Mandalay Bay will host Fight Night Las Vegas this weekend, with the UFC bringing a promising card that contains some of its brightest future prospects. Two of which will be sharing the main event limelight in the form of undefeated fighters, Thomas Almeida and Cody Garbrandt.
The bantamweight affair makes for a fantastic matchup, not only for the fact neither fighter has tasted defeat in their professional careers, but due to their aggressive and diverse striking styles that have seen them pick up some truly astonishing finishes in the Octagon.
Thomas Almeida is the perfect embodiment of the wealth of potential that the UFC has within its roster. At a mere 24 years of age, the Brazilian brings an impressive 21 fight win streak spanning almost 5 years and boasts an 80% KO/TKO finishing rate to boot. Although the integrity of his opponents early on in his career may be questioned by some, his recent performances in the UFC against proven talent have been convincing and resounding in fashion.
Almeida thrives on baiting in his opponents before rushing forward with a barrage of counter attacks, his ability to soak up a shot or three in the process only makes him deadlier. Enduring blows thrown his way in order to maximise the time in the pocket to relentlessly attack is what has seen his opponent crash to the mat so consistently.
There is yet to be a victor against Almeida when going toe to toe in an exchange due to the sheer diversity of offense and devastating power in his techniques. Though a brown belt in BJJ, the preferred method of victory for the Sao Paulo native is to settle the score on the feet, where he has amassed a series of stellar highlight reel knockouts. Perhaps his most famous win coming against veteran Brad Pickett at UFC 189, in which a back and forth contest was ultimately ended with a perfectly executed flying knee landing crisp on the jaw of the Englishman.
As would’ve been noted by UFC’s matchmakers, Cody Garbrandt (also 24) similarly sports an unscathed professional record and shares Almeida’s passion for unleashing offense on the feet. Currently holding his own impressive 88% KO/TKO rate, “No Love” Garbrandt possesses the crushing power to drop opponents in an instant. The Team Alpha male associate is predominantly of a wrestling and grappling background but has transitioned his explosive energy into his stand up game seamlessly.
A strong trait of Garbrandt is his pacey and interchanging footwork in which he limits Octagon space for his opponent. Quick to chase down his foe, he leaves them with no alternative but to attack in order to repel his advances. Garbrandt then picks his shots and unleashes one crunching shot after another to punish for their lack of evasiveness.
But it is the stalking and pressuring approach of Garbrandt that makes this bout such an interesting clash of tactics, as Almeida usually goads and backtracks in the interest of pouncing when his rival least expects it, swarming them with punishing shots before they even realise the momentum has turned.
With both fighters entering the bout with aggressive styles and similar strengths, as well as having picked up impressive knockout wins in their last outings, it would be shocking to say the least if this contest ever made it to the judges. This one has fireworks written all over it.
