Say goodbye to the UFC Apex for a while, folks. Back at the facility for UFC Vegas 70, the Fight Night card will be the last at the venue for at least a month and a half. Headlined by two light heavyweight contenders, the spotlight this Saturday is on the newcomers and we’ve got a total of seven on this card. One, Carl Deaton, is coming in on short notice fighting Joe Solecki. Solecki was supposed to fight last week but his fight was called off and rescheduled for this Saturday’s card.
Carl “Anishinaabe” Deaton lll
Standing at five-foot-six
Fighting at 155 lbs (lightweight)
33-years-old
Fighting out of Mount Pleasent, Michigan, US
Training out of American Top Team
A pro record of 17-5, 2 NC
3 KO/TKOs, 9 Submissions
How Deaton will fare in the UFC:
From the time to time, the UFC will sign these regional veterans giving them an opportunity. Fighters like Dequan Townsend, Charles Ontiveros, and Jason Witt come to mind. Deaton is 2-2 in his last four and is 33 years old. His best win is against Justin Jaynes, who went 1-4 in the UFC. I’m a prospect guy and I like to see the UFC sign guys that are the future of the sport. Deaton isn’t the past or present, nor is he the future.
Without getting into it too much Deaton isn’t great anywhere and is going to struggle to get wins in the UFC. He’s easily hit, has terrible takedown defense, and makes a ton of mistakes in the grappling department. Deaton does a fine job of always working, however. He moves well on the mat and has decent hands on his feet. He just doesn’t have the speed and necessary setups to be a threat.
Deaton is more of a submission grappler than anything. Nine of his wins have come by submission and they all came by some form of choke. His wrestling and ground control isn’t good enough to be competing in the UFC at any level. I’m not high on the signing and it’s crazy that the UFC couldn’t find a more decorated, accomplished fighter on the regional scene.
