The UFC is back. Having hit ESPN and PPV on May 9 for UFC 249, the promotion has managed to breathe some life into the sporting world in these otherwise bleak times. Just four days later the UFC comes right back on a Wednesday for an ESPN+ event headlined between Anthony Smith and Glover Teixeira. With a staked card and only two debuts set to go down, one will be Ike Villanueva taking on the returning Chase Sherman.
Ike “Hurrican” Villanueva
6’2″
Heavyweight
36-years-old
Houston, Texas, US
4oz. Fight Club
16-9
13 KO/TKOs
How will Villanueva fare in the UFC:
This signing reminds me of when the UFC not long ago signed Dequan Townsend. A journeyman who finally made it to the big leagues. When it comes to losses, they’re not entirely bad, with defeats to Trevin Giles, Robert Drysdale, Justin Ledet, and Cody Donovan. All high-level fighters. His wins haven’t really been over the best competition as a whole, but Villanueva does have victories over Rashad Coulter and Roger Narvaez, both of whom were in the UFC at a point.
Villanueva is a striker at heart but will wrestle if needed. He’s a guy that’s always looking to go all out and throw caution to the wind. Ike is a finisher and the thunder he throws with his hands in his fights is the reason he has thirteen wins by KO/TKO. Not the fastest, not the quickest, Villanueva is sometimes the hammer and sometimes the nail. I don’t expect Villanueva to make any waves in the UFC but he will at least put on some fun scraps.
How does Villanueva match up with Sherman:
Sherman like Ike is a brawler who is without a doubt, a striker. It depends on who has the better chin and maybe even the better gas tank. Ike might hit harder but Sherman may be faster and more technical as he does have good boxing skills and of course excellent low kicks. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ike pulled off a win but I think Sherman has more tools in his toolbox to have his hand raised.
