Eduardo Chapolin
Brazil
29-years-old
13-2
77% finish rate (6 KO/TKOs, 4 Submissions)
LFA flyweight champion (one title defense)
Combined opponents’ record: 80-23-2
Pros
-Effective off his back
-Chopping calf kicks
-Nasty bodywork
-Good vision
-Deceptive power
-Good use of foot sweeps/trips
-Dangerous combination striker
Cons
-TDD needs work
-Throw too wild at times
-Too willing to exchange
-Questionable cardio
-Cage wrestling needs work
-Lacks position control
One of the biggest concerns for Chapolin is his takedown defense, particularly against the cage. His cardio and striking defense are lesser concerns, but still worth noting. In the past, he has slowed down, especially when forced onto his back foot, where his movement becomes more labored. However, when he’s dictating the fight and not being pushed into deep waters, he actually becomes more comfortable as the rounds progress.
In open space, Chapolin’s takedown defense is solid—he’s excellent at digging for underhooks and sprawling. His real vulnerability lies in cage wrestling, where he struggles more. That said, even when taken down, he does good work off his back, keeping an open guard, using his feet on the hips, and angling his hips to either attack or scramble back to his feet. It’s worth noting that the fighters who have taken him down so far have been undersized flyweights, meaning a larger, stronger opponent could pose more of a problem.
Offensively, Chapolin is a dangerous striker. While he sometimes throws a bit too loopy and is too willing to exchange, his offensive output far outweighs his defensive lapses. He’s been dropped before but has never been finished. His striking is diverse—he mixes in calf kicks and body shots to wear down his opponents. His best skill is his ability to extend combinations—if he misses the first shot, he almost always lands the second or third. This makes him particularly dangerous in exchanges, as he has great vision and deceptive power. When he senses an opponent is hurt, he targets the body in combination, thriving in chaotic fights.
Chapolin is an improved flyweight who looks like he’d fit right into the UFC roster. He’s one of the favorites to win this season, and for good reason.
Bringing a prop mallet with him to media day, LFA champ Chapolin, whose proper name is Eduardo Henrique, explained of his nickname that “the hammer is from a superhero of sorts that’s known to a lot of people in Brazil and especially Mexico, where it originally comes from. Chapolin is a superhero of sorts, he does everything wrong, but everything goes right in the end. He just kind of screws up and fails to victory. When I started back in the day, about 15, 16 years old in kickboxing, we had tournaments all the time. We were fighting every month, every week. And I did the opposite of what the coaches told me to do.”
Chapolin’s coaches made the obvious connection. “I didn’t like it initially, but of course the more you don’t like a nickname, that’s what sticks and I started embracing it.”
