The X Factor: Fabiano thrives on shutting down his opponent’s offense, while Paixao keeps a hectic pace on the mat. While Fabiano has the edge thanks to his suffocating top control, it’ll be interesting to see how he reacts to Paixao’s relentless guard work.
The Bottom Line: It’s always fun to watch Paixao operate, but Fabiano is simply too technically sound and efficient on the mat to allow Paixao to get his offense going. It won’t be fun to watch unless you’re writing a thesis on top control, but it will be enough to get Fabiano a decision win.