Billy Elekana
"Son of Susie"Career Averages
Win Methods (3)
Loss Methods (1)
Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Elekana | 1 | 38 of 70 | 54% | 38 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Junior Tafa | 0 | 24 of 51 | 47% | 27 of 54 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 1:40 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billy Elekana | 1 | 26 of 46 | 56% | 26 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Junior Tafa | 0 | 9 of 24 | 37% | 10 of 25 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:37 | |
| 2 | Billy Elekana | 0 | 12 of 24 | 50% | 12 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Junior Tafa | 0 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 17 of 29 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Elekana | 38 of 70 | 54% | 21 of 49 | 14 of 18 | 3 of 3 | 37 of 66 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Junior Tafa | 24 of 51 | 47% | 20 of 45 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 22 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billy Elekana | 26 of 46 | 56% | 13 of 32 | 10 of 11 | 3 of 3 | 25 of 42 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Junior Tafa | 9 of 24 | 37% | 6 of 20 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Billy Elekana | 12 of 24 | 50% | 8 of 17 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Junior Tafa | 15 of 27 | 55% | 14 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Elekana (-250), Tafa (+205)
Round 1
The prelims wrap up with a struggling former heavyweight at 205 pounds in hopes of a new lease on life. Tafa (6-4, 2-4 UFC) dropped his first effort at light heavyweight, but he will get another chance as he takes on California native Elekana (9-2, 2-1 UFC). Referee Herb Dean dons his proverbial hard hat in anticipation of a whole lot of big swings in a small span of time, breathing a slight sigh of relief when the bruisers clap their hands together first.
Elekana slowly, cautiously wades in to go after the ex-heavyweight, not overcommitting to strikes but slowly backing the Kiwi to the fence. Elekana blocks a high kick and walks face-first into a bomb of a right hand that sets him down like a sack of bricks. Somehow, Elekana snaps back online after what appears to be a flash knockdown, and he grabs hold of Tafa and forces a bit of grappling before working his way up. Tafa rushes him, and he pulls back before going for broke. Elekana thanks him with a glove touch, and Tafa further gets his attention with a subsequent left hand. Tafa shuts down a takedown effort that might have gotten him down a year or two ago, and he intercepts a swinging Elekana with a sharp left hand down the middle. Elekana clips Tafa in the midst of an exchange, and Tafa backs off clutching his eye.
Elekana does not throw, instead shooting in for a single, and Tafa winces and pushes off. They flash out jabs at the same time, and Tafa goes with one to the sternum as Elekana frowns and shakes his head. Tafa gets in a pair of punches, and they high-five again. Tafa jabs, ducks and backs Elekana off with a body shot. Tafa winds up with a fierce right hand that shakes Elekana up, and Elekana manages to tank it and circle away as if nothing happened. Tafa takes advantage of a momentary lapse in defense with a right hand upstairs and a left to the body, and then looses a big right high. Tafa digs a kick to the ribs and punches the same target, and he attempts his own jabs to multiple targets. Elekana pitches out a front kick and gets knocked back courtesy of a right hand, and when he gathers himself, Tafa rips a huge left to the liver. Tafa unloads on Elekana before the round ends, and Elekana tags him back as they reach Round 2.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tafa
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tafa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Tafa
Round 2
The 205ers nod to one another and share a glove touch to get going in the second stanza. Elekana probes out his front kick with toes extended to the body, and he slips a right hand over the top. Elekana looks to hand-fight and take away Tafa’s left hand, and he pokes out a few jabs and threatens a takedown. Tafa scoots out of the way and backs Elekana to the wall with a pair of punches, but he does not corner Elekana as Elekana walks away and moves to the center of the cage again. The crowd boos this, as if they are seeing that these fighters are pulling their punches. Elekana does not pull anything when tagging Tafa with a pair of punches, and his right hand on the temple catches Tafa unaware. Tafa stumbles but does not go down, gathering himself and knocking Elekana back before allowing him once more to return to the center of the cage. Elekana closes in and grabs hold of Tafa, dragging him to the mat from behind so that he can step over into full mount.
Tafa turns to his side while Elekana is in a dominant position, and Tafa rolls around all while Elekana wraps up the body triangle.
Elekana briefly flirts with a rear-naked choke, and switches arms to change to the other side and locks it up in a hurry. Tafa knows that the submission is tight as a drum and that there is no way out, and he quickly taps out to give “Son of Susie” the submission victory.
Just like the Micallef fight from before, it only took one takedown to completely change the nature of this fight and turn the tide to one man’s favor.
The Official Result
Billy Elekana def. Justin Tafa R2 3:18 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Expert Picks (10)
Angelo picks Billy Elekana, stating he is the better overall MMA fighter with solid takedown defense and patient striking. He acknowledges Junior Tafa's kickboxing skills but notes his takedown defense is a huge hole. He warns that the odds are steep at -225 and that Tafa could have success if Elekana tries to strike, but Elekana can adjust.
Big Brady is confident in Billy Elekana, citing Junior Tafa's poor grappling (white belt) and Elekana's submission win over Kevin Christian. He believes Elekana will take Tafa down and submit him in the first round, as Tafa made Tuco Tokos look like Khabib.
Cody is confident in Elekana, citing Tafa's poor cardio and tendency to fade after the first round. He notes that Elekana has good grappling and submission skills, and expects him to take Tafa down and submit him in the second round. He acknowledges Elekana is not a world-beater but sees this as a favorable matchup.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Elekana. He emphasizes that Tafa's striking is not technical enough and he has no grappling, so Elekana should win if he doesn't freeze. Connor also comments on the odds, suggesting Elekana is overvalued.
Daniel Vreeland picks Elekana despite initially doubting him, citing Tafa's abysmal ground game. He believes Elekana can take Tafa down and finish quickly, though he warns that if Elekana bangs on the feet, he risks getting knocked out. Vreeland is surprised to be picking Elekana but sees a clear path to victory.
James picks Elekana to win by submission, citing his superior grappling and cardio. He believes Elekana will take Tafa down and finish what Sean Sherif started, likely with a rear-naked choke in round one.
Elekana is a solid BJJ specialist with good striking and timing. Tafa has poor takedown defense and is vulnerable on the ground, as seen in his submission losses. Elekana should evade Tafa's power shots, get takedowns, and find a submission within a round and a half. The host likes Elekana by submission at +210, noting that Tafa is a favorite fade.
Paul agrees, noting that Tafa has consistently gassed out and been finished in his UFC fights. He believes Elekana's grappling will be the difference and predicts a submission win in the second round.
The Guru picks Billy Elekana, calling it a no-brainer. He praises Elekana's technical level, grappling, and toughness, noting his performance against Bogdan Guskov. He expects Elekana to submit Junior Tafa in the first round, as Tafa is less technical and relies on brawling.
Zane picks Billy Elekana because he sees Elekana as a reasonable light heavyweight prospect with decent athleticism and durability, despite his loss to Bogdan Guskov. He believes Elekana's grappling advantage will be decisive, as Junior Tafa cannot wrestle or grapple and relies on one big blitz. Zane notes that if Elekana freezes, Tafa could win, but overall Elekana should win by taking the fight to the ground.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Elekana | 1 | 17 of 23 | 73% | 19 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Kevin Christian | 0 | 14 of 17 | 82% | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billy Elekana | 1 | 17 of 23 | 73% | 19 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Kevin Christian | 0 | 14 of 17 | 82% | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Elekana | 17 of 23 | 73% | 11 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 6 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 11 |
| Kevin Christian | 14 of 17 | 82% | 0 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 8 of 8 | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billy Elekana | 17 of 23 | 73% | 11 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 6 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 11 |
| Kevin Christian | 14 of 17 | 82% | 0 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 8 of 8 | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Elekana (-250); Christian (+210)
Round 1
Light heavyweights wrap up the preliminary portion of the card, as a pair of gunslinging 30-year-olds ply their trade against one another. Elekana (8-2, 1-1 UFC) put the stink of his first stoppage loss behind him by winning on the scorecards against Ibo Aslan in July. Meanwhile, Brazilian finisher Christian (9-2, 0-0 UFC) has never competed into the third round as a professional. Something might have to give here, and referee Chris Tognoni will be the sole arbiter of this bout. It is a bout that commences with a respectful touching of gloves.
It is a game of leg kicks right off the bat for the two strikers, with the longer Christian getting Elekana’s attention with his distant shots. Elekana chambers and fires a heavier one, and Tognoni tells them to close their fists as they are leading with outstretched fingers. Legs continue to get kicked on both sides, but punches are at a premium thus far. Christian chops down the lead leg with audible blows, and Elekana tosses his own back and tries to check others. Christian splits the guard with a front kick, and Tognoni calls time to force the fighters to close their hands. Christian apologizes, but he gets right back to leading with his fingers. The commentary team is chattering about how the fighters basically ignored his instructions, and that it is a timely complaint given the result of the recent heavyweight title tilt.
All the while, Christian is chipping away with his kicks that land cleanly, and he has struck so hard the top of Elekana’s right shin has swelled up massively. Elekana no-sells this and opens up with a massive right hand, sending Christian flying across the cage. The Brazilian hits his back and instinctively turns to his side and then to his knees to shell up. Elekana beans him on the sides and back of the head while Christian is moving, but what are rules anymore and how are they never enforced? With Christian on his knees in a daze, Elekana slides into back control, gets his hooks in and attacks the rear-naked choke.
The Brazilian frantically taps almost immediately, surrendering many times on the floor while Tognoni is on the wrong side and does not see them. Elekana does not feel the taps, and Tognoni still does not register them, so Christian goes out. Tognoni checks on the now-limp limb of the defeated Brazilian, and he waves the fight off.
Elekana dismounts his wrecked adversary who has blood streaming down his face, and he walks off as Christian’s face swells up like a balloon. The victorious Californian thanks Tognoni personally, saying that he feels he performs better under his care—this is a strange statement, because this is the first time Tognoni has handled any of Elekana’s pro fights from a referee standpoint.
The Official Result
Billy Elekana def. Kevin Christian R1 3:33 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Billy Elekana, citing his counter-striking, pace control, and range management. He notes Kevin Christian is tall but doesn't use his length effectively, swinging wild. Elekana has better hands and decent takedown defense. He expects a late finish or decision, but warns that Elekana scored only 44 points in a win, making him a risky DFS play at his price.
Big Brady picks Billy Elekana but is not confident, calling Kevin Christian one of the worst Contender Series signings. He criticizes Christian's low volume, lack of power, and poor takedown defense. However, he also notes Elekana is nothing special and expects a horrible, low-volume fight. He predicts a decision win for Elekana.
Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Elekana is a big favorite and that the matchup is a failure of matchmaking. He implies Elekana should not be such a heavy favorite, but still picks him.
Lucrative James picks Billy Elekana, criticizing Kevin Christian's skill level and calling him one of the worst fighters he's watched. He notes Christian's reliance on guard submissions and lack of striking technique, while Elekana is more well-rounded and should win easily. He acknowledges Christian's size and wildness could lead to a submission, but favors Elekana.
Kevin Christian is not UFC-level talent. Elekana will land more and more shots, Christian will break down, and Elekana will get a TKO finish.
The MMA Guru picks Billy Elekana, citing his athleticism and low kicks. He criticizes Kevin Christian's wide stance and poor striking defense. He believes Elekana will chop at Christian's legs and win by decision, possibly 30-27. He notes Christian's Contender Series win was unimpressive.
Zane picks Elekana because he at least resembles a good MMA fighter when not pressed, while Kevin Christian is a huge but awkward fighter who fights like a small guy and tends to grapple from his back. He notes that Elekana could still get submitted off his back, but Christian's style makes him vulnerable.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibo Aslan | 0 | 28 of 78 | 35% | 29 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Billy Elekana | 0 | 35 of 68 | 51% | 35 of 68 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ibo Aslan | 0 | 8 of 19 | 42% | 8 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Billy Elekana | 0 | 10 of 16 | 62% | 10 of 16 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Ibo Aslan | 0 | 8 of 23 | 34% | 9 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Billy Elekana | 0 | 10 of 21 | 47% | 10 of 21 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Ibo Aslan | 0 | 12 of 36 | 33% | 12 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Billy Elekana | 0 | 15 of 31 | 48% | 15 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibo Aslan | 28 of 78 | 35% | 10 of 57 | 8 of 10 | 10 of 11 | 28 of 78 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Billy Elekana | 35 of 68 | 51% | 18 of 46 | 17 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 35 of 68 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ibo Aslan | 8 of 19 | 42% | 1 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 6 | 8 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Billy Elekana | 10 of 16 | 62% | 3 of 8 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Ibo Aslan | 8 of 23 | 34% | 3 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Billy Elekana | 10 of 21 | 47% | 6 of 14 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Ibo Aslan | 12 of 36 | 33% | 6 of 28 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Billy Elekana | 15 of 31 | 48% | 9 of 24 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Aslan (-260); Elekana (+215)
Round 1
Sherdog’s Devin Tejada has expressed quite a few words about the state of the UFC’s light heavyweight division, namely that the combatants are still able to not just succeed but flourish despite being specialists in a field. In the era of the sport where well-rounded athletes tend to claim belts more often than single-skill experts, 205 pounds may be one of the exceptions. To wit, Aslan (14-2, 2-1 UFC) has earned 14 wins, all 14 by knockout. His losses are both by submission, and California’s Elekana (7-2, 0-1 UFC) would like nothing more than to add a third submission defeat to his ledger. Before the fists fly, referee Jim Perdios gets hold of the situation and starts the clock. The 205ers touch gloves.
Aslan takes the center of the cage and offers distance strikes early, but he remains out of range. They hand-fight while in alternate stances, with Aslan in orthodox to Elekana’s southpaw. Elekana lands first with a front kick to the stomach, and he misses a second that he uses to keep Aslan from reaching him with his hands. Aslan slaps his foe back in the lead thigh with a kick. He strikes the same leg on the inside, but it is one-and-done as he has to dodge a straight right hand from his foe. Elekana just misses a left hand down the pipe, and these two are approaching one another with an abundance of caution. They do not engage much, resulting in boos from the crowd. Elekana lands a front kick, Aslan gets him back with a left, and they take turns attacking one another.
The fighters bounce around without fighting much, offering the occasional single strike while the power is out of range on both sides. Elekana gets off a few front kicks to disallow Aslan from closing the distance, and he has his left hand coiled back ready to strike. Instead of throwing a left, he pitches a head kick from that side that is blocked in time. Elekana shoots for a single, and he cannot keep hold of the limb as he releases it. Both men share a laugh at the feeble takedown effort. Elekana stabs the midsection with his toes extended for another kick, and this and his feinted left hand has kept Aslan from throwing caution to the wind. Elekana lands a body kick and guards against a high kick as the slow round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Round 2
After a fist bump, the two pick up right where they left off with shadowboxing and too many feints and fakes. The first actual strike connects 33 seconds in when Aslan scores a short low kick, and Elekana pays him back immediately with a front kick. They land single punches, and then reset and bob around for a while without fighting. Elekana probes out with a straight left hand, and it is a single attack that does not merit follow-up attention. Aslan surges forward behind fists, but Elekana dodges and counters with a right hook. An Aslan kick brushes the cup, and Elekana talks to him about it and gives him a front kick in the stomach to think about.
Elekana lands at the end of a one-two, but Aslan ignores it and lobs an overhand right at him that goes wide. Aslan tries to reach his foe with overhand rights, but Elekana sees them coming and slips to the side. There is the occasional potshot from either side, but nothing significant that gets the other’s attention. Elekana shoots for a single that fails almost as soon as he grabs hold of the Turkish fighter’s leg, and front kicks from the fighters brush the cup again. Aslan shakes his cup and they do not stop, although given their lack of activity through nearly 10 minutes, it is tough to say they ever started. Aslan plods forward, looping a head kick at his foe that is easily blocked, and Elekana goes for a single that does not get completed because the round ends. Scores may be all over the place in these two rounds given the sheer lack of offense to tabulate.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Round 3
After two rounds of frantic, frenetic combat with maybe a dozen strikes landed from either fighter, they share an embrace. Aslan leads off with multiple low and body kicks, one of which jams into the groin cup. Elekana frowns, and after a few seconds of recovery time, he gets back to business, where Aslan kicks him nearly in the same spot. Elekana lands a body kick and wipes his feet, and he snaps out a jab as both fighters start chatting. Elekana kicks his foe, Aslan kicks him back, and the less-than-stellar action continues. Elekana winds up with wider arcs to his blows, but they only result in getting blocked sooner because they are seen coming. The same goes for Aslan, who goes for a haymaker that is feet off the mark. Elekana reaches him with a big left hook, and Aslan rolls with it to take the brunt out of it.
As Aslan moves in, Elekana tries to time a head kick, but Aslan leans back to sway away from it. When Aslan commits to a punch, Elekana counters him with a left on the eyebrow that splits it open. Elekana plants a one-two on the same spot, wobbling Aslan back, and he does not go for more. As Aslan is allowed time to get his head right, he smiles. “The Last Ottoman” hurls a right hand over the top, but Elekana dodges and gives him a left hand back to think about. As Aslan slowly walks forward, the fans shower the two with boos after almost 15 minutes of shadowboxing. In hopes of going home slightly early, Elekana wings a big left hand, but Aslan is out of the way. The two decided to slug it out with seconds to go, but time expires before it heats up. At least it is over.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elekana (30-27 Elekana)
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Elekana (30-27 Elekana)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Elekana (30-27 Elekana)
The Official Result
Billy Elekana def. Ibo Aslan via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Expert Picks (4)
Angelo picks Billy Elekana as an underdog, despite being shaken by the +235 odds. He notes Ibo Aslan has immense power but cardio issues, while Billy is durable, can wrestle, and can survive early to take over. He suggests betting the over 1.5 rounds if available.
Big Brady picks Ibo Aslan, citing his power and takedown defense. He notes Aslan is one-dimensional but that dimension is knocking people out, and he believes Aslan's power will be too much for Elekana, who is hittable and has poor striking defense. He predicts a second-round knockout, though he cautions that Aslan is not someone you want to lay -250 on.
Despite public love for Aslan, who is capable of landing an early finishing shot, Elekana's BJJ improvements are expected to get the fight to the ground and find a submission under one and a half rounds.
The MMA Guru picks Billy Elekana, noting his dynamic grappling and ability to get positions like the back, as seen in his debut against Bogdan Guskov. He criticizes Ibo Aslan's technical flaws and susceptibility to mixing it up. He predicts a submission win, specifically a rear-naked choke in the second round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bogdan Guskov | 0 | 47 of 71 | 66% | 59 of 85 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 1 | 1:24 |
| Billy Elekana | 0 | 20 of 28 | 71% | 28 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:40 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bogdan Guskov | 0 | 12 of 17 | 70% | 19 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 1 | 0:44 |
| Billy Elekana | 0 | 8 of 9 | 88% | 16 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:40 | |
| 2 | Bogdan Guskov | 0 | 35 of 54 | 64% | 40 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:40 |
| Billy Elekana | 0 | 12 of 19 | 63% | 12 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bogdan Guskov | 47 of 71 | 66% | 39 of 63 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 19 of 34 | 11 of 11 | 17 of 26 |
| Billy Elekana | 20 of 28 | 71% | 18 of 25 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bogdan Guskov | 12 of 17 | 70% | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 14 |
| Billy Elekana | 8 of 9 | 88% | 7 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 7 | |
| 2 | Bogdan Guskov | 35 of 54 | 64% | 30 of 49 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 31 | 11 of 11 | 8 of 12 |
| Billy Elekana | 12 of 19 | 63% | 11 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Talbott (-1200), Barcelos (+750)
Round 1
It is time for two light heavyweight sluggers to do just that in the cage until one falls down. Guskov (16-3, 2-1 UFC) will take his surprising momentum and attempt to move another step forward in the wide-open 205-pound category, and he meets ex-LFA talent and late replacement Elekana (7-1, 0-0 UFC) in that next test. Referee Mike Beltran and his glorious mustache will need to watch out for errant blows, and he clocks the heavy hitters in as they clap hands. Guskov starts the match with a pair of low kicks, and he gets away with a third as he stalks the newcomer around the cage. Elekana goes to the body and head with kicks, and he suddenly shoots for a takedown to surprise Guskov. In the ensuing scramble, Elekana gets hold of Guskov’s back, sliding both hooks in and threatening with a rear-naked choke. Guskov hand-fights to defend the initial choke, and Elekana uses his long arms to wrap around and smack Guskov in the face. The fighter known as “Son of Susie” wraps up the body triangle around the waist, and he has Guskov totally shocked as he searches for another choke that does not materialize. Fans voice their disapproval as little more comes from the control, until Elekana nails Guskov with a pair of 12-6 elbows on the side of the dome. Elekana remains on the back when Guskov sits up, and he cuts Guskov on the eyebrow with one of his glancing wraparound strikes. Guskov turns to the side and briefly breaks the leg grip, but Elekana recovers it and gets the hooks back in. Guskov gets to his knees in hopes of tossing Elekana off of him, and he rips a hook off his torso so he can spin around. Elekana is unable to hold Guskov in the dominant position, and Guskov turns around and makes Elekana pay for his actions in the previous four minutes. The powerful punches slide around the guard and hurt Elekana, opening up a rear-naked choke of his own. Guskov takes the back and wraps it up, but time expires before he can finish the job. There is a bit of an awkward moment as Guskov holds the choke after the bell, but nothing comes of it.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Guskov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Elekana
Round 2
On the replay, Elekana is shown as having tapped, but it took place after the bell so it did not count. The fans are not thrilled, thinking a stoppage was missed. The fighters get to it, back on the feet to start off the second round, and Guskov wants to get out of her soon. He walks Elekana down and slugs him in the face with power punches, only to get clipped with a right hook that sneaks around his guard. A right hand from Elekana further surprises Guskov, who marches forward after it only to get caught with a one-two. Elekana dodges to evade what comes his way, and Guskov feints and fakes to draw repeated reactions out of him. Elekana scores a single left hand, and Guskov lays into him with three heavy punches. Guskov backs his foe up to the fence with a right hand, and Elekana counters him over the top. Elekana grins, under fire from the man from Uzbekistan, as he prepares to let counters fly as soon as Guskov drops his hands. Guskov stays in front of his man, splitting the guard with powerful punches, but it is the body shots that hurt Elekana. Guskov senses his opening and strings together a ferocious combo of head and body shots that lead him to a knee in the face. Elekana drops to a knee to defend from getting kneed in the head again, and Guskov tries to wail away on him with standing-to-ground punches. Guskov backs off, and Elekana elects to sit in the same position instead of standing.
Guskov, seeing there is little resistance coming his direction, strides forward and wraps a power guillotine around Elekana’s throat. With Guskov’s full weight bearing down, it takes no more than a couple seconds for Elekana to surrender from the submission
, as he is spent and about to go out. We have our first finish of the night, with the knockout artist Guskov picking up a submission victory.
The Official Result
Bogdan Guskov def. Billy Elekana R2 3:33 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo picks Bogdan Guskov, citing his power and ability to find the chin, especially against Johnny Walker who has a weak chin. He notes that if Guskov cannot knock out Walker, he should be sent on his way. He suggests betting Guskov inside the distance with a 'no action' refund if it goes to decision.
Cody does not have a clear pick. He expresses doubt about Guskov, noting that Guskov has been a betting underdog in all his UFC fights and has shown flaws: he was losing to Zach Pauga before a KO, and gassed against Ryan Spann. Cody also questions Guskov's chin and ground game. However, he is not confident in Elekana either, who is taking the fight on short notice and has not impressed at 205. Cody ultimately passes on betting this fight.
Daniel picks Guskov, noting his big power and experience against ranked opponents. He thinks Elekana is green and took the fight on short notice. Daniel believes Guskov can back Elekana up and land something big. He is not betting due to the price but expects Guskov to win.
The host describes Guskov as having power punching but defensive grappling issues. Elekana is a solid striker with BJJ chops. The host expects Elekana to counter Guskov effectively and either club and sub him or knock him out inside the distance.
Paul also has no clear pick. He agrees with Cody that Guskov is not trustworthy as a big favorite, and Elekana is unproven. Paul considers a live bet on Elekana if Guskov shows fatigue, but does not commit to a pre-fight pick. He notes that Elekana has never been knocked out, which could provide value if Guskov fades.
The MMA Guru picks Bogdan Guskov to win by KO. He notes Guskov has knockout power and is a dangerous fighter, while Elekana is taking the fight on short notice for his debut. He expects Guskov to win by KO.
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