Welterweight, Michael Oliveira (8-0) vs. Victor Valenzuela (12-3)
Notable Notes
- Both are former WGP kickboxers
- Valenzuela is the current Fury FC welterweight champion
- Oliveira has six first-round finishes
- Valenzuela has only one loss in the last ten years
- Valenzuela is 4-0 to the decision
- Oliveira is 6-0 in LFA
- Valenzuela has lost both by KO/TKO and Submission
- All seven of Oliveira’s finishes come by KO/TKO
- Valenzuela has finishes in rounds one, two, and three
- Oliveira has three finishes in under a minute
Michael Oliveira
-Heavy hands
-Athletic
-Good counter striker
-Accurate
-Cuts the cag off
-Chopping leg kicks
-Strong jab
-Well-conditioned
-Good bodywork
-Lacks head movement
Oliveira has a lot of hype, but he lost some of it after his last fight went the distance against a lesser opponent. I don’t take anything negative away from that performance—he was clean, composed, and clearly dominated. Oliveira has also said he wants to test himself later in fights, so cage time is important to him.
He’s a composed killer who picks his shots carefully, and once his opponent is in danger, he shows a strong killer instinct. His game is built on forward pressure, cutting off the cage, and setting the tone with a strong jab and lead-leg kicks. At times, he can be so aggressively forward that his chin isn’t perfectly protected.
Oliveira isn’t a high-volume striker in the traditional sense; he’s more of a processor. He’s a solid counter striker, using check hooks and catching opponents on lazy kicks. In his fights, you’ll see high striking numbers because of the flurries he unleashes when he smells blood in the water. In chaotic situations, he’s probably at his best—he hits hard and attacks the body as well.
I’ve also been impressed with his cardio; he maintains high output and hasn’t shown much slowdown later in fights. His ground game is an unknown area because he hasn’t been tested there. His takedown defense looks solid, but he hasn’t faced a strong wrestler yet. Maybe he could benefit from taking a step back at times and avoiding some shots, but I’m sure he’s confident in his chin and his ability to return power to get the best of an exchange.
Victor Valenzuela
-Primary left hook
-Good bodywork
-Good Thai clinch
-Heavy leg kicks
-Hits hard
-Good volume
-Sits in the pocket too long
-Head sits on the centerline
-Reckless
-TDD needs some work
Valenzuela is a name I kind of expected to see this season. He’s coming off a title win for Fury FC, and his fighting style is… well, Valenzuela is going to come forward and close distance with looping punches. His technique is wild, but he throws in volume, mixing high and low strikes while generating some real power.
From the outside, he lands damaging leg kicks, and on the inside, he’s effective in the clinch with knees and elbows. That said, he’s so heavy on his lead leg that it makes him relatively easy to take down. While he’s dangerous on the feet, he tends to stand in the fire a bit too long. When he’s unloading, he’s constantly engaging instead of picking his shots, staying in the pocket too long and leaving himself open to counters.
Valenzuela has a fun, exciting style, but it’s not the kind of style that will carry him past the regional level.
Prediction: Oliveira is vulnerable to hooks, and that’s exactly what Valenzuela throws. Oliveira has a solid chin, but Valenzuela will likely be the hardest hitter he’s faced. I strongly believe this fight stays on the feet, and I lean heavily toward Oliveira.
Valenzuela throws a lot of looping strikes, but I favor Oliveira’s straighter, cleaner punches. Oliveira’s jab should be a huge factor, along with his athleticism. He also hits hard, and Valenzuela has been dropped a few times by lesser opponents. I like Oliveira here because he’s the better striker and has the stamina to fight deep into the later rounds if needed. I’ve got Oliveira by TKO in round two.
