Shane Collins makes his UFC debut this Saturday in an un-packed arena in the Meta Apex. Although a big audience should be able to enjoy Shane Collins, it’s an exciting debut nonetheless. At the Prospect Vault, we rate Collins quite highly, as he ranks #24 in our prospect ranking.
Collins will likely struggle to take down higher-level opponents, but he does a good job of lulling fighters into striking exchanges before shooting unexpectedly. He’s not much of a submission threat, but he’s relentless with his ground-and-pound. While he maintains solid top control, he can get overzealous when chasing more dominant positions and occasionally give up advantageous spots. His jiu-jitsu is sound, allowing Collins to stay safe and work effectively off his back. For someone known primarily for his striking, he’s surprisingly capable of hitting sweeps and reversals from bottom position.
On the feet, Collins does some nasty work. He gets hit a bit too often, particularly when backing up in straight lines, but he’s far more effective when operating inside boxing range. He can fight behind the jab, mix in kicks, and while he could use more consistent head movement, he’ll occasionally slip shots and roll with punches effectively.
Collins pressures opponents with volume and combinations, using feints well and attacking all levels. His body work is especially vicious, whether it’s hooks to the body within combinations or well-placed liver kicks. Despite carrying significant finishing ability, he’s a patient fighter who waits for openings rather than forcing them.
He throws from a variety of angles, frequently switches stances, and targets the head, body, and legs. His one-two is a legitimate weapon, and when he has an opponent backed against the cage, he’ll unleash long combinations. In the clinch, he’s also effective with short elbows and knees.
I view Collins as a top 38 featherweight in the UFC. That’s pretty darn good considering how young he is in his career and how stacked 145 is.
Collins fights Otari Tanzilovi (10-1), who is also making his debut. Tanzilovi fought on the Contender Series in 2024 and lost to Josias Musasa, which doesn’t look good today. Tanzilovi does have a style that could give Collins fits. He’s a dynamic kickboxer who plays well off range and movement. The problem is it’s not sustainable. Tanzilovi does gas as the fight goes on, and being that he keeps his hands low, Collins is gonna crack him. I predict Tanzilovi to drop Collins in round one, but for Collins to weather the storm and get the TKO late in round two.
