Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates is the most underrated fight at UFC 305, here’s why

Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates is the most underrated fight at UFC 305, here's why

As a seasoned MMA enthusiast who’s witnessed countless bouts across the globe, I can confidently say that the underrated Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates fight at UFC 305 is not to be missed! This welterweight clash promises a thrilling stand-up battle between two fighters hailing from top-tier gyms – Kill Cliff FC and Fighting Nerds.

Get ready for UFC’s comeback in Australia! UFC 305 will take place at Perth, Australia’s RAC Arena on August 17. The lineup boasts some fantastic fights featuring Australian and New Zealand natives. The headliner is a highly anticipated middleweight title defense, as Dricus Du Plessis faces off against former champion and No. 2 ranked Israel Adesanya. In the co-main event, the flyweight division heats up with No. 4 ranked Kai Kara-France squaring off against No. 7 ranked Steve Erceg. The lightweight division also offers a high-stakes matchup, as No. 5 ranked Mateusz Gamrot goes head-to-head with No. 11 ranked Dan Hooker. While these fights promise to be exciting, the underdog fight at UFC 305 features combatants from outside Australia and New Zealand.

Why you shouldn’t miss the Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates fight

The most underrated fight at UFC 305 is Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates. This is a welterweight clash between two fighters who love to bang. Wrestling is not their preferred go-to style, which could make this fight a fun stand-up battle. Both come from high-level gyms as Jingliang trains at Kill Cliff FC, with top welterweights such as Gilbert Burns, Vicente Luque, and Shavkat Rakhmonov. Prates trains at Fighting Nerds, a Brazilian gym that is home to some impressive, rising prospects such as Caio Borralho, Jean Silva, and Mauricio Ruffy. Since both fighters come from great gyms with good fighters, it looks like they both can have good preparation to put on a good show, as the main card opener.

Jingliang’s fight record shows 19 victories against 8 defeats, starting from 2007. Born in China, he initially competed there before moving to different organizations for MMA fights. Impressively, ten of his wins are by knockout and four by submission. He has suffered two losses via submission, while the rest were by decision. Despite being weaker in grappling, Jingliang possesses a tough chin, having been dropped several times but never fully knocked out. Notably, his most significant victories include Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Santiago Ponzinibbio, and Muslim Salikhov – all accomplished through his distinctive boxing-style striking.

Since 2012, Prates has been competing in mixed martial arts, with his early bouts taking place at events like the São Paulo Regionals. Out of his 19 wins, a significant 14 have been by knockout, while 3 were by submission. Currently on an impressive 11-fight winning streak, he hasn’t tasted defeat since 2019 and has only been finished once prior to that in 2017. Despite experiencing losses by knockout and submission early in his career, Prates has significantly improved over the years, showcasing a more impressive performance. Known for his creative striking abilities, he enjoys demonstrating his knockout power at the ideal distance, while his kicks and knees are particularly threatening. To date, Prates has fought just twice in the UFC, both times resulting in knockout victories over Trevin Giles and Charles Radtke.

Jingliang and Prates seem well suited to challenge each other. While Prates boasts numerous attack strategies that could trouble Jingling, Jingliang possesses immense power capable of knocking out any opponent in an instant. Moreover, his durability is exceptional, making it challenging for Prates to finish him off. If Jingliang’s resilience holds up after his extended break, their match could be a strong contender for Fight of the Night, given the stiff competition from the later main fights. This fight represents an increase in difficulty for Prates, and it will be intriguing to observe how he handles adversity if it arises.

2024-08-16 16:13

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