Preview: UFC on ESPN 58 ‘Perez vs. Taira’

Featherweights

Timothy Cuamba (8-2, 0-1 UFC) vs. Lucas Almeida (14-3, 1-2 UFC)

ODDS: Cuamba (-205), Almeida (+170)

This is a solid shot at a first UFC win for Cuamba. Given that most winners on the Contender Series in recent years get signed regardless of their level of performance, there’s usually one or two baffling snubs per season, and in 2023, one of those was Cuamba, who put together a consistent and poised performance to coast out a clear decision win. Like most of those other snubs, Cuamba found himself in the UFC a few months later, in this case for a late-notice spot up at lightweight against Bolaji Oki in February. Cuamba got to show off his wares in a split decision loss, using his usual mix of a sniping range striking game and some solid wrestling. Almeida makes for a fun next test in Cuamba’s return to 145 pounds.

Given his preferred fight, Brazil’s Almeida can be an entertaining brawler, though his UFC career has mostly been an exercise in finding out the ways that he can be taken out of that approach. Michael Trizano consistently waded in and eventually lost a fun war of attrition, but Pat Sabatini outwrestled Almeida handily and Andre Fili smoked him with a counter, continuing his struggles with longer fighters. Cuamba isn’t excellent enough in any one area to clearly blow this fight open on paper, but his well-roundedness should be enough to neutralize Almeida for most of this fight, whether it’s via staying at range or turning this into a grind. The pick is Cuamba via decision.

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Perez vs. Taira
Aliskerov vs. Trocoli
Cuamba vs. Almeida
Johns vs. Silva de Andrade
Almabaev vs. Johnson
Quinlan vs. Fugitt
The Prelims