Bantamweight, Ricky Steele vs. Phil Caracappa
Tale of the Tape
Ricky Steele
31-years-old
5’11″
74″ Reach
Boise, Idaho
Combat Fitness
5-0
Phil Caracappa
27-years-old
5’8″
70″ Reach
New Jersey
Dante Rivera BJJ
8-0
Pros and Cons
Ricky Steele
Pros
- Excellent leg kicks and kickboxing
- Solid distance management
- Solid cardio and takedown defense
- Switches stance often
Con
- Keeps hands down
Phil Caracappa
Pros
- Solid wrestling
- Good BJJ
- Hits hard
- Good ground and pound
- Tough
Cons
- Holds chin high
- Open to counters
Who has the Advantage?
Striking: Caracappa
Speed: Steele
Knockout Power: Caracappa
Chin: Steele
Kickboxing: Steele
Footwork: Steele
Wrestling: Caracappa
Grappling: Caracappa
Submissions: Caracappa
Cardio: Steele
Prediction
This is an awesome matchup between two prospects who are UFC ready. Steele will obviously try to keep the fight standing where he has a big advantage. Steele’s biggest issue is he’s not active and coming off a long-term foot injury so it’s untelling how he looks. Steele hasn’t fought a wrestler like Caracappa but has shown solid takedown defense. My pick is Steele because he does have good takedown defense and has excellent distance control with his kickboxing.
Next: Expert Prediction
