Featherweight: AJ Cunningham vs. Steven Nguyen
Tale of the Tape
28-years-old
5’10″
Batesville, Arizona
Law School
10-2
3 KO/TKOs, 4 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 37-42
30-years-old
5’11″
Dallas, Texas, US
Fortis MMA
8-1
3 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 33-17
Pros and Cons
AJ Cunningham
Pros
- Good use of elbows
- Scrambles well
- Good wrestling
- Submission threat
- Good ground and pound
- Solid grappling defense
- Tough/Durable
- Good right hand
Cons
- Poor cardio
- Throws a lot of wasted energy
- Low volume
- TDD needs work
- Lacks head movement
- Throws naked kicks
- Vulnerable to leg kicks
- Flat-footed
Steven Nguyen
Pros
- Good wrestling
- Good in the clinch
- Accurate right hand
- Good cardio
- Throws volume well
- Good jab
- Knockout power
- Good one-two
Cons
- Flat-footed at times
- TDD needs work
- Leaves head on the centerline
- Does not offer much off his back
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Nguyen
Speed: Nguyen
Output/Volume: Nguyen
Kickboxing: Cunningham
Striking defense: Nguyen
Footwork/movement: Nguyen
Wrestling: Cunningham
Grappling: Cunningham
Gas tank: Nguyen
Prediction: Definitely one of the most underwhelming fight bookings of this season. This is the third shot on the Contender Series for Nguyen so I’m surprised he’s getting another shot because of his lackluster performances. It may be because they are using him to set up someone up that they want in the UFC. If that’s the case I don’t see it working out too well.
I feel pretty confident Nguyen will win this. I feel even more confident in that as the fight goes on as Cunningham slows badly over time. Nguyen is a better striker clearly. He does have some gaps in his grappling defense but he has yet to lose by submission. I can’t get over the fact that Cunningham takes so much damage and drains his gas tank after five minutes. Cunningham is more live for the finish on the feet and on the mat. Saying that Nguyen has all the tools to stop him in his tracks.
