Welcome to the MMA Information’ Sleeper Scrap! The relentless schedule of the MMA world implies that some followers don’t have a full take a look at a struggle card till days earlier than the occasion, leaving the promoters to determine which bouts you ought to be paying essentially the most consideration to.
Everybody needs to tune in for major occasions and fights that function widespread names, however which means significant or doubtlessly action-packed matchups from elsewhere on struggle playing cards generally get misplaced within the shuffle. A Sleeper Scrap may spotlight attention-grabbing type matchups, fighters with notable storylines, or bouts that merely have the prospect to be a Struggle of the Night time contender.
The Fighters
A product of the always-competitive Brazilian regional scene, Nikolas Motta spent nearly all of his early profession competing for Shooto Brasil and joined the forged for Season 4 of The Final Fighter: Brazil in 2015.
Motta earned one win on TUF however misplaced to eventual season winner Glaico França, and he returned to Shooto Brasil for 3 fights earlier than taking his abilities to the US. “Iron” ultimately joined Cage Fury FC and gained the promotion’s light-weight title in his second struggle earlier than incomes a UFC contract on Contender Collection 2020.
The Brazilian’s UFC debut was postponed a number of occasions earlier than he lastly took on the ageless Jim Miller and was stopped within the second spherical, nevertheless Motta earned his first UFC victory when he defeated Cameron VanCamp in his most up-to-date struggle.
Manuel Torres’ early profession noticed him run via competitors in his native Mexico, and it took greater than 4 years for him to even go previous the primary spherical.
“El Loco” shortly compiled a 6-0 file of first-round finishes earlier than profitable a choice in 2018, however a step up in competitors noticed the Mexican light-weight get submitted twice for the primary losses of his profession. Torres rallied from these setbacks by submitting two opponents within the first spherical, which led to a chance on Contender Collection 2021 in opposition to Kolton Englund.
The 28-year-old’s first-round win on Contender Collection was sullied considerably by an obvious eye poke instantly earlier than the end, however the efficiency earned Torres a UFC contract and he efficiently debuted within the UFC by stopping Frank Camacho simply over three minutes into their struggle.
The Matchup
Motta tends to be fairly affected person on the toes, and though he prefers to depend on counter punching he’ll take the lead in hanging exchanges if his opponent is tentative.
The Brazilian’s favourite punch is a decent left hook, which he’ll typically throw instantly after his proper straight. Motta is completely satisfied to make use of this mix each as a lead or a counter, and whereas he doesn’t use all of it that usually he’s flashed a pointy jab that he makes use of as a variety finder throughout hanging exchanges.
“Iron” excels at throwing up excessive kicks with each his lead and rear leg, however he’s additionally been a bit too inclined to leg kicks and has a behavior of being backed up if he’s unable to search out house to throw his counters photographs.
Torres is at all times a menace to finish issues from the second a struggle begins, and he makes good use of his size to maintain opponents at vary whereas opening up possibilities for giant photographs.
“El Loco” will get proper to work tagging opponents along with his jab and out of doors leg kicks as quickly because the motion begins, however his opposition must be cautious of the extra vital punches and fast entrance kicks that can quickly observe. Torres loves to leap ahead with a left hook and can generally observe it with a proper hand, and if issues get shut he’ll fortunately clinch as much as land arduous knees to the physique.
The 28-year-old can admittedly get a bit of bit wild along with his strikes and does rely a bit an excessive amount of on leaning his head again for protection, however most of the time his aggression has resulted in him incomes violent stoppage-wins.
The Stakes
There appears to be a matchup between Contender Collection veterans on practically each UFC card today, and it’s at all times intriguing to see which fighters are capable of set up themselves as authentic abilities within the sport’s largest promotion.
Each of those males are nonetheless very early of their tenures with the UFC and have earned stoppage-victories, though Motta already has gotten his first loss out of the best way when he was given a significantly tough debut in opposition to Miller.
Contender Collection 2023 is ready to kick off in a few months and there might be a complete new crop of younger expertise coming into the UFC, so neither Motta nor Torres will need to put themselves ready the place the promotion might query whether or not they belong on the roster.
Motta’s ending expertise are definitely spectacular as nicely, however with a fighter like Torres there’s at all times curiosity in how he’s capable of carry out the later a struggle goes. All however one in every of his professional victories have come within the first spherical, so if “Iron” is ready to take issues into rounds two and three it may reply some questions on what the Mexican fighter’s total potential is.
Whereas it’s clearly not unimaginable, this looks as if the form of matchup the place it will be a shock to see issues make it to the judges’ scorecards. Each males are confirmed finishers which are keen to actually set up their place on the UFC roster, so followers gained’t need to miss it when these lightweights enter the cage on Saturday.
You’ll be able to make amends for earlier editions of the MMA Information’ Sleeper Scrap proper right here!
