Featherweight
Ahejiang Ailinuer (17-3) vs. George Mangos (9-1)
Ahejiang Ailinuer
Ailinuer has the physical tools and can compete in all phases, but his process often lets him down. His striking can become repetitive, and he doesn’t always put combinations together or layer his attacks. The volume isn’t consistent, and he can be overly reliant on single shots.
He’s light on his feet, explosive, and capable of attacking in a variety of ways, but he needs to do a better job of setting things up. Against high-level opposition, simply having the tools won’t be enough, as he can be outworked. Still, he’s a dangerous matchup for anyone, especially early in fights.
George Mangos
Mangos’ striking has developed rapidly, but it’s his grappling that truly separates him. Mangos has faced quality grapplers and consistently held his own. He can be pressed against the cage and taken down, but he never accepts bad positions. He fights hands, gets his hips back underneath him, and scrambles intelligently. Control time can be an issue—it’s largely what cost him against da Silva—but opponents rarely keep him pinned for long.
On top, he’s sticky and composed, especially when he takes the back. His instincts around the neck are excellent, and while early on he looked like a pure neck hunter, his flying triangle finish showed just how versatile his submission game really is. He doesn’t rush positions; he builds them methodically. Mangos is a strong contender to win the whole tournament.
Mangos had a tougher matchup in the opening round against Yuito Yanagawa. Ailinuer isn’t a bad fighter but lacks a lot of the basics, and his process stinks. Even at his best, Mangos is absolutely better everywhere. The fight likely takes place when Mangos wants it.
George Mangos via TKO (punches), round 1.
Dagiisuren Chagnaadorj (11-2) vs. Young Jae Song (10-1-1)
Dagiisuren Chagnaadorj
Chagnaadorj got the biggest upset of round one to me when he beat Regezhen. I wasn’t a fan of him prior, and I still ain’t. That fight wasn’t really at all what Chagnaadorj did, but more of what Regezhen didn’t do. Chagnaadorj fought his fight and didn’t give the Chinese fighter what he wanted. Regezhen fought lazily, and Chagnaadorj benefited.
I watched everything available on Chagnaadorj, and it’s tough to find many positives. His best moments come in brief exchanges, but he offers very little power. He swings wildly, often missing more than he lands, and rarely sets anything up. His footwork is also a major issue, making it difficult for him to consistently find his range or enter the pocket cleanly.
While he owns three submission victories, that record is a bit misleading. There’s not much wrestling upside here, and his jiu-jitsu can be sloppy. It’s hard to envision him having much success in this tournament. He won’t outwrestle opponents; he’s unlikely to catch anyone with a big shot, and his questionable cardio makes it difficult to trust him over extended stretches.
Young Jae Song
Song didn’t have a performance to be proud of either in his opening round fight. He came out with an odd gameplan looking to wrestle. That wasn’t working, and to make it worse, he was fouling, even landing an illegal knee at one point. Song was even dropped by Jin Aoi, which is insane considering Aoi has no power. He ended up getting the submission, but it’s cause Aoi let his guard down at the wrong moment.
Song is willing to take damage to deliver it. That recklessness is part of what makes him effective. His power and shot placement are clear when he opens up—but it also makes him vulnerable. He attacks both the body and head and tends to be the one dictating violence, rather than absorbing it. So far, he’s been the hammer more often than the nail. He’s very much an all-action fighter, and that shows in how every win has come inside the distance.
Prediction:
Even if Song fights a complete idiot, he should still win this fight. If he so badly wants to test out his newfound wrestling, he’d likely find success. If he fights his fight, he should be able to clip Chagnaadorj on the feet. Chagnaadorj was able to survive Regezhen because Regezhen was throwing single strikes. Song will go after him and put it together. If Chagnaadorj frauds his way to another win, I’d be upset.
Young Jae Song via TKO (puncher), round 2
