One week out from the big UFC 273 PPV card, the promotion returns to Las Vegas, Nevada for its latest Fight Night event. The main event of UFC Vegas 51 is a rematch between Belal Muhammad and Vicente Luque. In a welterweight fight, Mounir Lazzez was supposed to fight Elizeu Zaleski. Because Zaleski had to pull out, newcomer Ange Loosa fills in on short notice.
Ange “The Last Ninja” Loosa
Standing at 5’10″
Fighting at 170 lbs (welterweight)
28-years-old
Fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Florida, US but from Switzerland
Training out of Sanford
A pro record of 8-2
5 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
How will Loosa do in the UFC:
Although Ange Loosa lost on the Contender Series last season, he’s still getting a shot in the UFC. In his defense, his loss on the Contender Series was to a very good Jack Della Maddalena. Loosa very much held his own in that fight too. He rebounded off that loss earlier this month beating former UFC middleweight John Howard.
Loosa can take the fight anywhere but is more equipped on the feet. Not high-level at all but Loosa can wrestle and when he opens up his ground and pound is fight changing. Loosa is a very dangerous guy as he has a controlled chaos approach. Loosa is dynamite on the feet. Even with the power he puts on display, he’s still got a good jab. He throws heavy low calf kicks. Loosa is explosive, has heavy hands, and usually is a fast starter. He can be pressed back easily and although he has good cardio his defense lacks more as the fight goes.
Loosa is still young, has gone through adversity, and trains with a top team in Sanford MMA. Loosa is only going to lose to actual UFC-level opponents but will edge out some as well. I don’t think Loosa will ever be top 15 but maybe at least fringe top 20.
How he matches up with Lazzez:
Lazzez had such a great debut against Abdul Razak Alhassan and then dropped the ball hard to Warrley Alves. Lazzez is a very dangerous distance striker who is explosive and can end the fight at anytime with one shot. Lazzez is four inches taller than Loosa and Loosa has let smaller guys walk him down. Where I think Loosa can really make Lazzez sweat is using his wrestling. Loosa isn’t the best wrestler but in the past Lazzez has shown terrible takedown defense. Another big factor in this fight could be the deeper gas tank of Loosa. I think the best chance Lazzez has is to knock out Loosa but that’s hard to see happening. I trust the chin of Loosa and the gas tank while having more ways to win. I wouldn’t be surprised though if Loosa allows Lazzez to keep him at the end of his punches. As long as Loosa presses forward I see him winning.
