after taking all that damage at the end of the round, as he lashes out with looping punches and whipping low kicks. Thicknesse does not like taking those kicks, and he gets in the pocket to trade. This is not in his best interest either, so he lowers himself down and shoots in on the hips of “The KO Wizard.” Musasa shoves him away and walks him down, where he plants a front kick in the face of the Australian. Musasa ducks under a strike coming his way and unloads with a hefty elbow, and he catches Thicknesse cleanly with another elbow and has him reeling. Thicknesse escapes as swelling appears to grow on the right side of his face, and Musasa is unloading on him with full power. Thicknesse desperately goes after a double, leaving his head low between Musasa’s legs to protect it from elbows.
Musasa defends the takedown but is still stuck against the cage taking knees to the thigh, and he offers one or two back. A stern knee to the jaw from Musasa forces another takedown shot, and Musasa somehow takes his back standing during the exchange. They split up, and Musasa connects on the break. The kicks from Musasa have caused some visible damage, as Thicknesse’s left shin is split open and bleeding down his leg. Thicknesse does not register the wound and spams knees when he gets back into the clinch, and uses the close proximity to move to a double. Musasa’s short strikes also bust open Thicknesse’s nose, which starts pouring blood down his face and chest. Thicknesse breaks with a spinning elbow, and the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Musasa
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Musasa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Musasa
Round 3
The bantamweights tap gloves to greet one another after 10 minutes of close combat. They trade leg kicks, and then hurl body kicks at the same time. Musasa slips a punch and cannot get out of the way from a low kick, so he advances and snaps the head back with two punches. Thicknesse fires off a front kick that drills Musasa square in the groin, and the Congolese fighter goes down in a heap. You can’t get kicked much harder to that spot, and Musasa knows it and appears to dry heave once or twice. Thicknesse drops to his knees as Perdios calls time, and Perdios knows there is nothing he can do or say to make the agonizing pain go away. Musasa needs over a minute to even get back to his feet, but he cannot stand on his own power and falls to his seat. Shaking his head and trying desperately to recover, Musasa is able to stand. Musasa asks if he can take a bathroom break, and Perdios laughs him off. Musasa still has a few minutes to go, and Perdios tells him to take the time he needs. Musasa bounces on his heels and again mentions that he needs to urinate. Perdios tells him to do so after the fight, and Musasa leans against the cage wall and is still feeling it. Thicknesse, who was on his knees the whole time respectfully while Musasa recovered, gets up at the four-minute mark and starts pacing. Musasa signals that he is good to go, and after 4:20 of a break, they resume combat—with about four minutes left in the round.
Kicks fly from both sides, as they are not afraid of another landing low. Musasa winds up a monster right hand and belts Thicknesse with it, and Thicknesse slumps forward and tries to go after a takedown. Musasa wants nothing to do with it and he connects with a heavy body kick. Thicknesse reels and shoots for a takedown, doggedly chaining attempts together so he does not get punched again. Musasa defends by putting his back against the wall and elbows his man in the side of the head repeatedly.
Thicknesse stays pursuant to a takedown, and Musasa’s defense is holding up but precious seconds are ticking off the clock in a round that could still go either way. Thicknesse moves the pendulum his direction by using a body lock to wrestle Musasa to the floor, and he secures full mount when hitting the ground. Thicknesse lands a few ground strikes, and those lead to several more when he postures up. Thicknesse clubs and batters Musasa for the remainder of the round, and Perdios watches on as Musasa is tough and can take it. The final horn sounds, and we go to the judges in what still could be a fairly close one.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Thicknesse (29-28 Thicknesse)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Musasa (29-28 Musasa)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Thicknesse (29-28 Thicknesse)
The Official Result
Colby Thicknesse def. Josias Musasa via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Josias Musasa over Colby Thicknesse, believing Musasa's speed, power, and striking will be too much for Thicknesse, who he considers not very good. He notes that Thicknesse is primarily a grappler but lacks the takedowns to get Musasa down, while Musasa hits hard and moves forward. He references Musasa's loss to Carlos Vera but attributes it to Vera's overhands and debut nerves.
Big Brady picks Josias Musasa to win by decision. He views Musasa as having a higher ceiling and better striking power, while Thicknesse may not be UFC caliber. He notes Musasa has solid takedown defense and should keep the fight standing. He considers this a buy-low spot after Musasa lost as a huge favorite.
Cody picks Thicknesse, believing he can outwork Musasa with better grappling and cardio. He notes Musasa's power is overrated and his grappling is poor, and that Thicknesse can take a punch and drag him into deep waters. He also mentions Musasa has never fought outside Africa and looked poor in his UFC debut.
Connor agrees, noting that Musasa has way more potential than Thicknesse, who is a mess of tricks without fundamentals. He thinks Thicknesse's awkwardness will not be enough to handle Musasa's athleticism and aggression. However, he acknowledges that Musasa is still very raw and could lose if he hasn't improved.
James has not done tape study on this fight and declines to make a pick. He briefly notes Musasa is a physical fighter and that Thicknesse may struggle to take him down, but does not commit to a prediction.
The host believes Musasa's raw athleticism and power will allow him to land big shots on Thicknesse and put him away. He acknowledges Thicknesse has grappling but expects Musasa to utilize explosivity and power to catch Thicknesse and knock him out cold.
The Guru picks Colby Thicknesse as a slight underdog, believing he is more fundamentally sound than Josias Musasa. He notes Thicknesse's competitive performance against Alejandra Turia and questions Musasa's level of competition, suggesting he was signed due to his African origin rather than skill. He sees Thicknesse's training with Volk as an advantage.
Zane thinks Musasa's athletic potential, speed, power, and aggression will be too much for the awkward and fundamentally lacking Thicknesse. He notes that Thicknesse is very liable to put himself in bad positions trying to avoid Musasa's flurries. However, he acknowledges that Musasa is still raw and could lose if Thicknesse shows craft.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Vera | 1 | 16 of 24 | 66% | 18 of 26 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0:14 |
| Josias Musasa | 0 | 13 of 31 | 41% | 13 of 31 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Vera | 1 | 16 of 24 | 66% | 18 of 26 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0:14 |
| Josias Musasa | 0 | 13 of 31 | 41% | 13 of 31 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Vera | 16 of 24 | 66% | 3 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 11 | 16 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Josias Musasa | 13 of 31 | 41% | 3 of 13 | 0 of 2 | 10 of 16 | 13 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos Vera | 16 of 24 | 66% | 3 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 11 | 16 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Josias Musasa | 13 of 31 | 41% | 3 of 13 | 0 of 2 | 10 of 16 | 13 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Musasa (-650), Vera (+470)
Round 1
The biggest betting favorite on the lineup, Musasa (8-0, 0-0 UFC) out of the African Knockout promotion is hoping to score one of those big stoppages in his debut, having earned seven of eight wins by strikes. Vera (11-4, 0-1 UFC) has never been knocked out, but he will have to keep his chin off the gunnery range for as long as Musasa swings for the bleachers. Keeping his head on a swivel will be referee
Herb Dean
, who is paying close attention to the bantamweights and what comes next. No glove touch happens, and instead Musasa introduces himself with a sweeping kick. Vera fires back with a kick with a wide arc, and he works the body and legs before shooting for a takedown. When Musasa steps away, Vera somersaults to channel his inner
Ryan Hall
—who is his teammate—and try to take the fight down. Musasa walks away and make Vera stand up, and they chop at one another with heavy kicks. Musasa opens up with a pair of punches over the top, and Vera stomps at his foe’s knee a few times. When Musasa bears down on his foe, Vera spins with a wheel kick that smashes square into the face of “The KO Wizard,” who does not so much as flinch. Vera hits his back and motions for Musasa to come at him, but Musasa wants nothing to do with it. Vera fires off a few more kicks when upright, and Musasa catches one and slings him to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Vera again stands up, and he receives a pair of chopping leg kicks on his inner thigh. “Pequeno” comes out swinging, and he misses with his big fists while Musasa sticks him with power leg kicks. Vera tries to punches his way to a clinch, and Musasa has having none of it. While Musasa turns to the side to dodge a right hand, Vera blasts him in the face with a head kick. The debuting Musasa crumbles to the mat, and Vera knows exactly what he needs to do next.
Vera leaps down to immediately assume back control, where he wraps up the body triangle and instantly snatches up a rear-naked choke. Still trying to shake off the cobwebs, Musasa successfully fights the hands well enough to stop the submission from choking him out. Vera calmly adjusts his grip and allows Musasa to twist and buck, and he fastens the submission completely under the chin. After a few seconds, Musasa knows his goose is cooked and taps out.
Ever the sportsman, Vera releases the grip immediately before Dean even gets to them. This is a big win for Vera, who springs the major betting upset while knocking Musasa out of the list of undefeated fighters.
The Official Result
Carlos Vera
def.
Josias Musasa
R1 3:16 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo picks Josias Musasa over Carlos Vera. He highlights Musasa's fight-ending power and forward pressure, but warns that he may punch himself out. He notes that Vera is tough and has good BJJ, so if Musasa fades, Vera could take over. He is not sure if he will bet this fight.
Big Brady picks Josias Musasa but is not fully sold on him, calling him still very green. He thinks the matchup is favorable for Musasa because Carlos Vera is a 37-year-old who often pulls guard and goes for leg locks, which could play into Musasa's strengths. Brady expects Musasa to win by knockout, likely in the second round, but notes the -650 odds are ridiculous for a fighter he's not completely confident in.
Cody picks Josiane Nunes, citing her wrestling advantage and size. He notes that Priscila Cachoeira has poor takedown defense and has been taken down repeatedly. He believes Nunes will control the fight with takedowns and ground control, though he is emotionally conflicted about fading Cachoeira.
Daniel does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses the matchup briefly but does not state a preference or bet.
The host believes Musasa's power and explosiveness will be too much for Vera, though the odds are wide. He is intrigued by the Vera by submission prop but still picks Musasa by knockout.
Paul also picks Nunes, noting Cachoeira's lack of takedown defense and Nunes's size and strength. He believes Nunes will take her down repeatedly and control the fight. He mentions that Cachoeira has power but will be neutralized by wrestling.
The MMA Guru confidently picks Josias Musasa to win by first-round TKO. He criticizes Carlos Vera as being 37 years old, on a two-fight losing streak, and not impressive. He praises Musasa's finishing potential on the feet and his ability to get back up from takedowns, as shown in his Contender Series fight against a Georgian grappler. He believes Musasa will finish Vera easily on the feet.
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