Bantamweight: Ashiek Ajim Vs. Mateus Mendonca
Tale of the tape
28-years-old
5’8″
New York, New York, US
Long Island MMA
6-1
4 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
Combined opponent’s record: 22-17
23-years-old
5’6″
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Chute Boxe Diego Lima
9-0
2 KO/TKOs, 4 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 41-13-2
Pros and Cons
Ashiek Ajim
Pros
- Heavy leg kicks
- Goes body-head well
- Good shot placement
- Combination striker
- Heavy hands
- Good check hook
- Dangerous counter striker
- Good vision Fast starter
Cons
- Poor cardio
- Head sits on the centerline
- Doesn’t deal well with pressure/Wilts as the fight goes
Mateus Mendonca
Pros
- Excellent BJJ
- Good wrestling
- Thrives in scrambles
- Good ground and pound
- Chain wrestles well
- Athletic Submission threat
- Good clinch work
- Explosive
- Hits hard
- Athletic
- Dangerous head kick
- Well-conditioned
- Scrappy striking
Cons
- Can be submission over position
- Flat-footed at times
- Can sit in the pocket too long
- Lacks head movement at times
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Ajim
Speed: Mendonca
Output/Volume: Ajim
Kickboxing: Ajim
Striking defense: Mendonca
Footwork/movement: Ajim
Wrestling: Mendonca
Grappling: Mendonca
More likely to finish on the mat: Mendonca
Gas tank: Mendonca
Prediction: Ajim is a very good striker but cardio issues hinder that a lot. He starts fast, has power, and altogether is a serious striker. Four of his fights have ended in the first round. His only loss to Kris Moutinho which doesn’t look good in retrospect.
Moutinho showed how to beat Ajim by surviving the power for five minutes and taking over. Mendoca is unlike anyone Ajim has fought being the high-level grappler. Mendoca is hittable so there is a chance Ajim can capitalize. I do guarantee Mendoca is far better than anyone Ajim has fought.
I can’t side with Ajim due to the fact he’s got five minutes in him before he falls apart. I like Mendoca to survive and get the finish late in the fight.
