Episode 5: Breakdown and Predictions
The semifinals of Road to UFC 3 begin on Friday night. Some of Asia’s hottest talents will be looking to fight their way into the big show. Two fights will be broadcast live from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. In the first, the fifth episode of the current season, bantamweights and flyweights are in action.
You haven’t been following Road to UFC 3, which unfortunately sometimes took a back seat during the promotion? Our analysis and predictions below will give you some insight into this.
Bantamweight, Tokitaka Nakanishi (12-3) vs. Balgyn Jenisuly (17-5)
Tokitaka Nakanishi
Per
- Threat of submission
- Heavy ground and pound
- Timing for level changes
- Solid grappling
- Good cardio
Disadvantages
Balgyn Jenisuly
Per
- Strong wrestling
- Threat of submission
- Uses many feints
- Good footwork
- Good grappling
- Active Ground and Pound
- Heavy upper position
- Sporty
- Aggressive
Disadvantages
- Sometimes loads
- Open to counterarguments
forecast: Before his last fight, a lot was unknown about Nakanishi, but we got to know him well. The bottom line is that he doesn’t move around much, but he’s a strong wrestler and grappler.
Jenisuly lost to a wrestler last season and gets an even better one in Nakanishi. Still, Jenisuly is the better fighter and it’s not close. He’s also a strong wrestler/grappler but also good in the stand-up. As long as he doesn’t let Nakanishi control him, this is his fight to win. There’s still a lot of uncertainty with Nakanishi and the guy he beat in the first round. He really should have finished as a fighter at this level. I like Jenisuly because he has more experience and more opportunities to win.
