Zach Zane vs. Justin Gonzales
Zane started his career 4-7, but since March 2017, the Hawaiian has rattled off eight straight wins. During this run, Zane moved up two weight classes to capture the X-1 World Events welterweight title. The 29-year-old calls his style “Ninja striking.” The southpaw comes out aggressively while working behind an active jab, but his right hook is his best punch. The Blackhouse MMA representative crushes the body with leg kicks and loves to try knocking out opponents with flying knees. Zane will mix in takedown but is a weak defensive wrestler himself. Though he is not a strong wrestler, he does own a deep arsenal of submissions. He enjoys pursuing the leg with ankle locks and toe holds, trying to quickly end fights. Zane has closed many holes in his game and appears to be surging as he enters the Octagon. He has only fought a full 15 minutes twice in his career, leaving his gas tank as a major question mark.
Gonzales simply cannot lose. After going unbeaten as an amateur, he is a perfect 9-0 as a professional. The 28-year-old has fought exclusively inside the Sparta Combat League, where he is the promotion’s featherweight champion. “J-Train” is your classic wrestle-boxer. The Colorado native loves to throw fisticuffs in the pocket, and his check hook and overhand right both pack serious power. The aggressive striker also possesses a crushing high kick that has floored several fighters. He can be a little too aggressive with his striking, as overthrowing his punches leaves him open for counters. He has been dropped in fights in the past. The Top Notch MMA representative is a former NCAA wrestler at the University of North Carolina. He has lightning-fast entries on his double-leg and excels at winning scrambles; however, he sometimes telegraphs his shots without setting them up with strikes. Once on top, the undefeated fighter offers stellar top pressure. He constantly works to advance position while battering his opponent with ground-and-pound. He loves to pin his adversaries against the cage, where he batters the body and legs with knees.
Zane is a serious threat to finish the fight, but he seems overmatched here. “J-Train” has a huge advantage in the wrestling department. However, because of UFC President Dana White’s criticism of Brendan Loughnane for wrestling during Episode 1 of the show, Gonzales might abandon the wrestling to stand and bang with Zane. This will give the Hawaiian a better chance at winning, but Gonzales should still have the advantage. Gonzales wins by second-round TKO and earns himself a UFC contract.
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