Strawweight
Huaxiang Dong (14-3) vs. Bo Hyun Park (8-3)
Huaxiang Dong
Pros:
-Good ground and pound
-Submission threat
-Good wrestling
-Solid Jiu-Jitsu
-Puts hands together well
-Good kicks
Cons:
-Too patient at times
Dong is back for another run in RTU after falling short the first time around. She arguably did enough to beat Ming Shi in that season, but the judges didn’t see it that way. Still, with the level of hype around Dong, she shouldn’t be in close fights like that with Shi in the first place. Even more concerning, she shouldn’t be going to a decision with someone like Priya Sharma.
Dong is frustrating to watch at times because her skill set is clearly there, but she often lacks urgency. She’s well-rounded—on the feet, she’s solid with both her hands and kicks—but her best attribute is her wrestling, which she should be leaning on a lot more.
I like Dong as a prospect, but I won’t be fully confident in her until she shows she can consistently put it together under the brighter lights.
Bo Hyun Park
Pros:
-Good jab
-Uses feints well
-Consistent pressure
-Throws in combinations/volume
-Good cardio
-Good ground and pound
Cons:
-Poor TDD
-Too willing to brawl
Park is a joy to watch because she’s someone you can always expect to bring the fight to her opponent. That said, she could definitely mix things up better. She tends to headhunt, which is fine, but adding more body work would make her much more dangerous.
She’s constantly throwing, usually finding success with a stabbing left jab and a heavy right hand that she really sits down on. She builds combinations well, often starting in twos before pushing into four-punch-plus sequences. She’s also good at mixing her attacks from both sides and down the middle, keeping her output varied even if it’s largely head-focused. She’s willing to take some shots to land her own, but she’s never been finished by KO/TKO, which speaks to her toughness and durability.
The biggest concern with Park is her ground game. She’s a pure striker and doesn’t actively pursue wrestling. Against strong wrestlers, that’s where she can get exposed, and it has happened before. That said, she has improved in that area and has become harder to take down as fights go on.
Prediction:
Dong is going to have to fight better than she did in her previous two RTU appearances if she wants a real chance here. In fact, Park is a clear step up from both of those opponents.
The interesting angle is that Park’s aggressive style could actually bring out the best version of Dong. Still, I’m leaning toward Park in this matchup because she consistently shows she’s willing to come forward and fight to win, while I’m not as confident Dong will match that same urgency.
I’ve got Park winning a decision here.
Arisa Matsuda (8-0) vs. Bo Meng (22-8)
Arisa Matsuda
Pros:
-High output/Volume striker
-Competent boxing skills
-Light footwork
-Nasty ground and pound
-Scrambles well
Cons:
-TDD needs some work
Matsuda is riding the momentum with two strong back-to-back wins. She picked up a featured victory on RTU last season and followed it up by capturing the CFFC strawweight title in February. Before that, she was also a former DEEP strawweight champion.
She’s a high-output striker with sharp boxing fundamentals and light, agile footwork. While her takedown defense still needs work, she doesn’t settle on the bottom easily and can deliver some nasty ground-and-pound when she ends up on top.
Bo Meng
Pros:
-Throws in volume
-Fast hands
-Primary right hand
-Good one-two
-Good counter striker
-Deceptive power
Cons:
-Poor TDD
-Vulnerable ground game
-Fight IQ lacks
Meng is 1–2 in her last three, though there’s a case she could have won her most recent fight. She’s been a staple in ONE Championship and went 6–4 during her run there. In her pro debut, she also became the first fighter to defeat Weili Zhang.
Despite all that experience, she’s still just 29 and very much in her prime. Training out of Tiger Muay Thai has elevated her striking to another level. Mengstand-up isn’t the issue at all—she’s undoubtedly a dangerous striker. Her grappling remains the main concern. Her takedown defense has improved, but she still makes mistakes that put her in bad positions. While she can wrestle and has some submission ability, she tends to lose too many minutes off her back.
On the feet, Meng is an excellent striker who can challenge anyone. She’s known for her power, particularly in her right hand. She can control range well from the outside with her jab and kicks, and she closes distance effectively with fast, explosive blitzes. She’s also a sharp counter striker, often landing check hooks and slipping out of danger just after impact.
At times, she can be willing to brawl, but not many opponents can match her power or durability in those exchanges.
Prediction:
This is a UFC-caliber fight, and the fact that these two are meeting in the first round is a bit of a bummer given the stakes. Matsuda has more upside and comes in with all the momentum.
I can see Matsuda outpointing Meng on the feet—she’s the faster athlete and the more dynamic athlete. That said, her clearest path to victory is getting this fight to the mat. If she can’t consistently secure takedowns, I think Meng starts to build momentum and takes over with damage on the feet.
At this point, we’ve seen Meng’s takedown defense be an issue too many times to expect a dramatic turnaround here. Because of that, I’m leaning toward Matsuda to find a submission, likely in round 1 or 2.
Xiaocan Feng (11-4) vs. Farida Abdueva (7-1)
Xiaocan Feng
Pros:
-Good straight punches
-Controls range well
-Good ground and pound
Cons:
-Poor TDD
-Lost off her back
-Zero head movement
-Advances in straight lines
The UFC clearly isn’t giving up on Feng, as this marks her third straight season in the promotion. She ended the last two campaigns on a rough note—getting slept by a head kick in the finals, followed by a loss to Arisa Matsuda. She’s since bounced back with a win, though it came against a 5–4–1 opponent.
With everything considered, she’s still very close to being on an 11-fight win streak. She was beating Ming Shi before getting caught in the third round, and while I didn’t necessarily see it that way, you could make a case she also beat Matsuda in their matchup.
That said, there are still clear holes in her game, especially her takedown defense and her ability to work off her back. Once opponents close the distance, she can be fairly easily brought down. Offensively, her striking does show promise—she uses her length well to keep range, sticks her jab consistently, and mixes in solid volume with leg kicks. However, she doesn’t carry much power, so her path to victory usually comes from outpointing opponents over three rounds.
Farida Abdueva
Pros:
-Clinch knees
-Versatile kicks/Mixes it up
-Feints often
-Mixes in bodywork
-Clinch takedowns/Utilizes trips well
-Good front kick
-Attacks from different angles
-Good one-two
-Solid cardio
-Scrambles well
-Active ground and pound
-Strong hips
Cons:
-Struggles against the cage
-TDD needs work
-Lacks physicality
Abdueva has quietly emerged as one of the better female prospects out of Central Asia. She didn’t gain notoriety until she beat Ayan Tursyn, who was a top prospect at the time. In that fight, she won the Octagon Strawweight title. She went on to defend it once, winning a UD in her UAE Warriors debut. Her only loss came against a good opponent despite her record. She was just 19, so it was not a bad loss.
Abdueva comes across as a well-rounded, offensively diverse striker with a grappling game that can function as a secondary option. She’s still developing the physicality and defense needed to fight at a higher level.
On the feet, her biggest strength is the layering of her striking. She doesn’t rely on single attacks. She builds off with feints, angles, and mixed targets. The clinch is a real weapon for her—she’s dangerous with knees and does a good job chaining trips. Her front kick and one-two give her structure at range. The body work is also a key factor, stemming from brutal knees in the clinch, kicks, and one-twos.
Her kicking game is another key piece, likely the main one. She’s comfortable attacking multiple levels and doesn’t become predictable. She’ll feint with one leg and throw with the other. There’s barely any tell in her delivery, but a lack of power makes her a little less dangerous. More than anything, it’s her ability to keep range and win off scoring points.
The issues show up when she’s forced into less favorable physical exchanges. She can struggle against the cage, particularly when opponents pressure her into prolonged wrestling exchanges. Her takedown defense isn’t fully reliable yet, and she can be controlled if someone commits to chaining attempts. She doesn’t always apply enough physical strength in clinch or defensive grappling situations, which can hurt her overall skill set.
Overall, she projects as a skillful, multi-layered fighter who wins rounds through variety and activity—but her ceiling depends heavily on improving cage defense, physical strength, and consistency in stopping grapplers, so she doesn’t turn her fights into extended grind-outs. You also have to remember that Abdueva is only 21, so she’s gonna develop quite well.
Prediction:
Both of these women are similar in style in some ways, as they’re both rangy point strikers who operate heavily behind kicks. However, Feng is the physically bigger fighter, but doesn’t have the style needed to neutralize Abdueva. She’s not likely to pursue takedowns, nor is she built to consistently win minutes in the clinch against the cage. If Abdueva chose to push that area, she could likely secure takedowns and control the fight on top fairly comfortably.
Even in Feng’s best areas, Abdueva looks to have the edge. She’s the better defensive fighter, throws more volume, and blends her offense together more naturally and effectively.
I’ve got Abdueva winning a decision here.
Machi Fukuda (10-2) Vs. Anelya Toktogonova (6-1-1)
Machi Fukuda
Pros:
-Good cardio
-Submission threat
-Fast
-Scrambles well
-Good clinch work
-Active wrestling
-Efficient positional progression
-Good ground and pound
Cons:
-Can be overzealous in fights
-Advances in straight lines
Fukuda has already had an excellent career at just 23, with only two losses—one of which she avenged. Her other defeat came in a split decision loss to Arisa Matsuda. She also went 3–0 in RIZIN and currently holds the DEEP JEWELS strawweight title.
Fukuda is undersized even for the strawweight division, but she’s managed to turn that into an advantage rather than a limitation. Her biggest struggles come on her feet. While she throws a good volume of strikes, she tends to absorb a lot when she’s advancing. She’ll occasionally angle off and shoot, but when she comes forward in straight lines, she can get tagged clean.
That said, her low center of gravity works in her favor for her wrestling. Once she gets on the inside, she is relentless in getting the fight to the mat. She attacks the legs, works body locks, and uses trips effectively. Fukuda is a constant threat once she gets her hands locked, almost like a ball of energy in grappling exchanges.
Over time, her ground positioning has improved significantly. She transitions smoothly, passes guard quickly, and is comfortable advancing position. At times, she can get a bit too aggressive and give up position, but her pace and pressure generally overwhelm opponents.
She’s a fast-paced, cardio-driven grappler who thrives in chaos and builds her game around nonstop movement and pressure.
Anelya Toktogonova
Pros:
-Good single leg
-Submission threat
-Active ground and pound
Cons:
-Telegraphs takedowns
-Zero head movement
-Poor fight IQ
-Position control lacks
-Physicality lacks
-Low volume
I came into this breakdown planning to be more critical of Toktogonova, but after watching the tape back, I realized some of it was from when she was 18 and younger. That explains a lot, as she looked like a very undeveloped fighter at that stage.
She did, however, look much improved in her most recent fight against a solid opponent in Elin Oberg. The only issue is that the performance was from two years ago, so there’s an expectation that she may have made even more strides during that time away. Still, based on the tape available, I can’t say I’m overly impressed.
Toktogonova is clearly a grappler, but the way she gets her takedowns isn’t very clean. In her last outing, she showed better chaining and sequencing, which could indicate real improvement in that area. Earlier in her career, she often shot from too far out, with little setup.
She does have a solid head-outside single and a low single leg, and she’s picked up four submission wins. That said, I wouldn’t necessarily describe her as a strong submission artist. She can be overzealous in transitions and doesn’t always maintain control—there have even been moments where she’s worked into mount and been bucked off.
A lot of that can be attributed to her age and inexperience at the time, but it still shows up on tape.
On the feet is where she’s likely to run into the most problems. Offensively, she has a decent left hand and a basic one-two, but it’s not particularly effective. She struggles to find success at range, and defensively, she’s a clear liability. She doesn’t move her head much, and her footwork and speed are fairly limited.
I do want to say she has potential, but that’s mostly because of her age. At just 20, there’s room for growth, but ideally, she would’ve benefited from more experience before being matched into this kind of fight.
Prediction:
This is a strong matchup for both women to show where they’re at, especially since neither has to deal with a major striking disadvantage, given they’re both primarily wrestlers/grapplers.
In the striking exchanges, I’d give Fukuda the edge due to her higher volume and consistent pressure. If Toktogonova looks anything like the version we’ve seen on tape, she’s likely to be shown levels in this fight.
Fukuda is an aggressive wrestler who can get takedowns in multiple ways, and that style matchup is a real problem for Toktogonova, who lacks the same level of physicality. That gap becomes even more apparent once the fight hits the mat, where Fukuda is clearly superior in control, aggression, and overall technique.
I expect Fukuda to come out aggressively, maintain that pace, and not give Toktogonova much room to settle. I’ve got Fukuda winning by second-round submission.
Flyweight
Jiniushiyue (16-4) vs. Kaito Oda (8-2)
Jiniushiyue
Pros:
-Good defensive wrestling
-Heavy top position
-Heavy ground and pound
-Solid wrestling
-Fast hands
-Good chain-wrestling
-Scrambles well
Cons:
-Chin straight up
-Repetitive with his hands
This will be Jiniushiyue’s third chance at RTU. While I’d like to see new names in the mix, both of his losses came against eventual tournament winners, and he’s gone 3–0 since that last setback—so another opportunity is at least justified.
Jiniushiyue is a solid fighter, but he hasn’t shown the kind of development you’d typically expect at his age. In many ways, he looks like the same fighter I scouted two years ago. That said, his baseline is still strong enough that he could absolutely compete at the UFC level, largely because his wrestling and grappling blend so effectively.
On the feet, he’s limited, rarely extending his punches or offering much beyond basic entries. However, he does show more layers than a purely one-dimensional striker. He’s a reliable offensive and defensive wrestler with strong chain-wrestling ability.
Once he gets on top, he’s not just holding position—he’s heavy, settles well, and delivers meaningful ground-and-pound that can wear opponents down over time. His scrambling is also a key strength, and in messy scrambles, he’s usually the one coming out on top.
At 25, I do think he’ll eventually make it to the UFC, but I’m not sure this is the year.
Kaito Oda
Pros:
-Good wrestling
-Heavy top control
-Deep gas tank
-Chain wrestling ability
-Heavy pressure
-Physically strong
Cons:
-Hands low
-Overswings
-Open to counters
Oda is 7–1 in his last eight and has competed across Grachan, JCK, and ONE Friday Fights. He’s currently the Grachan flyweight champion.
Early on, I was fairly impressed with his tape, though his last two performances stood out as underwhelming compared to his usual standard. He slowed down earlier in those fights and had more trouble consistently getting his wrestling going.
When he’s operating at his best, though, Oda is a difficult fighter to deal with. He builds his game around pressure, pace, and control—someone who doesn’t just look to win moments, but to take over fights minute by minute.
His takedown approach isn’t dependent on a single entry or clean shot. Instead, he chains attempts together relentlessly. If the first shot fails, he’s immediately transitioning to the next, forcing opponents into constant defensive reactions. That persistence, combined with his physical strength, makes him hard to keep off you once he commits to closing the distance.
Once the fight hits the mat, he’s very effective. His top control is heavy and suffocating, and he does a good job of dictating position while limiting his opponent’s ability to scramble or create space.
The main concerns come from his striking. While he does use his hands to close distance and initiate grappling exchanges, his defensive habits leave openings. He tends to carry his hands low, which makes him vulnerable to clean counters, especially against composed strikers who can manage range under pressure.
Prediction:
Both guys are pressure-based wrestlers who rely on chain attempts, top control, and wearing opponents down, so this is likely to be more of a positional battle than anything flashy.
Jiniushiyue feels like the more reliable fighter minute-to-minute, which is important in a matchup with constant scrambles, reversals, and wrestling exchanges. Oda, on the other hand, is the more dynamic pressure wrestler when everything is clicking. His chain wrestling is probably a bit more aggressive in terms of volume—he’ll keep shooting, re-shooting, and forcing reactions until something eventually sticks.
Early on, this should be competitive. Both guys will trade control, force scrambles, and test each other’s ability to defend and reset. But as the fight goes deeper, the small differences start to matter more.
Jiniushiyue looks like the better scrambler, the more consistent defensive wrestler, and the more damaging presence when he gets on top. Oda’s pressure is dangerous, but it can come with lapses that open the door in extended grappling exchanges.
I’ve got Jiniushiyue winning a decision.
Eros Baluyot (7-0) vs. Takeru Uchida (8-2)
Eros Baluyot
Pros:
-Submission threat
Cons:
-Poor TDD
-Squared shoulders
-Poor cardio
-Pulls guard
-Overzealous grappling
-Lacks feints/setups
-Poor grappling control
Baluyot is the worst fighter I’ve scouted this season. The best way to describe him is as a leg-lock merchant. He’ll even pull guard just to chase heel hooks—less so in a strategic scramble sense and more so in a way that gives up top position just to hunt submissions. The problem is that’s really the only thing he brings to the table. He’s not good on his feet and is a clear defensive liability, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get knocked out at some point.
Baluyot is an opportunistic submission grappler, but everything he does is predicated on catching mistakes rather than setting anything up. His wrestling isn’t strong enough to reliably get him to top position, so most of his offense has to come from his back or off scrambles. Yes, he is getting wins by submission, but it’s been against fairly weak competition, which makes it hard to take that success at face value.
Takeru Uchida
Pros:
-Huge submission threat
-Dangerous off his back
-Lightning-quick transitions
-Slick jiu-jitsu
-Improved wrestling
-Chain wrestles well
Cons:
-Shoots desperate takedowns
-One-dimensional
Uchida fought in the inaugural RTU season in 2022 in a non-tournament bout, where he submitted Shaun Etchell in the first round. Despite the quick win, he wasn’t signed at the time and was instead given more experience to develop further. Since then, he’s only fought three times in nearly four years.
He entered that RTU run as a pure jiu-jitsu specialist, and in many ways, he hasn’t evolved dramatically away from that identity. Uchida is still a submission threat from anywhere. His lightning-fast transitions and slick jiu-jitsu allow him to chain attacks together and find finishes with minimal space. That fluidity, combined with his technique, makes him the type of grappler who doesn’t need much time or room to threaten a submission.
His wrestling has shown some improvement, particularly in chaining attempts and getting fights into his preferred grappling range. However, he still tends to force entries at times and remains fairly one-dimensional, with everything built around his ground game. He’s dangerous on the mat against anyone, but can be neutralized by opponents who can manage range and consistently defend the takedown.
Prediction:
Uchida is basically getting a bye week in this one, as I expect him to run through Baluyot fairly comfortably. All he needs to do is secure a takedown, and Baluyot will likely accept bottom position. Once that happens, it’s essentially curtains, given how big the gap is in jiu-jitsu. Even if Uchida wanted to test things on the feet, I don’t think he’d run into much trouble there either. This is a clear stylistic mismatch in his favor.
I’ve got Uchida winning by first-round submission.
Otgonbaatar Boldbaatar (6-0) vs. Takaya Suzuki (7-1)
Otgonbaatar Boldbaatar
Pros:
-Explosive
-Good jab
-Throws in combinations
-Good kickboxing
-Cuts off the cage well
-Good knees
-Guillotine threat
-Solid TDD
-Good one-two
-Uses feints well
Cons:
-N/A
While watching Boldbaatar, you might be surprised to learn he has a freestyle wrestling background. He doesn’t actively pursue wrestling in his fights, but you can clearly see the influence in his defensive grappling. He works well in underhooks, has a strong whizzer, and a solid sprawl. As a result, he’s rarely forced into extended time off his back, and when he is, he handles those situations well.
His striking is where he really stands out. Boldbaatar blends technique, explosiveness, and flashiness very effectively. He’ll occasionally mix in spinning attacks, but he doesn’t overuse them, and they mainly serve to keep opponents guessing. He has a committed jab that he can build his offense behind, and he’s comfortable blitzing from an open stance, throwing with power and confidence from both sides.
He also does a good job of layering his combinations, often finishing exchanges with kicks—targeting high, low, and body kicks. What makes his striking even more effective is how well he mixes everything together. He uses feints to draw reactions, set traps, and freeze opponents before committing to his attacks. He’s also a strong positional striker who cuts off the cage well, forcing opponents into exchanges rather than allowing them to reset or circle out freely. That’s where his explosiveness becomes most dangerous—he can burst into combinations quickly and overwhelm opponents before they can fully react or recover.
At this stage, what stands out most is the lack of obvious weaknesses. There are no glaring technical holes or recurring bad habits that consistently get exposed. He fights composed, efficient, and dangerous in multiple phases, making him a difficult matchup across the board.
Takaya Suzuki
Pros:
-Light footwork
-Good timing
-Lightning quick
-Percision
-Good knees
-Slick counter striker
-Good straight left
-Nasty left kick to the body
-Good use of feints
Cons:
-TDD needs work
Suzuki is one of the top prospects coming out of Japan, so it’s no surprise he’s in this season. The biggest question mark around him is his takedown defense, which has shown some vulnerability in the past. It’s never been a major issue, though, and even when opponents do manage to get him down, it’s not easy to consistently replicate.
With his speed, footwork, and timing, opponents are often forced to either shoot from too far out or rush in recklessly just to close the distance. Suzuki is a lethal counter striker, particularly with his left hand and right hook, and he’ll also punish entries with sharp knees to the body. From southpaw, he’s like a loaded gun waiting to fire that straight left. He also has a strong rear left kick to the body, which he uses effectively to manage range and break opponents down over time.
Still very young, Suzuki clearly has a lot more to show. Even based on what he’s already displayed—and considering he’s not yet close to his prime—he’s a terrifying prospect for anyone in the division.
Prediction:
It’s tough that these two are meeting in round one, because it really feels like a high-level matchup right out of the gate.
What I expect is largely a striking battle built around Suzuki’s speed versus Boldbaatar’s pressure and tenacity. Suzuki’s movement and footwork could be a major factor here. If Boldbaatar is coming forward in bursts and blitzing, that plays directly into the kind of timing Suzuki thrives on, and there’s a real chance he gets caught clean trying to close distance.
That said, Boldbaatar isn’t without his own danger. His blitz entries and extended combinations give him real opportunities to clip Suzuki, especially if he can force exchanges at mid-range. There’s also the question of whether he can maintain a consistent pace and test Suzuki in deeper waters, where he may not be as comfortable.
Ultimately, though, I lean toward Suzuki. He’s the longer, more precise striker on the outside, and his speed on the back foot makes him very hard to consistently track down. As long as he manages distance well, he should be able to pick his moments and capitalize on Boldbaatar’s entries.
I’ve got Suzuki winning by TKO in round two.
Ryoga Arimoto (10-1-2) Vs. Joseph Larcinese (5-0)
Ryoga Arimoto
Pros:
-Cool tattoos
-Good clinchwork
Cons:
-Stands squared
-TDD needs work
-Loads up/Over swings
-Poor footwork
Everybody views fighters differently, and with Arimoto, I just don’t see much that stands out right now. He’s a very small 125er who struggles at range and doesn’t consistently find clean ways into the pocket.
He does manage to get inside at times, but it’s often through rushing in or lunging, which leaves him open to counters or even takedowns. That entry process is a real issue, especially against higher-level opposition. Once he is on the inside, that’s where he’s most comfortable—working dirty boxing and mixing in some decent elbows. The problem is he spends a lot of time trying to force that position, and it puts him at risk of being controlled or taken down himself, something we’ve already seen happen multiple times.
Overall, I’m not particularly excited about Arimoto in a division I’m usually very high on.
Joseph Larcinese
Pros:
-Submission threat
-Durable
-Good pressure
-Scrambles well
-Good right hand
-Solid cardio
-Good dirty boxing
-Good bodywork
Cons:
-TDD needs work
-Can get stuck at range
Larcinese is a scrappy fighter who fits well into this tournament setting. He’s a smaller flyweight and, while not the most athletic athlete in the field, he makes his style work through effort and positioning.
He does the right things—cutting off the cage and using head movement to work his way inside. That said, against better athletes, he can get stuck at range and picked apart. In his fight with Oden Muscat, for example, the distance striking clearly gave him trouble and limited his success in entries.
The key thing with Larcinese, though, is that he doesn’t fade. He tends to get better as the fight goes on. Once inside the pocket, he’s very active, ripping punches to the head, body, over the shoulder, and up the middle. He does a solid job of rolling with shots and operating comfortably in boxing range.
His takedown defense has been a relative weakness, but it’s not always straightforward to capitalize on, as he’s difficult to hold down for long stretches. He scrambles well, bounces back to his feet quickly, and often works his way into better positions.
You also can’t freely shoot on him, as he threatens dangerous front chokes and guillotines in transitions. On top, he’s relentless, constantly hunting the back and threatening the rear-naked choke repeatedly until something opens up.
You can beat Larcinese on a technical level, but doing it consistently for 15 minutes without him wearing you down or forcing mistakes is the real challenge.
Prediction:
I don’t see a path for Arimoto here. They’re similar in stature, but Larcinese handles that frame much better. Larcinese works his way into the pocket, whereas Arimoto tends to force his entries and often walks straight into range to get there.
Arimoto is also much more hittable in those exchanges, while Larcinese is generally more defensively responsible and composed in his approach. Both guys have issues with takedown defense, but Larcinese has also faced better competition, which matters in a matchup like this.
Another key difference is on the mat—Arimoto is the only one who has spent significant time off his back. Larcinese, on the other hand, is much harder to keep down and is quick to scramble back into advantageous positions.
Across the board, this feels like Larcinese’s fight. I’ve got “Big Sexy” winning by second-round submission.
