UFC Vegas 41 sees the octagon back at the Apex, with a main event featuring two former middleweight title challengers. That headliner sees Marvin Vettori take on Paulo Costa, only not at middleweight, as Costa entered fight week extremely heavy. Instead, the bout will be contested at light heavyweight. Further down the card, meanwhile, we got a few prospects making their octagon debuts. Among the newcomers is David Onama. He will be filling in for Alan Patrick on short notice against Welshman Mason Jones.
David Onama
Standing at 5’11″
Fighting at 155 lbs (lightweight)
27-years-old
Fighting out of Lees Summit, Missouri, US
Training out of Glory MMA & Fitness
A pro record of 8-0
5 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
How will Onama fare in the UFC:
Onama is still young and fighting with the right team to be a real issue in the near future. Right now he’s still a work in progress growing with each fight. Onama is capable of taking the fight anywhere but is more willing to strike. He fights with a good jab and throws with some hidden power. Onama will throw looping hooks and a lot of times swings too wide. If he can throw straight punches and keep his output tight he’d be an even more fearsome striker.
Onama can wrestle, but it’s not anything that will threaten the tougher competition. As of now anyway. A lot of times when he’s in top position it’s from getting taken down himself. He’s done a fine job using sweeps off the bottom and just turning towards his opponent and winding up in the guard. Onama is well-rounded but has holes on both the feet and the mat. I’m far more impressed with his striking as he’s the one setting the pace. I like his vision and he’s a really educated fighter. Onama is someone that’s only going to be better in three years from now, but it’s important that the UFC builds him slowly.
Striking: B-
Kickboxing: C+
Clinch: C+
Wrestling: C
Grappling: B
Striking Defense: B-
Takedown Defense: C
Cardio: B
Biggest Strength: Striking
Biggest Weakness: Takedown defense
How he matches up with Jones:
Mason Jones is someone you don’t want to stand across from in your debut, and on short notice at that. Jones isn’t exactly a high-caliber fighter just yet but is insanely tough and durable. Someone Onama can show some promise against. With that said in the end, it’s a high mountain to climb in your debut. I’m picking Jones but Onama will learn a lot from this fight.
