Rinat Fakhretdinov (22-1-1)
* Nickname: "Gladiator"
* Age: 33
* Height: 6'0"
* Weight: 171 lbs
* Style: Well-rounded, with a balance between KO power and submission abilities.
* Association: American Top Team
Record Breakdown:
* KO/TKO Wins: 11 (50%)
* Submission Wins: 6 (27%)
* Decision Wins: 5 (23%)
* Draws: 1
* Losses: 1 (Decision)
Last Five Fights:
1. Win vs. Nicolas Dalby (Split Decision) - UFC on ABC 6 (June 22, 2024)
2. Draw vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (Majority Draw) - UFC Fight Night 231 (Nov 4, 2023)
3. Win vs. Kevin Lee (Technical Submission) - UFC on ESPN 48 (July 1, 2023)
4. Win vs. Bryan Battle (Unanimous Decision) - UFC Fight Night 216 (Dec 17, 2022)
5. Win vs. Andreas Michailidis (Unanimous Decision) - UFC Fight Night 207 (June 4, 2022)
Pathway to Victory for Fakhretdinov: Fakhretdinov’s strategy will likely revolve around neutralizing Leal Miranda's explosive striking by controlling the pace and taking the fight to the ground. His grappling skills and stamina allow him to outlast opponents in close clinch exchanges and on the mat, where he could hunt for a submission or secure a decision win.
Carlos Leal Miranda (21-5-0)
* Nickname: "The Lion"
* Age: 30
* Height: 5'11"
* Weight: 169 lbs
* Style: Striker with aggressive KO ability and sharp counters.
* Association: Thai Brasil
Record Breakdown:
* KO/TKO Wins: 10 (48%)
* Submission Wins: 2 (10%)
* Decision Wins: 7 (33%)
* Losses: 5 (4 by Decision, 1 by Submission)
Last Five Fights:
1. Win vs. Manuel Mena (TKO) - LFA 187 (July 6, 2024)
2. Win vs. Marcio Breno Rodrigues Braga (TKO) - UAE Warriors 48 (Mar 3, 2024)
3. Loss vs. Sadibou Sy (Split Decision) - PFL 9 (Aug 23, 2023)
4. Win vs. Dilano Taylor (KO) - PFL 6 (June 23, 2023)
5. Win vs. David Zawada (TKO) - PFL 3 (April 14, 2023)
Pathway to Victory for Leal Miranda: Leal Miranda's best chance lies in keeping the fight standing and using his striking speed to land powerful shots early on. He should aim to keep Fakhretdinov at a distance with low kicks and jab combinations, waiting for opportunities to counter any takedown attempts and land hard shots to secure a KO or wear down his opponent for a decision.
Prediction
Both fighters bring distinct styles to the cage, with Fakhretdinov’s grappling advantage likely clashing with Leal Miranda’s standup power. Although Leal Miranda has the potential to finish the fight with strikes, Fakhretdinov’s durability, combined with his relentless grappling, could give him the edge over three rounds.
Prediction: Rinat Fakhretdinov wins via Unanimous Decision.
