Bolaji Oki vs. Chris Duncan: UFC Fight Night 243 Prelims Preview & Prediction25 days ago
Bolaji Oki, known as "The Zulu Warrior," takes on Chris Duncan in a thrilling lightweight clash at UFC Fight Night 243 in Paris, France. Both fighters are aggressive strikers with knockout power, making this an exciting matchup of strength and precision.

Bolaji Oki (9-1)

Bolaji Oki enters this fight on a five-fight win streak, including three finishes via knockout. Known for his explosive striking and versatility, Oki has a balanced fight game, with 56% of his wins coming by KO/TKO and a submission victory. He’s been riding a wave of momentum since his appearance in Dana White’s Contender Series, where he finished Dylan Salvador with a body shot. Oki’s recent split decision victory over Timothy Cuamba shows he can also go the distance, but his knockout power is what makes him dangerous.

Last 5 Fights

  • Win: vs. Timothy Cuamba (Split Decision), UFC Fight Night 236, Feb 10, 2024 – 3 Rounds
  • Win: vs. Dylan Salvador (TKO – Punch to the Body), Dana White’s Contender Series, Aug 29, 2023 – Round 1, 2:46
  • Win: vs. Jocimar Ferreira (TKO – Knee to the Body), AFC 3, Mar 5, 2023 – Round 1
  • Win: vs. Nair Melikyan (Unanimous Decision), AFC 2, Oct 23, 2022 – 3 Rounds
  • Win: vs. Assis Silva (TKO – Punches), AFC 1, Sep 18, 2022 – Round 1, 1:43

Chris Duncan (11-2)

Chris Duncan, known as «The Problem,» is a knockout artist with seven of his 11 wins coming via KO/TKO. Duncan has a relentless striking game, but his last fight ended in a submission loss to Manuel Torres, exposing his vulnerability on the ground. Despite that setback, Duncan’s unanimous decision win over Yanal Ashmoz at UFC Fight Night 224 highlights his ability to grind out victories when necessary. His power and pressure will be key in this fight against Oki, but his ground defense will need to be sharper to avoid potential submission threats.

Last 5 Fights

  • Loss: vs. Manuel Torres (Submission – Rear-Naked Choke), UFC Fight Night 237, Feb 24, 2024 – Round 1, 1:46
  • Win: vs. Yanal Ashmoz (Unanimous Decision), UFC Fight Night 224, Jul 22, 2023 – 3 Rounds
  • Win: vs. Omar Morales (Split Decision), UFC 286, Mar 18, 2023 – 3 Rounds
  • Win: vs. Charlie Campbell (KO – Punches), Dana White’s Contender Series, Aug 2, 2022 – Round 1, 1:43
  • Win: vs. Jonathan Carlos (Unanimous Decision), UFL 8, Feb 5, 2022 – 3 Rounds

Prediction

This fight will likely be a striking war, with both fighters capable of ending it early. Oki’s versatility gives him a slight edge, especially with Duncan’s recent submission loss revealing a possible weakness on the ground. If Oki can mix his striking with takedown attempts or submissions, he could disrupt Duncan’s rhythm. Duncan, however, will aim to keep the fight standing and apply his powerful strikes to overwhelm Oki.

Official Prediction: Bolaji Oki via Decision. His balanced skill set and momentum might be enough to outlast Duncan’s pressure.