Francis Carmont vs. Ronaldo Souza Fight Breakdown
The UFC’s first Brazilian card of the year is just over 24 hours away. UFC Fight Night 36 will go down in the Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil and features a main event between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi.
Also set to throw down on the card are Francis Carmont and Ronaldo Souza, who will square of in the co-main event. Thats the fight we’re going to look closer at today, so let breakdown both men’s skills.
Striking
Souza may have started his career as a pure grappler but he has truly evolved as a mixed martial artist and developed a devastating stand up game. “Jacare” showed off his striking skills in his last fight, knocking out former UFC title challenger Yushin Okami. The Brazilian has five wins coming by way of KO/TKO and hasn’t been finished since 2008, where Gegard Mousasi knocked him out with a perfectly timed upkick.
Carmont is a talented striker himself, he just tends to rely on his grappling where he has had an advantage, but he won’t with the former jiu-jitsu world champion. The Frenchman has a solid kickboxing game, but he just seems to lack confidence when on the feet. His size can present a lot of problems for his opponents and it could be very influential on Saturday. Carmont has never been finished with strikes and has six wins coming by way of KO or TKO.
Carmont may be the more technical of the two with his striking, but “Jacare” is much more efficient with his. 65/35 Souza.
Grappling
Carmont is one of the strongest grapplers in the middleweight division, he uses his size and strength to dominate the majority of his opponents. “”Limitless” has been training alongside Georges St-Pierre at Tristar Gym for a few years now which has helped him become one of the elite grapplers at 185 pounds.
Grappling is Souza’s bread and butter. “Jacare” is a black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the 34 year old is considered to be one of the greatest grapplers in MMA. The Brazilian has a quick, powerful double leg takedown which would trouble some of the best wrestlers in the division. Carmont has the strength and size advantage, but skill-wise Souza takes it. 65/35 Souza.
Submissions
Most of Carmont’s wins have come by submission, with ten, but the last person he submitted was Karlos Vermoa and that was back in July 2012. Carmont has had two submission wins in the UFC, both coming by rear naked choke. However, almost half of his losses have come by submission; with three.
Souza is arguably the best submissions expert in mixed martial arts, he is a multi-time world jiu-jitsu champion and world ADCC submission wrestling champion. Eleven of “Jacare’s” nineteen wins have come by submission, the last person he submitted was Chris Camozzi in May which earned him “Submission of the Night”. If it goes to the ground it could be a very short night for Carmont. 75/25 Souza.
Who do you think will take it on Saturday?
