Middleweight: César Almeida vs. Lucas Fernando
Tale of the Tape
35-years-old
6’0″
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Corinthians MMA
3-0
3 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent’s record: 5-28-1
Lucas Fernando
26-years-old
6’3″
9-1
5 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 55-16
Pros and Cons
Cesar Almeida
Pros
- Good clinch work
- Fast starter
- Heavy hands
Cons
- N/A
Lucas Fernando
Pros
- Uses range well
- Good bodywork
- Long jab
- Explosive
- Good straight punches
- Underrated wrestling
- Good leg kicks
- Good top control
Prediction: There isn’t much MMA tape on Almeida to get a good enough read. He’s well-known in the kickboxing world holding a 47-8-1, and 1 NC record. Almeida competed for both for WGP and Glory Kickboxing. He was a WGP cruiserweight champion and the SUPERKOMBAT light-heavyweight champion. He’s 3-0 in MMA but hasn’t been tested. Never fought past round one and has never fought anyone with a winning record. The only guy with experience he fought was 5-28-1.
Fernando on the other hand has been super impressive. He’s coming off winning the vacant LFA middleweight title. His only loss is to a good fighter in Diego Dias. Fernando beats that version of himself every day of the week He’s a winner of his last four and has been scoring some big knockouts along the way.
Looking at this fight I have to go with Fernando. Almeida is just a big unknown. He’s not getting any favors as Fernando is one of the brighter middleweight prospects there is. Almeida is a threat for the knockout but I believe the kickboxing and size of Fernando will give Almeida problems. Also, Fernando could just wrestle to neutralize the kickboxer. The pick is Fernando because he has more ways to win.
