WOW!!!! @Taisumov155 gets a HUGE KO victory over silva in the first round at #UFCRotterdam!@JohnGoodenUK's timing isn't so bad either! pic.twitter.com/1iWC6aPhTJ
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) September 2, 2017
Lightweights
Mairbek Taisumov (27-5) vs. Diego Ferreira (15-2)Advertisement
Other weight classes are catching up, but the UFC’s lightweight division remains ridiculously deep, as this excellent fight between two talented but unranked fighters shows. Chechnya’s Taisumov is one of the dark horses at 155 pounds, as he would probably be more highly regarded if he was more active. His UFC tenure got off to a bit of a rocky start thanks to a loss to Michel Prazeres, but since then, Taisumov has rattled off six straight wins, the first five of which came via early knockout. Of course, the issue is that those six fights have stretched over the last five years, as a combination of injuries and visa issues has left Taisumov relegated to the occasional fight on the UFC’s European circuit. The matchmaking has not really moved things forward, as every time out, it feels like Taisumov is re-establishing himself against an overmatched opponent, creating a bit of a treadmill effect. Thankfully, this seems like a change for the better. Beyond Taisumov scoring his first main card bout in half a decade, Ferreira is the type of tough opponent who can move the Chechen up the ladder with a win.
Ferreira is underrated in his own right. A two-fight losing streak to Beneil Dariush and Dustin Poirier early in his UFC career only looks better with time, and the Texas-based Brazilian has been successful every other time out. Ferreira can do a bit of everything. While he comes from a submission background and has some strong wrestling to match, Ferreira is also willing to throw down with the best of them -- a trait that that has typically paid off outside of the Poirier bout. A 2018 win over Jared Gordon put the lightweight division on notice, as Ferreira knocked out what was previously an unbreakable fighter, and a February win over Rustam Khabilov was another impressive upset that allowed him to show the full extent of his skills. As significant an opportunity as this is for Taisumov, Ferreira would also gain plenty by being the first man to beat “Beckan” in five years.
This seems like a two true outcome fight: Either Ferreira’s wildness on the feet gets him knocked out by Taisumov early, or the Brazilian gets in on a takedown and can probably have some success in working towards a submission. It is honestly at about even odds. Desmond Green was the first man in quite a while to test Taisumov’s takedown defense in their 2018 fight, but Ferreira is also much more aggressive than Green once he chooses to commit. However, he usually looks to strike first, and the combination of his lack of defense and Taisumov’s ability to obliterate opponents with a counter seems tailor-made for the Russian to score a quick finish. The pick is Taisumov via first-round knockout.
Next Fights » FX Prelims
Related Articles
