Flyweight, An Tuan Ho (7-1) Vs. Eduardo Chapolin (14-2)
Notable Notes
- Ho lost last season on the CS
- Chapolin is taking this fight on short notice
- Ho has half the number of fights as Chapolin has
- Ho is 7-0 for LFA
- Chapolin is the current LFA champion
- Ho has an amateur win over UFC fighter Terrance Saeteurn
- Chapolin’s two losses come to CS alums and a former UFC fighter
An Tuan Ho
-Explosive
-Excellent kickboxing
-Solid cardio
-Good vision
-Good jiu-jitsu
-Dynamic
-Submission threat
-Light footwork
-Uses feints well
-Scrambles well
-Fast
-Good cardio
-Competent wrestling
-Mixes up his striking patterns
-TDD needs some work
An Tuan Ho kicked off last season as the very first fight of the year, and his bout with Lone’er Kavanagh was immediately recognized as one of the best in Contender Series history. Unfortunately for Ho, it ended in a knockout loss early in the fight. While it was a disappointing result, it wasn’t the kind of performance where he was completely outclassed, so bringing him back makes sense.
I still hold Ho in high regard as a prospect. If you enjoy speed, explosive movement, and sharp kickboxing, Ho brings all of that to the table. He checks a lot of boxes for what you want in a flyweight prospect—blazing speed, clean technique, and a relentless pace. His wrestling is still a work in progress, but he’s crafty on the mat and has a solid jiu-jitsu game that allows him to stay competitive in grappling exchanges.
Eduardo Chapolin
-Effective off his back
-Chopping calf kicks
-Nasty bodywork
-Good vision
-Deceptive power
-Good use of foot sweeps/trips
-Dangerous combination striker
-TDD needs work
-Throws 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. Grappling defense is questionable too, as he was easily submitted in the TUF house. To his credit, it was to the eventual winner. 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.
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.
Prediction: Ho going from Frank Silva to Chapolin is different in night and day. He went from a free win to the underdog basically. Ho getting knocked out against Kavanagh gives big concerns about his chin against Chapolin, who hits even harder. Ho has more tools and is the faster, more explosive athlete. Chapolin has the power advantage and the experience edge is wide. Chapolin is gonna have to work hard in this fight early on at least. Ho is gonna be hard to track because Ho is gonna be the faster, more technical fighter with the better optics. As the fight goes, I’d favor Chapolin due to his experience and breaking down Ho over time. I can really see Ho showing out and winning this fight, but Chapolin is the smart choice. He is more proven, and I believe his power and bodywork work overtime later in the fight. I got Chapolin by late round TKO, dragging Ho to unfamiliar waters.
