Bantamweight, Lawrence Lui (6-1) Vs. Nghiêm Văn Ý (6-1)
Lawrence Lui
-Good use of elbows
-Constant forward pressure
-Solid Muay Thai
-Tough
-Good jab
-Mixes up striking patterns
-Solid cardio
-Low volume
-TDD needs some work/Cage wrestling
-Head can sit on the centerline
Nghiem Van Y
-Fast hands
-Good movement
-Heavy leg kicks
-Explosive
-Hits hard
-Poor TDD
-One-dimensional/No ground game
Prediction: Lui had to dig deep in his last Road to UFC fight, edging out a war by landing the bigger moments. He’s a Muay Thai specialist who excels at cutting off the cage, working behind a steady jab, and chopping away with leg kicks. His elbows are a real weapon: he throws them with intent any time he’s in close.
Nghiem, though, brings a more complete striking game, blending speed, technique, and power. Given the style matchup, this one feels like it plays more into Nghiem’s hands. Lui is likely to stand and trade, which gives Nghiem the kind of exchanges he thrives in, where he can land clean and do real damage.
I’m picking Nghiem by second-round TKO. His precision and power should make the difference in what could be a firefight.
