Tuchalov is a good signing by the UFC based on his last win alone. He faced former UFC fighter Caio Machado, who was on a strong run after his UFC release, winning five straight fights, all by finish. Tuchalov completely mopped the floor with him and, impressively, became the first fighter to finish Machado.
Outside of that win, though, Tuchalov hasn’t really fought anyone notable. He went 7-1 as an amateur, but again, there weren’t many quality names on that résumé. Still, he picked up some solid accolades along the way, becoming a Junior Russian MMA champion, a Commonwealth Tournament champion, and an IMMAF Junior World champion.
There are still many questions surrounding Tuchalov. I question his cardio, as I do with most light-heavyweights until they prove otherwise. I also wonder if he lacks the power needed to succeed at a higher level at 205.
Tuchalov is well-rounded, but he looks most comfortable in the wrestling and grappling exchanges. I’m not sure about his traditional wrestling background, but he’s very effective in the clinch. He uses good takedowns off body locks and chest-to-chest throws, and in one fight, he showed he could wrestle at a strong pace with multiple mat returns. Immediately after takedowns, he looks to advance position, often passing straight to full mount and getting to work. He does own an RNC win, but more credit should go to his active ground-and-pound.
On the feet, Tuchalov has shown some nice flashes. He’s fairly planted in his movement, relying more on range and timing. I’ve seen him catch opponents with some nasty knees, and a lot of his timing comes through misdirection. He’ll feint one side before attacking from the other. It hasn’t been showcased a ton yet, but he also looks comfortable throwing kicks and gets them off quickly.
There’s still limited footage and proven competition, so I can’t be overly confident in the projection, but I currently rank him No. 19, just outside the rankings.
A quick prediction is a first-round submission win over Brendson Ribeiro.
