Gastón Bolaños
Career Averages
Win Methods (2)
Loss Methods (2)
Fight History
Expert Picks (10)
Angelo likes Gaston Bolanos' striking and aggression but notes his grappling holes. He picks Ju Sung Yu (Lee Jeong-yeong) because he is more fluid, has solid striking, and can mix in takedowns. He believes Yu can dance around, squeeze in a takedown, and keep Gaston guessing.
Big Brady picks Lee Jeong-yeong over Gastón Bolaños. He criticizes Bolaños' cardio and ground game, noting he has been submitted three times and finished in four of five losses. Lee is solid everywhere, with good cardio and a clinch advantage. Brady expects Lee to push the pace, slow Bolaños down, and win by decision or late finish. He doesn't love the -260 price but sees Lee getting the job done.
Cody picks Lee, citing his better boxing, cardio, and grappling. He notes Bolaños' square stance, slow speed, and lack of wrestling. He expects Lee to win by knockout or decision.
Connor picks Lee because Bolaños has glaring defensive weaknesses in his striking, which is supposed to be his A game. He notes that Bolaños backs up in straight lines and shells up, making him vulnerable to a bigger brawler like Lee. Lee is a mindless brawler who will happily trade shots, and his size advantage should be decisive.
Daniel Vreeland confidently picks Lee Jeong-yeong, calling this a perfect rebound fight. He criticizes Gastón Bolaños's poor UFC performances and believes Lee's striking and showmanship will overwhelm him. Vreeland expects a finish or a dominant decision.
James picks Lee Jeong-yeong, believing he is the better striker with more power and accuracy. He notes that Bolaños is not UFC caliber and lacks wrestling upside, while Lee is coming off a tough fight but should dominate this step down in competition. James predicts a knockout win for Lee.
Lee is a better striker with superior speed, power, and straight shots. Bolaños has shown flat performances and grappling vulnerabilities. Lee should outstrike Bolaños and win on the scorecards. The over is also a decent plus money spot.
Paul agrees, picking Lee. He notes Bolaños' poor takedown defense and inability to handle pressure. He expects Lee to win by decision or TKO.
The MMA Guru picks Gastón Bolaños, citing Lee's big head as a durability issue. He believes Bolaños is more durable and composed, and that Lee's fights often go to competitive decisions. He expects Bolaños to do more damage and win a decision.
Zane agrees with Lee, noting that Bolaños has only beaten bad MMA fighters and has not developed his game. He thinks Lee's size and brawling style will overwhelm Bolaños, who struggles when pressured. He also notes that the odds are too wide given Bolaños' sharp striking when allowed to work.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 5 of 20 | 25% | 8 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Quang Le | 0 | 10 of 14 | 71% | 33 of 38 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 1 | 0 | 5:46 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Quang Le | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 20 of 21 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 4:24 | |
| 2 | Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 5 of 16 | 31% | 5 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Quang Le | 0 | 8 of 11 | 72% | 13 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:22 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastón Bolaños | 5 of 20 | 25% | 1 of 11 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 7 | 5 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Quang Le | 10 of 14 | 71% | 9 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastón Bolaños | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Quang Le | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Gastón Bolaños | 5 of 16 | 31% | 1 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | 5 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Quang Le | 8 of 11 | 72% | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bolanos (-142), Le (+120)
Round 1
Bantamweights Bolanos and Le square off under the watchful eye of referee Tyrone Roberts. Both are in orthodox stance, and they spend the first few moments studying each other warily. Bolanos scores first with a calf kick, and Le shoots for a takedown against the fence. Bolanos defends ably, but Le disengages, re-shoots immediately and hauls the Peruvian down on his second try. Le takes Bolanos’ back as he scrambles to get up, sinking his hooks with nearly four minutes to go in the round. Bolanos is composed, keeping his hands in position to fight off a choke as he squirms and tries to dislodge Le’s hooks. He succeeds, and gets back to his feet around the midpoint of the round. Le takes Bolanos’ back standing, drags him back down and sinks a hook on the left side. Bolanos uses a two-on-one to occupy Le’s left arm, and Le responds by punching with his free hand. Le goes supine with Bolanos on top of him, Le still in back mount. Bolanos sits up and Le secures his other hook. Under 30 seconds to go and Bolanos appears focused on making it to Round 2 and a fresh start. He gets it.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Le
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Le
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Le
Round 2
Bolanos meets Le with a right hand in the first exchange. He cracks Le again, catches a kick, hoists the leg and shoves Le toward the fence. Le moves back in, swinging, and both men land in the ensuing flurry. Le uses a single-leg to dump Bolanos to the mat off-balance, and jumps onto him.
Le again takes Bolanos’ back in a flash, applying a rear-naked choke despite being somewhat out of position. The choke is extremely tight, however, and Bolanos makes no move to defend the technique as Le adjusts his position, flatting Bolanos out prone and squeezing. A few tense seconds later, referee Roberts checks Bolanos’ arm and realizes that the man is off killing dreams.
Roberts pulls Le off of the snoozing Peruvian who has just pulled off a sensational technical submission to cap off a seven-minute grappling clinic.
The Official Result
Quang Le def. Gaston Bolanos R2 1:54 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Expert Picks (4)
Angelo favors Gastón Bolaños due to his superior striking and durability. He believes Bolaños will engage on the feet and land the better connections, while Quang Le's takedown attempts will be ineffective. He considers the current odds range of -180 to -225 to be fair and expects Bolaños to win the majority of the time.
Big Brady leans toward Gastón Bolaños, expecting a striking battle. He notes that while Quang Le has a submission advantage on paper, Le rarely initiates wrestling and is low volume. Bolaños has improved takedown defense and higher volume with power. Brady questions both fighters' durability, as Bolaños has been finished in three of four losses and Le was recently finished by Long Xiao. He predicts Bolaños will land a knockout in the second round.
Both are solid strikers but Bolaños is the superior striker on paper. Le may try to take it to the ground, but Bolaños has shown defensive improvements. I expect Bolaños to keep it standing and pick Le apart for a decision win.
The MMA Guru picks Gastón Bolaños to win by TKO in the second or third round. He criticizes Quang Le's performance against Chris Gutierrez and believes Bolaños is tougher, more durable, and has good takedown defense and reversals. He notes Bolaños is slower but composes well and does damage on top.
Nov 09, 2024
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 53 of 75 | 70% | 80 of 104 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 4:29 |
| Cortavious Romious | 0 | 17 of 45 | 37% | 30 of 61 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 6:13 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 27 of 40 | 67% | 29 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:30 |
| Cortavious Romious | 0 | 12 of 34 | 35% | 16 of 39 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 | |
| 2 | Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 15 of 23 | 65% | 25 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
| Cortavious Romious | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 4 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:09 | |
| 3 | Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 11 of 12 | 91% | 26 of 28 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:38 |
| Cortavious Romious | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 10 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:29 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastón Bolaños | 53 of 75 | 70% | 22 of 42 | 19 of 21 | 12 of 12 | 29 of 44 | 9 of 10 | 15 of 21 |
| Cortavious Romious | 17 of 45 | 37% | 12 of 37 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 14 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastón Bolaños | 27 of 40 | 67% | 4 of 16 | 12 of 13 | 11 of 11 | 24 of 36 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 1 |
| Cortavious Romious | 12 of 34 | 35% | 8 of 27 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 9 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | |
| 2 | Gastón Bolaños | 15 of 23 | 65% | 12 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 5 of 6 | 9 of 14 |
| Cortavious Romious | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Gastón Bolaños | 11 of 12 | 91% | 6 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 6 |
| Cortavious Romious | 2 of 6 | 33% | 1 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Romious (-180), Bolanos (+150)
Round 1
In January, Bolanos (7-4, 1-1 UFC), known for his spinning strike prowess, ultimately saw his undoing due to a spinning attack from an opponent. He will try to get back in the win column against ultra-aggressive grappler Romious (9-2, 0-0 UFC). The UFC debutant can be dragged into a brawl, and Bolanos would like nothing more as a striker by trade. No matter where the fight plays out, referee Kerry Hatley will able to follow it every step of the way. Gloves are touched from the bantamweights to open the matchup, and it leans to kick from both fighters. Bolanos stays at kicking range, potshotting Romious with heavy blows. When Romious tries to respond, he goes in the air to attack and is knocked on the ground for his effort. Romious climbs back up, and the two lob high kicks at one another. Bolanos reaches out with a big overhand right, and he ducks one that comes back at him. Romious ducks a punch to shoot in for a double, and his second attempt slams “The Dreamkiller” to the mat with emphasis. Bolanos hits the mat and scrambles enough to gain top position, only to have to fight off a dangerous armbar attempt. Romious’ armbar is thwarted, and when he sets up another submission, Bolanos backs off. Romious stands up with his back to the wall, and Bolanos leans on him while working him with knees to the thigh and body. Fierce low kicks from Bolanos fly when he gains space on the separation, and each one lands with resounding impact. Romious jabs a few times, and he absorbs two right hands while looking for wild counters. Romious shrugs off a body kick, but a second nails the same spot as he frowns. Bolanos beats on his foe’s lead leg, and they sling hooks in close range but somehow miss across the board. Bolanos pounds on the midsection with a few more kicks, and Romious ducks a winging punch and shoots for a double. Bolanos rolls his eyes as he gets pushed back to the fence, and he turns Romious around and is warned for grabbing the cage to achieve this. Bolanos backs off to levy a few kicks, and Romious counters with a big right hand that hurts him badly. The two roll around on the mat, and Bolanos shreds open a cut on the corner of the newcomer’s right eye immediately before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Romious
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Romious
Round 2
The two are having a blast in the cage, and they smile and touch ‘em up before getting going. Romious surges through a few strikes to change levels, and he leverages Bolanos to the mat. When Bolanos stands back up, Romious slams him back down with a partial suplex. Romious sets up a body triangle, and he goes fishing for a choke. Bolanos hand-fights to defend the submission, briefly sitting up but getting pulled back down. Romious grabs hold of a short choke, a modified rear-naked choke that can materialize out of nowhere, and Bolanos has to defend it. And finds his way into another. Romious latches on with a face crank, hoping the pain-inducing submission will do enough, but Bolanos is tough as a two-dollar steak. Bolanos turns over, and Romious follows him every step of the way and is leaned with his back to the fencing. Romious keeps both hooks in when losing the body lock, and Bolanos scoots and pulls himself out of danger while hammering Romious with ruthless elbows. The elbows do enough to allow Bolanos to climb back up, and he is incensed and ready to get the job done. Bolanos hammers his opponent with close, harmful elbows, further opening the cut—one that was actually from a clash of heads, and not a strike—with his offense. Bolanos drags Romious down and opens up with heavy shots, and Romious hangs on tight in hopes of riding out the remainder of the round. Bolanos does not want this to happen, and he unloads high-amplitude elbows that make Romious turn all the way to his stomach. Romious manages to make it out of the round, and scores could be all over the map.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos
Round 3
The bantamweights hug it out as the third round is reached, and Bolanos reintroduces himself with a thumping low kick that staggers Romious. Romious bites down on his mouthpiece and throws a big punch, only for Bolanos to bowl him over. Romious sets up a calf slicer when wrapping up Bolanos’ left leg, and Bolanos turns through the pretzel-like position and gets dumped on his back. Bolanos throws his legs up for a possible triangle choke, and Romious sits up and practically falls into an armbar. Bolanos loses the grip and cannot follow Romious, who spins around to take his back while they are both grounded. Bolanos walks to the fence and stands up despite Romious’ arms around his waist, and he turns around and plants Romious on his back. Bolanos winds up in the closed guard, but he opens it up with hacking elbows and hammerfists. Bolanos gets away with a knee to the chest that would have been illegal even with the new grounded fighter language, and Romious bursts upright and tries to hit a double. Bolanos fights it off and lifts up a knee, and his body lock allows him to put the newcomer back down on the mat. Bolanos scores a few right hands before Romious closes his guard. Romious uses his legs to push off the chest when opening the guard up, and he stands up and shoots for a diving takedown that puts “The Dreamkiller” on the canvas. Bolanos kicks him off, and Romious tackles him back down. Romious starts swinging his fists, but Bolanos’ elbows off his back appear more substantial and frequent. Bolanos spams these elbows until 15 minutes are in the books, and judges may have their hands full here.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos (30-27 Bolanos)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos (29-28 Bolanos)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos (29-28 Bolanos)
The Official Result
Gaston Bolanos def. Cortavious Romious via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo is torn because Gastón Bolaños is very dangerous with his Muay Thai and power, but Romious is more well-rounded with solid grappling and striking. He notes Romious has multiple paths to victory but also has a chinny history, having been knocked out quickly in the Apex before. Ultimately he leans on the more well-rounded fighter but will not bet due to too many unknowns.
Big Brady sees Romious as having a clear path to victory via grappling, as Bolaños is one-dimensional and vulnerable on the ground. He notes Romious's slick submission skills and believes if he takes the fight down, he will dominate. However, he warns that if Romious chooses to stand and trade, he could get knocked out. He predicts a second-round submission.
Cody is high on Bolaños as a dog, citing his elite Muay Thai and spinning back elbow finishes. He questions Romious' durability after a 29-second KO loss and his lack of wrestling against a pure striker. Cody believes Bolaños can land a fight-ending strike, though he admits it's a puncher's chance.
Connor picks Romious despite acknowledging his aimless and confused style. He notes Romious's raw athleticism and ability to take Bolaños down quickly, but also mentions Romious got instantly knocked out on the contender series. He believes Bolaños's game is not made to deal with Romious's athleticism.
Daniel Vreeland picks Cortavious Romious, citing his athleticism, power, and speed advantage over Gastón Bolaños, who he considers slower and less developed in MMA. He notes Romious' dangerous armbar off his back and believes Bolaños' striking hasn't translated well. Vreeland is not confident enough to lay the price but expects Romious to win his UFC debut.
Romious should be effective enough in the striking to be competitive, then get the fight to the ground where he has a tremendous grappling advantage and secure a submission victory.
Paul agrees with Cody, noting Bolaños' striking credentials and Romious' defensive liabilities. He points out that Romious didn't shoot takedowns in his Contender Series win and is hittable. Paul thinks Bolaños by knockout is a live dog, but with low confidence due to Bolaños' own wrestling holes.
The Guru picks Cortavious Romious, citing his athleticism, speed, and scrambling ability. He criticizes Gastón Bolaños for being extremely slow and not impressive against Aaron Phillips. He believes Romious can get takedowns and take the back, but acknowledges Romious may not go far in the division.
Zane agrees with Connor, picking Romious. He describes Romious as a shrunken Derek Brunson who sprints forward with wild punches and takedowns, but notes his top position is not comfortable and he often pulls guard. Zane thinks Romious will take Bolaños down quickly, but acknowledges Romious could throw away success.
Jan 13, 2024
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus McGhee | 1 | 65 of 123 | 52% | 74 of 134 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:47 |
| Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 28 of 81 | 34% | 28 of 82 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus McGhee | 0 | 35 of 58 | 60% | 44 of 69 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:47 |
| Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 14 of 38 | 36% | 14 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 | |
| 2 | Marcus McGhee | 1 | 30 of 65 | 46% | 30 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 14 of 43 | 32% | 14 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus McGhee | 65 of 123 | 52% | 57 of 114 | 7 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 52 of 108 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 11 |
| Gastón Bolaños | 28 of 81 | 34% | 14 of 57 | 7 of 14 | 7 of 10 | 28 of 81 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus McGhee | 35 of 58 | 60% | 30 of 53 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 22 of 44 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 11 |
| Gastón Bolaños | 14 of 38 | 36% | 6 of 25 | 4 of 7 | 4 of 6 | 14 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Marcus McGhee | 30 of 65 | 46% | 27 of 61 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 30 of 64 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Gastón Bolaños | 14 of 43 | 32% | 8 of 32 | 3 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 14 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: McGhee (-278), Bolanos (+225)
Round 1
It’s a finisher’s delight in this 135-pound pairing as McGhee (8-1, 2-0 UFC) puts his 100% stoppage rate on the line against Bolanos (7-3, 1-0 UFC), who sports an 86% knockout rate on his ledger. Putting on his hard hat and lacing up his running shoes will be referee Mark Smith, who could be in there for 15 seconds or 15 minutes, as they both predominantly win by knockout, but neither has been put away with strikes. Fists are bumped, and McGhee is the aggressor as he walks the former kickboxer down. When McGhee lets go with a kick, Bolanos catches it and trips him up, but McGhee recovers well enough to get back up with no issue. Bolanos comes up short on a kick high and low, and McGhee takes a page out of his foe’s playbook by spinning with a back kick. Bolanos smiles and throws a right hand back at him, but he misses the mark. McGhee hops out of the way of a body kick, and the two swing big inaccurate strikes at one another. Bolanos leaves a kick out too long, and McGhee marches him down and busts him in the chops with four punches. “The Maniac” suddenly switches it up to hook his arms around the waist and secure a double-leg takedown. Bolanos climbs back up with the wall at his back, and McGhee settles to drive a few knees to the inner thigh of his opponent. McGhee trips Bolanos up and throws him to the ground, but he backs off instead of following him to claim top position. McGhee absorbs a stern leg kick when Bolanos stands, and he leaps at him with a knee. Bolanos grins and nails his man with a right hand. McGhee winds up and races forward, connecting with several heavy shots and staggering “The Dreamkiller.” Bolanos laughs at McGhee as he takes damage, and McGhee lays into him until dragging Bolanos down to the ground. Bolanos uses his legs to push off the chest, but McGhee rains down punches that hurt Bolanos. Bolanos tries to escape, and McGhee intercepts him on the way up with a pair of fists that knock Bolanos squirrelly. Bolanos hangs in there, but McGhee is right on top of him and lays into him with power punches. Bolanos tries to fire back, and McGhee ends the round with a few additional shots.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 McGhee
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 McGhee
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 McGhee
Round 2
The strikers touch ‘em up to engage in the second round, and they proceed to find the other’s chins in a hurry. McGhee lands the harder shots, but Bolanos stays in his face and swings back with bad intentions. A huge right hand from McGhee opens up a cut on the corner of Bolanos’ left eye, and McGhee targets it with several more blows. Bolanos slashes out with a standing elbow, and he clips McGhee with a high kick as McGhee resets. McGhee gathers his thoughts and blitzes forward, landing flush with power as Bolanos tanks them all. McGhee lands two punches, and Bolanos shrugs him off and tries to give him one back, only to eat three more. McGhee puts volume on his foe, and Bolanos throws so hard that he stumbles. Bolanos kicks off the fence to put more impact into a Superman punch, and McGhee practically ignores it as he welcomes the striking exchange. McGhee gets up close with a left hand, and he spins with a risky back kick that connects cleanly to the midsection. Bolanos sits down on a right hand, and McGhee teeters and comes right back firing. “The Dreamkiller” attempts several high kicks from both legs, but McGhee bounces out of the way each and every time. McGhee times a perfect right hand that separates Bolanos from his senses and drops him on his face, and he raises his arms in the air and walks away. The ultra-tough Bolanos somehow wills himself back to his feet, and Smith is watching closely but has not called the fight.
McGhee sees he still has more work to do, and he spins with a wheel kick that bangs into the temple of his foe. McGhee follows with a thudding left hook, and he misses with the right as Bolanos falls back to the cage. With the wall likely the only thing keeping the ex-Lion Fight competitor upright, Smith recognizes that Bolanos has nothing left to give and waves the fight off.
McGhee nods, not wanting to inflict any more damage as he also can tell that Bolanos’ goose is cooked. McGhee still keeps his 100% finish rate intact with a spectacular win over a tough, talented adversary.
The Official Result
Marcus McGhee def. Gaston Bolanos R2 3:29 via TKO (Spinning Wheel Kick and Punches)
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks Marcus McGhee, citing his power, takedowns, and toughness. He advises McGhee to lean on wrestling rather than striking with a Muay Thai world champion. He notes that Gaston Bolaños is a dangerous striker who could catch McGhee, but believes McGhee's clear path to victory is through grappling. He has McGhee in a parlay for premium members.
Big Brady is cautious because McGhee hasn't shown a grappling game, but Bolaños has a major hole in takedown defense and ground game. He thinks if McGhee wrestles, he can submit Bolaños easily. However, if McGhee stands and trades, Bolaños is the better striker. Brady leans toward McGhee getting a submission but admits it's a stay-away fight.
Cody picks McGhee by submission, citing his well-rounded game, grappling advantage, and ability to grind on Bolaños. He notes that Bolaños is a world-class striker but has poor grappling and pacing, and that McGhee will take him down, take his back, and submit him.
Daniel Vreeland leans with Marcus McGhee, citing his well-rounded game and more paths to victory. He notes McGhee's athleticism and power, but worries he might brawl instead of taking the fight to the mat where he has an advantage. Vreeland thinks McGhee can submit Bolaños but will have to work for it.
James does not discuss this fight in the transcript.
Gastón Bolaños is a more technical striker with a kickboxing background, having competed in Glory. He showed good patience and submission defense in his UFC debut against Aaron Phillips. Marcus McGhee is explosive and powerful but tends to overextend and can be countered. Bolaños has trained at American Kickboxing Academy and Team Alpha Male, improving his takedown defense. If he keeps the fight standing, his technical striking should allow him to pick McGhee apart. At plus 225, Bolaños is a solid underdog pick, and I expect him to win by decision.
Paul picks Bolaños as a live underdog, citing his devastating striking and spinning elbows. He acknowledges Bolaños' grappling is a work in progress but believes if he can keep the fight standing, he has a real chance. He took a shot at +255 a few days ago.
The MMA Guru picks Marcus McGhee, calling it a mismatch. He notes that Gaston Bolaños is a good kickboxer but has grappling issues, while McGhee is strong in both areas. He predicts McGhee will find a takedown and choke him out, possibly with a rear-naked choke in the second round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 17 of 39 | 43% | 79 of 104 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 1 | 0 | 6:01 |
| Aaron Phillips | 0 | 63 of 127 | 49% | 69 of 135 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:36 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 10 of 26 | 38% | 10 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Aaron Phillips | 0 | 22 of 52 | 42% | 22 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 31 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:05 |
| Aaron Phillips | 0 | 25 of 46 | 54% | 25 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:40 | |
| 3 | Gastón Bolaños | 0 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 38 of 42 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:56 |
| Aaron Phillips | 0 | 16 of 29 | 55% | 22 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:56 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastón Bolaños | 17 of 39 | 43% | 7 of 22 | 9 of 13 | 1 of 4 | 16 of 37 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Aaron Phillips | 63 of 127 | 49% | 32 of 82 | 7 of 14 | 24 of 31 | 43 of 93 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 34 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastón Bolaños | 10 of 26 | 38% | 2 of 12 | 7 of 11 | 1 of 3 | 9 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Aaron Phillips | 22 of 52 | 42% | 9 of 30 | 2 of 6 | 11 of 16 | 22 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Gastón Bolaños | 5 of 9 | 55% | 3 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Aaron Phillips | 25 of 46 | 54% | 11 of 28 | 3 of 6 | 11 of 12 | 12 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 19 | |
| 3 | Gastón Bolaños | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Aaron Phillips | 16 of 29 | 55% | 12 of 24 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 15 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bolanos (-190), Phillips (+160)
Round 1
Returning to the cage from a 34-month absence in hopes of finally attaining his first UFC win, Phillips (12-4, 0-3 UFC) is back in action. He takes on promotional newcomer Bolanos (6-3, 0-0 UFC) at bantamweight, who had previously only competed in the Bellator cage before now. Sparks may fly, and referee Nick Berens is ready for it. The two men touch ‘em up, eager to impress and fire up the crowd. Instead of engaging, however, Phillips just chases Bolanos around and lobs a single high kick at him after about 30 seconds. Bolanos steps in with a straight right hand as Phillips chambers another kick, and Bolanos gets into a rhythm of kicking the lead leg. Phillips responds with a head kick, and Bolanos knocks him back after catching the leg in the air. Bolanos switches stances as he kicks from both legs, and Phillips punches his way into an engagement. Bolanos pushes him back with a knee to the body, and he has his lead leg kicked hard. “The Dreamkiller” sits down on three low kicks in a row, and the third makes Phillips pick his leg up. The other kicks from Bolanos are just out of range, and he ducks back when Phillips lunges at him with a few punches. Bolanos splits the guard with a right hand, and he stings Phillips with a second. Bolanos finds the target with another straight right down the pipe, and Phillips cannot seem to stop it. Bolanos fires off a clean one-two, and Phillips grabs him from behind the neck and slings him to his knees emphatically. Bolanos springs back up and gets back to action with low kicks, and the crowd starts wooing. They trade tit-for-tat strikes with little impact, and come together and clash their knees. Phillips whiffs on a big left hook, and Bolanos loads up on a pair of body kicks. Phillips just misses with a spinning kick, and Bolanos walks him down while continuing to sling kicks. Bolanos kicks Phillips’ leg out, and Phillips hops up and backpedals as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Bolanos
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get things going in the second round, and Bolanos starts off with a few kicks. Instead of getting into the pace of the last round, he changes things up and shoots for a takedown. Phillips bowls him over and pushes Bolanos to his back, where he moves to half guard. Berens asks them to work while Bolanos motions to him that he is being held down. Bolanos hacks with elbows from his back, and they land to the back of the head. Bolanos explodes back to his feet and lances Phillips with a handful of straight punches. Phillips knocks him back with a pair of hooks, and Bolanos surges back into action with a combination of punches and kicks. Phillips blitzes forward, tripping Bolanos down, and he lands right in mount. Phillips sits up to drop down punches, but the bucking Bolanos nearly escapes before he can do anything with it. Phillips lowers himself down and presses his full body weight on his opponent, and he looks to set up an arm-triangle choke. As he is in full mount working on a submission, Berens inexplicably asks Phillips to improve his position. Bolanos turns to his knees to break out of the arm-triangle setup, and he gives up his back. Phillips is keen to take it, as he secures the body lock around the waist and tightens it. Phillips threatens with a rear-naked choke, Bolanos tugs the gloves to get out of it as Berens warns him. Bolanos pulls off the fence with his toes, breaking out of the body triangle and working his way back to his feet. Bolanos lords over Phillips on his back, wailing on him with leg kicks until diving down with a monster right forearm. Bolanos beats on him until Phillips simply stands back up, and Bolanos is on him with a combination ending with a high kick. Phillips is slightly staggered from the strikes, and he blocks a spinning back elbow as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Phillips
Round 3
The fighters hug it out to start off the final frame, and Bolanos looks to get his striking going early. Bolanos nearly sneaks a head kick around the guard, and he chains punches into kicks while Phillips walks him down. Phillips blocks a right hand and shoots in for a single-leg takedown, and Bolanos defends with the cage at his back. Berens asks the two to work as they are tied up against the fence, and Phillips tries to trip him up and elects to drag him down. Phillips rolls through to snag an armbar, and he falls to his back in pursuit of a triangle choke. Bolanos shakes out of it and opens up with some ground strikes. Phillips pushes off to make Bolanos stand back up, but Bolanos lords over him and hammers him with left hands before hopping over to pass guard on the other side. Phillips wall-walks his way up, and he is met with several punches and a spinning back elbow. Phillips grins at him and tags Bolanos with a left hook, and he walks Bolanos down and ducks another spinning back elbow. Phillips takes his back and drags him to the mat from behind, and he secures the body lock instantly. Phillips works the body with punches while hunting for a choke, but it cannot materialize as Bolanos is wise to it. Phillips lets the body triangle go so that he can shift into mount, but he instead fastens an arm-triangle choke that freezes Bolanos. “The Dreamkiller” works his way out of the choke try, but Phillips rides out back control until the horn sounds. Scores could be all over the map, and based on the decision in the last fight, anything goes in Kansas City tonight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Phillips (29-28 Phillips)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Phillips (29-28 Phillips)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Phillips (29-28 Phillips)
The Official Result
Gaston Bolanos def. Aaron Phillips via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks Gastón Bolaños as the showcase fighter, noting his solid Muay Thai background and spinning back elbow finishes. He acknowledges variables: Bolaños lost 2 of his last 3 in Bellator, and Phillips hasn't fought in years. He expects a finish and is considering betting under 2.5 rounds or 'does not go the distance' prop, but no moneyline bet due to uncertainty.
Big Brady picks Gastón Bolaños to win by first-round knockout. He highlights Bolaños' striking power, including a spinning back elbow, and notes his solid takedown defense. He is concerned about Bolaños' grappling but believes he will keep the fight standing. He also mentions Bolaños' training at AKA and the long layoff for Phillips.
Cody is uncertain due to Phillips' three-year layoff. He thinks Bolaños has elite striking but questions his grappling. He picks Bolaños by knockout but calls it a pass.
Connor agrees, noting that Phillips is a disaster with no ability to control the fight. He emphasizes that Phillips is not physically strong and that Bolaños' physicality and power will be too much. He also mentions that Phillips' low kick vulnerability is a key factor.
Bolaños has superior striking power and speed, and Phillips has poor striking defense. However, Bolaños is one-dimensional and making his UFC debut. Phillips has a BJJ black belt and could submit him if it goes to the ground. The price is steep, but Bolaños should land a knockout. The under 2.5 rounds is a better bet.
Paul notes Bolaños' striking credentials but doubts his takedown defense. He thinks Phillips is a striker too, so it should be a stand-up fight. He leans Bolaños but has low confidence.
The MMA Guru picks Gastón Bolaños, citing his dangerous striking pedigree and spinning attacks. He notes Phillips' inactivity and 0-3 UFC record, and believes Bolaños can stuff takedowns and land a knockout. He acknowledges the line is accurate but not a steal.
Zane picks Bolaños because Phillips is a complete mess with no defensive discipline, poor wrestling, and a stance that makes him very vulnerable to low kicks. He notes that Bolaños is a great athlete with power and speed, and that Phillips' reckless style will lead to him getting hurt.
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