Among a handful of debuting fighters at UFC 293 on Saturday is welterweight Charlie Radtke. While the card is headlined by a middleweight title fight featuring Israel Adesanya taking on Sean Strickland, Radtke arrives earlier in the evening, with the one-time Bellator MMA veteran facing “Blood Diamond.”
Charlie “Chuck Buffalo” Radtke
Standing at five-foot-nine
Fighting at 170 lbs (welterweight)
33-years-old
Fighting out of Salem, Wisconsin, US
Training out of MMA Masters
A pro record of 7-3
3 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
How Radtke will fare in the UFC:
Radtke gets this UFC debut on a big ppv after winning the CFFC title last April. He has good regional experience and fought once for Bellator MMA. He’s hit his stride lately winning his last four fights. To win the CFFC title Radtke beat a top prospect in Raheam Forest.
Radtke is a good regional fighter that will test guys trying to get to the next level. He will carry that on in the UFC. Radtke isn’t likely to ever be ranked but he’s going to offer a challenge to the guys in the bottom half of the division. He’s good enough everywhere to pose a threat to whoever he fights.
Striking wise Radtke has a good jab and a lot of power. He’s knocked guys down/out with just a jab and a short hook. He’s not the most technically sound and he isn’t too hard to hit. If anywhere it’s going to be on the feet where he will struggle the most. Radtke does well at going into a takedown and transitioning to the back. If he can get the takedown and move into a dominant position he’s pretty locked on. Radtke is more focused on control but can end the fight at any time. Overall he’s probably going to be a 50/50 fighter in the UFC.
How he matches up with Diamond:
This is do-or-die for Blood Diamond in the UFC. Blood Diamond was signed to the UFC prematurely when he was just 3-0. He paid for it as well losing his two UFC fights. Diamond hasn’t shown any promise since coming to the UFC. He’s supposed to be this high-level striker but we haven’t seen it yet. Diamond has a huge hole in his ground game and his cardio isn’t good. Radtke can win this fight easily if he wrestles. Even on the feet Radtke could very well put him to sleep. With how Diamond has looked there is no way I can pick him to win this.
