By Safeer MS
Mateusz Rębecki was on a 16-fight winning streak going into the fight against Deigo Ferreira. Moreover, he was also one of the biggest betting underdogs on the card. After all, he had made his Contender Series debut in style and reeled off three UFC victories, 2 via finish, before he faced Ferreira. Nonetheless, Ferreira had other plans as he finished the Polish fighter in the third round.
What’s next for Carlos Diego Ferreira?
Diego Ferreira is unranked in the lightweight division now. Not long ago, he was in the rankings of the division and had an exciting fight against Beneil Dariush, a top-ranked lightweight. Ferreira lost to Dariush and his subsequent fights against Gregor Gillespie and Mateusz Gamrot. However, he knocked out Michael Johnson before coming into the fight against Rębecki. Against the Polish fighter, the Brazilian perfectly executed his game plan. Even though he was knocked down in the first round, he wilted his opponent before ultimately getting the finish.
Ferreira is almost 40 years old. There is less likelihood of a title run left in the Brazilian. However, the UFC might utilize him as a gatekeeper or a perennial top-10 contender. With exceptional BJJ, Ferreira is a nightmare matchup for strikers in the division. He should be fighting a top 15 or even a top 10 contender next. Interestingly, there is a high chance he would be in the rankings after his next fight.
What’s next for Mateusz Rębecki?
Mateusz Rębecki was poised to break into the rankings. After all, the oddsmakers had him as a huge favorite. However, what went wrong was the Polish fighter’s game plan. He had power and even dripped Diego Ferreira. Unfortunately, he relied too much on power as he chased a highlight reel finish that ultimately resulted in his downfall. He didn’t use his wrestling before he got tired.
If he had used wrestling from the beginning, there was a possibility he could’ve won via decision. Moreover, Ferreira surprised the Pole with his chin as well. Rębecki was surprised by it as well. He had suffered severe damage to his face and hence he should take some time off. On his return, he should be okay fighting someone just outside the rankings. Even though he lost against Ferreria, Rębecki did have a very good first round. The moment got the better of him at St. Louis. He would likely use it in his upcoming fights and achieve great results.
