Sherdog PreviewsBantamweights
Dan Argueta (9-1, 2 N/C) vs. Jean Matsumoto (14-0)Advertisement
Dan Argueta's 2023 was certainly a mixed bag. "The Determined" looked solid in his lone fight on TUF in 2021, then got the late notice call a year later for his UFC debut against Damon Jackson; it was mostly a one-sided Jackson victory, but Argueta got a chance to show off the durability and relentless commitment to pace that has marked most of his career. Argueta then rebounded with a win over Nick Aguirre that was much more a showcase, but things went sideways the rest of the year, with Argueta's last two bouts winding up as no contests; what was shaping up as a dominant submission win over Ronnie Lawrence ended in a premature referee stoppage, and he made surprisingly little hay against Miles Johns in a loss that was eventually overturned due to Johns failing a drug test. Things seem to be clicking for Argueta, which makes it a bit frustrating that he only has one official win in four UFC fights - and he finds himself on gatekeeper duty here, welcoming Contender Series alum Jean Matsumoto to the Octagon. Brazil's Matsumoto certainly has some potential and an impressive amount of poise given his age; now 24 years old, Matsumoto has over six years of professional experience and has crafted out a patient and well-rounded game. His Contender Series win saw him show off his skill as a practiced striker, but while Matsumoto can hold his own in a grappling exchange, there are instances where a stronger wrestler can get him to the mat and control long stretches of time. That's certainly a path to victory here for Argueta, who figures to be the best wrestler and grappler that Matsumoto has faced to date; but while opponents have been able to control Matsumoto, they haven't done enough with it to outweigh his striking and give the Brazilian a professional loss. The read here is that Matsumoto can land enough offense to scrape this one out on the scorecards, even if it won't be easy; the pick is Matsumoto via decision.
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