UFC President Dana White was criticized after he panned Brendan Loughnane’s decision not to pursue a stoppage of Bill Algeo on Season 1, Episode 3 of Dana White’s Contender Series. The Ultimate Fighting Championship boss reminded prospective fighters that he wanted finish-minded competitors who put on exciting fights. Those who have followed Loughnane into the cage have given White what he wants. Over the last three episodes, 11 of 15 bouts have ended inside the distance and 11 fighters have received UFC contracts.
While Season 3, Episode 6 of the series on Tuesday in Las Vegas has some high expectations to meet, it will showcase 10 young mixed martial artists with a history of exciting crowds. A closer look at the lineup:
Michal Martinek vs. Rodrigo Nascimento Ferreira
An undefeated heavyweight, Martinek gets his chance to fight in front of the UFC brass with hopes of keeping his perfect record intact. Martinek is a member of the Reinders Team but has also put some work in at the Allstars Training Center in Sweden. The southpaw fighter is a bit raw in the striking game but has improved greatly in that area over the duration of his career. He is a low-output striker who is technically lacking. The Czech Republic fighter likes to exchange strikes in the pocket. He does well at jumping into his range with leaping hooks or following up his inside kicks. He can get a little wild throwing his hands down by his side. He takes his eyes off his opponent because he makes the mistake of ducking his head while throwing wildly, causing him to not see his target and leaving him open to uppercuts. The clinch is where “Blackbeard” prefers to fight. He does well at getting takedowns from close quarters, with a risky lateral drop being his signature takedown. The European fighter is tough to take down himself. Once on top, Martinek does his best work. He has displayed good top pressure, crushing ground-and-pound and an ability to take his opponent’s back in a scramble. The most concerning thing about Martinek’s game is his limited cardio. He has gassed badly in several bouts, sometimes as early as the first round. If he cannot get on top of his opponent early, Martinek is forced to battle at a slow pace.
Similar to Martinek, Nascimento has not lost yet as a pro. The Brazilian has been inactive recently, only fighting three times in five years and has not stepped into the cage in 21 months. He was scheduled to compete on DWCS twice before but had to be removed both times because of visa issues. With those traveling troubles behind him, the Full House team member is ready to get his blossoming career going again. “Ze Colmeia” is a hard-hitting striker who likes to switch stances but does his best work from the southpaw position. The 6-0 professional is quite raw on the feet, relying more on his athleticism than technique. He keeps his hands low and swings wildly, hoping to end the fight with every single shot. His leaping left hook and high kick are his most dangerous blows. The undefeated fighter keeps his chin in the air while striking, which will likely become an issue the higher he moves on the competitive ladder. The 26-year-old has been overpowered in the clinch before but does have some nice trips from that position. He gets most of his takedowns by shooting from a distance. Once on top, he has aggressive ground-and-pound and some slick submission skills.
The outcome of this fight is difficult to predict because both fighters need a lot of seasoning and do not appear to be ready for the bright lights of the UFC. The Nascimento is taking a significant step up in competition by facing Martinek. However, the Czech’s gas tank remains a serious concern. If he gets tired, he could get blasted on the feet or get caught in a submission. Expect it to be competitive early, with the Brazilian locking in a submission in the second round once Martinek gives in to fatigue.
Next Fight » Rodriguez vs. Farrington