Lightweight, Lucas Caldas (6-1) vs. Magomed Zaynukov (7-0)
Notable Notes
- Caldas has never gone to decision
- Zaynukov is 2-0 to the decision
- Both guys only has finishes by KO/TKO
- Both have nine combined first-round finishes
Lucas Caldas
-Cuts the cage off
-Good teep to the body
-Steady pressure
-Combination striking
-Switches stances
-Good bodywork
-Excellent shot-placement
-Chopping leg kicks
-Solid jab
-Clean check right hook
-Naty Muay Thai/Elbows & knees
-Quick hands
-Sits in the pocket too long
-Questionable chin
Caldas is a great addition this season, and if he’s able to impose his style, he’s the type of fighter the boss will love. He comes from a Muay Thai/kickboxing background, and it shows the moment he steps in the cage. It’s hard to picture Caldas in a fight that goes the distance—he presses non-stop action and is always either the hammer or the nail. So far, he’s mostly been the hammer, though he’s been rocked in three fights, showing he’s not afraid to take risks.
Caldas thrives in chaos. Even though he gets hit plenty, he tends to dish out more than he takes. Officially 6-1, he really should be 7-0 after a questionable DQ loss due to a stomp. True to his Muay Thai roots, he does his best work in the pocket. It’s effective but dangerous, as he’s always within range to get clipped.
Offensively, Caldas is active and diverse. He throws steady combinations, mixing in elbows, knees, and hard leg kicks. He has an excellent jab, often doubling it up before coming over the top, and his ability to blend weapons together makes him a constant threat.
Magomed Zaynukov
-Damaging leg kicks
-Good bodywork
-Effective counter work
-Excellent use of elbows
-Good vision
-Mixes up targets well
-Good timing
-Solid kickboxing
-Good Muay Thai
-Gives up his back
-TDD needs work
-Slows as the fight goes
Zaynukov is a bit older at 30, but that’s because he spent much of his life in Muay Thai. He’s a two-time IFMA world champion and a former WMC Intercontinental Champion, and that’s exactly the style he brings into MMA. It’s translated about as well as you’d expect.
With striking that good, his takedown defense is always going to be tested—and it has been. There are some gaps there, and if he makes it to the UFC, he’ll need to level that part of his game up to really succeed. In space, he’s solid. He can use his distance striking to keep opponents off him and avoid shots in the open. The problems show up when his back hits the cage.
Zaynukov will make you pay for shooting, landing nasty elbows, punches, and knees, but sometimes he’s too focused on hurting his opponent instead of just stopping the takedown. He hasn’t spent much time stuck on bottom, but when he does get back up, he tends to give up his back in the process. A good grappler could absolutely take advantage of that.
Overall, he’s a proven striker with real weapons, but the big question is whether his defensive wrestling can catch up fast enough for him to thrive at the next level.
Prediction: This might be my favorite fight of the season. It’s two violent, high-level strikers going at it, both with Muay Thai roots, both loving to throw elbows and do damage. The difference is in their styles: Zaynukov likes to work at range and pick his shots, while Caldas thrives in chaos and constant exchanges.
Caldas has a path if his chin holds up. He throws a ton, and his pace could be what tests Zaynukov’s cardio. But that chin is the concern; he’s been rocked multiple times, and fighting reckless against someone as sharp as Zaynukov is a dangerous gamble.
What I see is Caldas coming out with pressure and maybe even having early success. But I think he gets carried away in the firefight and leaves an opening. My pick is Zaynukov catching him for the finish.
