Flyweight: Rafael Ramos Vs. Joao Elias
Tale of the tape
25-years-old
5’7″
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nova Uniao
10-0
3 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 41-15
27-years-old
5’3″
Parana, Brazil
Gile Ribeiro Team
17-3-1 (1 NC)
1 KO/TKO, 11 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 80-48
Pros and Cons
Rafael Ramos
Pros
- Good jiu-jitsu
- Submission threat
- Good wrestling
- Active pressure
- Good body kicks
- Good ground and pound
Cons
- Rushes in blind at times
Joao Elias
Pros
- Forward pressure
- Compact striker
- Slick transitions
- Good wrestling
- Hits hard
- Good off his back
- Fast starter
- Submission threat
- Good output
Cons
- Can be flat-footed
- Vulnerable in exchanges
- Puts himself in submissions
- Swings wild
- Takes a lot of punishment
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Elias
Speed: Even
Output/Volume: Elias
Kickboxing: Ramos
Striking defense: Ramos
Footwork/movement: Ramos
Wrestling: Ramos
Grappling: Ramos
More likely to finish on the mat: Ramos
Gas tank: Even
Prediction: These two Brazilians come to fight and I expect a scrap in this one. I think it’s going to be a high-paced fight right up until the finish.
Elias can do it all thanks to being well-rounded but has been knocked out and submitted before. Saying that he’s done the same to opponents more times than not. Elias equally strikes and grapples but the Nova Unai guy in Ramos is who I see has a significant advantage.
Ramos is the bigger guy on the feet so he should be able to use his length on the outside. Elias is a dog and he’s going to attempt to walk Ramos down trying to make something happen. With Ramos, I think he has the clearest path to victory but I wouldn’t count Elias out at all especially if Ramos is willing to trade.
