Cage Fury FC veteran Eric Nolan is making a very short-notice debut this Saturday at UFC 319. At the event set for Chicago’s United Center, Nolan will take on Baysangur Susurkaev, who won a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series this past Tuesday.
Eric “Night Time” Nolan
Standing at Six-foot
Fighting at 175 lbs (welterweight)
27-years-old
Fighting out of Edison, New Jersey, US
Training out of Dante Rivera BJJ
A pro record of 8-3
4 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions’
Nolan has earned this short-notice opportunity. The reigning CFFC welterweight champion, he’s won his last four fights, three of them by emphatic one-punch knockouts. Even his losses aren’t bad: Ty Miller, now in the UFC; Alonzo Turner, in a fight I thought Nolan won; and Blayne Richards, who Nolan avenged with a knockout in their rematch.
Outside of Richards, however, his résumé is thin. Most of his wins have come against opponents with glaring defensive issues or near .500 records. Still, he boasts a 75% finish rate and trains with a strong team at Dante Rivera BJJ.
Nolan can end a fight anywhere, but it is notoriously hard to finish. On the feet, he favors the teep, outside leg kick, roundhouse, left hook, and overhand right. He tends to throw these as single shots without setups or combinations. His power, most evident in explosive moments and his counter left hook, can be overrated when you consider the opposition. Fighters like Aireon Tavarres and Trevor Gudde have “tall man’s defense,” Derrick Ageday has eight knockout losses, and Richards was 33 at the time they fought. At a higher level, his lack of speed, volume, and footwork could be a problem.
Grappling-wise, he’s solid from top position but struggles badly off his back, as seen against Turner. His takedown defense is reliable, especially when working along the fence, and he sprawls well. While he times his entries decently, he still lacks meaningful setups.
Overall, Nolan is a strong regional-level fighter, but not yet a UFC-level talent.
How he matches up against Susurkaev:
Susurkaev, fresh off earning his UFC contract on the Contender Series just four days ago, returns to action after taking virtually no damage. For Nolan, drawing Susurkaev on short notice is a brutal assignment. He’s unlikely to get the fight to the mat, which means he’ll be stuck striking with a much sharper opponent. Susurkaev is the faster, more technical striker, and it’ll show in the clean, straight punches that beat Nolan’s looping shots. While Susurkaev mixes his attacks with constant unpredictability, Nolan tends to load up on everything he throws. The only question is whether Susurkaev finds the finish. I think he does, but not until the later rounds.
