Sodiq Yusuff and Mairon Santos will battle it out in the Lightweight division of the UFC Fight Night Gilbert Burns vs M. Morales on Sunday, 18th at 1 AM GMT at the UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada. A fight that promises nothing but other than explosiveness and a showdown of power. Despite the great age margin separating both fighters, we should anticipate a tight bout that can sway in either direction. That said, I have an idea of who will carry the day, but first, let’s look at the respective profiles of both fighters.
Sodiq Yusuff AKA “Super”
With a professional record of 13-4-0, “Super” is a Nigerian with dynamite in his hands. He has been a serious threat at featherweight, but recent losses to Edson Barboza and Diego Lopes delayed his progress and ascension. So, perhaps a change of weight class might be exactly what he needs to reignite that fighting fire.
Six of thirteen wins came from K.O/KTO, that’s 46%. Sodiq lands on average 5.66 strikes per minute, with a strike accuracy of 49%. He absorbs 4.51 strikes per minute, with a defense of 53%.
When it comes to grappling, “Super” can’t be considered an expert in the matter, judging by the fact that he won just 1 fight by submission. However, he does have the necessary skillset that can pose serious issues to Mairon Santos, who isn’t good at wrestling. Sodiq attempts 0.28 takedowns per 15 minutes, with an accuracy of 20%, and he is good at defending, with a 62% takedown defense. Further, he attempts 0.4 submissions per 15 minutes. Knowing this, let’s see how his adversary compares.
Mairon Santos AKA “The Legend”
Aged just 24, Santos is a Brazilian fighter who is already turning heads with his impressive record and style. With a pro record of 16-1-0, he is an excellent striker as can be seen from his 8 wins by KO/KTO (53%). He lands 4.15 strikes on average per minute, with a 45% accuracy. Furthermore, Santos absorbs 2.37 strikes per minute, with a 70% defense rate.
As earlier mentioned, don’t count on Santos when it comes to wrestling! However, his takedown defense stands at 40%, which implies it’s not too easy to get him to the ground. With back-to-back wins against Rafael Barbosa, Kaan Ofli, and Francis Marshall, Mairon Santos has been putting in the work and is paying off.
Important Statistics & Fight Data
| Stat | Sodiq Yusuff | Mairon Santos |
| Age | 31 | 24 |
| Weight | 66.2kg | 66kg |
| Height | 175cm | 175cm |
| Reach | 180cm | 183cm |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Average Fight Time | 10:51 | 10:45 |
Sodiq Yusuff vs Mairon Santos – My Expectations
Sodiq will use his experience to dictate the tempo of the fight. I expect to see him use his wrestling to disrupt Santos’ rhythm, while avoiding getting drawn into a wild slugfest that might result in him getting knocked out. By the stats alone, you see Sodiq lands more strikes per minute and has better accuracy, not forgetting that he’s the better wrestler of the two. That’s why I’m backing Sodiq in this bout @2.15. To profit from this prediction, all you have to do is register on Game2Bet.
