Diego Bianchini
Brazil
28-years-old
9-1
78% finish rate (1 KO/TKO, 6 Submissions)
Training out of the Fighting Nerds
Combined opponents’ record: 31-15
Pros
-Diverse kicking attack
-Good counter striker
-Accurate
-Fast starter
-Submission threat
-Good ability to chain wrestle
-Good back take
-Credible wrestling
-Tough to read
Cons
-Questionable cardio
-Puts a lot of energy into everything early
Bianchini is an intriguing fighter who remains relatively unknown, largely due to his limited activity, competing only about once a year. His record includes a rough-looking loss to an 11-6 opponent, but after reviewing the fight, I believe it was a clear case of home cooking. He appeared to have beaten his Mexican opponent, yet he lost via split decision.
Bianchini made a strong impression in his U.S. debut for LFA last March, securing a first-round finish. A kickboxer at heart, he isn’t shy about throwing flashy techniques, including wheel kicks, switch kicks, and tornado kicks. He fights from a karate stance, frequently attacking with lead-leg head kicks and targeting his opponent’s legs. While he relies more on his kicks than his hands, he is an accurate counter striker who uses awkward movement and unpredictable arm gestures to keep opponents guessing.
In terms of grappling, Bianchini favors single-leg takedown attempts that he chains into more secure positions. He also excels at body-lock trips. Though he isn’t overly aggressive on the ground, he has a knack for taking the back and locking in a body triangle, as evidenced by his four career wins via rear-naked choke. When put on his back, he has shown solid scrambling ability to regain position. However, his overall ground game could still use refinement. That said, he has demonstrated submission awareness—his last fight saw him jump into a triangle choke before seamlessly transitioning into an armbar finish, proving his willingness to take risks and chain submissions together.
Bianchini doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses, but he does need to round out his skill set. Relying primarily on kicks will only get him so far—history has shown that pure kickboxers, especially flashy ones, tend to struggle in the UFC. His grappling looks promising, but he has yet to face a strong wrestler, so it remains a question mark.
One thing is certain: Bianchini is an exciting fighter who guarantees action whenever he steps into the cage. While I don’t see him winning this season, I wouldn’t count him out—his awkward, tricky style makes him a tough puzzle for anyone to solve.
“I’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time, man. Since I was a kid I’ve been waiting for this moment,” Bianchini exclaimed in his media introduction. “I’m ready to put on a show, I’m ready to show the new generation of technical skills. I move different, I strike different, I’m a nerd for this game. You guys are going to see a high level, a different animal in that cage. It’s amazing to be part of this season, this amazing season.”
