Featherweight, Tommy Cuozzi (8-0) Vs. Ramiro Jimenez (10-0)
Notable notes
- Jimenez hasn’t fought in almost two years
- Jimenez’s eight finishes all come in the first round
- Cuozzi has never gone the distance, with seven finishes coming in round one
- Cuozzi has lost his last four amateur fights
- With Cuozzi, six of his eight wins come against losing records
- Cuozzi has a win over Contender Series alum Theo Rlayang
Tommy Cuozzi
-Fast starter
-Good ground and pound
-Forward pressure
-Credible wrestling
-Overzealous/Rushes in
-Sits in the pocket too long
-Hands too low
-Vulnerable in exchanges
Cuozzi finished his amateur career with a 5-4 record, dropping his last four fights. Since turning pro, he’s been on a roll. Undefeated with a 100% finish rate and has yet to see a third round. However, six of his eight pro wins have come against opponents with losing records. The others include an 8-7 fighter and Contender Series alum Theo Rlayang, who isn’t particularly strong. So while his record is padded, he’s handled those opponents as expected.
Cuozzi comes out aggressive, immediately getting in the pocket and throwing heavy hands. That said, he fights recklessly, often leaving himself open with a high chin and low hands. He shows some wrestling ability, and his ground-and-pound appears to be his best weapon. However, he can be overly aggressive when advancing position on the mat and often ends up losing control.
Overall, Cuozzi remains a big question mark. Considering how his amateur career ended and the level of competition he’s faced so far, he currently looks like a regional-level fighter rather than someone ready for the next step.
Ramiro Jimenez
-Good bodywork
-Nasty ground and pound
-Good footwork/Nice angles
-Good volume
-Submission threat
-High workrate
-Good defensive wrestling
-Aggressive
-Chaotic
I love that Jimenez is now free from Combate and getting this opportunity. While questions remain about his overall level, he has a high ceiling and is incredibly fun to watch. Jimenez fights with a style of controlled chaos, always aggressive but smart in his approach.
On the feet, he has solid hands and a few highlight-reel finishes via head kicks. He mixes attacks well, going high and low with strikes to the body and head while slipping off the centerline and using sharp angles. He does get hit frequently but mostly rolls with punches effectively.
His takedown defense has improved but still isn’t where it needs to be. That said, he’s shown effectiveness defending with wrist control and attacking kimuras. Jimenez also has solid overall jiu-jitsu—he’s good at hunting submissions and scrambling out of bad positions. Even though he tends to favor striking, he’s arguably a better grappler.
Prediction: This is a huge step up in competition for Cuozzi, and I expect him to get exposed. Jimenez has the edge in every aspect of the fight except maybe wrestling, but even there, Jimenez’s grappling is strong enough that Cuozzi won’t be able to control him. The skill gap is significant and will be evident the longer the fight lasts. I see Cuozzi pushing the pace and forcing the action, but Jimenez will catch him, likely dropping him with a strike before finishing with a submission.
