UFC Fight Night: Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola Preview & Prediction
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A lightweight showcase kicks off the main card for UFC Abu Dhabi, with Ismael Bonfim looking to snap a losing streak against French standout, Axel Sola.
Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola facts
What time are Ismael Bonfim and Axel Sola expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 282
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov main card
Magomed Ankalaev vs Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
Steve Erceg vs Ramazan Temirov (Flyweight)
Islam Dulatov vs Wellington Turman (Welterweight)
Magomed Zaynukov vs Damian Rzepecki (Lightweight)
Rizvan Kuniev vs Tyrell Fortune (Heavyweight)
Abubakar Vagaev vs Saygid Izagakhmaev (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov prelims
Valter Walker vs Thomas Petersen (Heavyweight)
Dustin Jacoby vs Muhammad Said (Light Heavyweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Sam Patterson (Welterweight)
Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola (Lightweight)
Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs Mike Davis (Lightweight)
Cody Gibson vs Abdul Hussein (Bantamweight)
Ismael Bonfim: "Marreta" enters this matchup with his back against the wall
Elder brother of top welterweight contender, Gabriel Bonfim, Ismael Bonfim (20-6) looked set for similar levels of success after flatlining Terrance McKinney with a highlight reel flying knee KO in his UFC debut. Unfortunately for “Marreta,” tough times have followed; Bonfim is just 1-3 since his win over “T-Wrecks,” with all of those defeats coming by way of stoppage. While he’s been in there with some solid levels of competition, a single decision win over Vinc Pichel in that stretch is a damning indictment of his current form. The Brazilian is an aggressive early starter with dangerous finishing potential during the opening round, but he has a history of fading when he’s faced with adversity.
Axel Sola: Sola looks to rebound from coming out on the wrong end of a FOTY contender last time out
Arriving in the UFC with a shiny undefeated record in tow, Axel Sola (11-1-1) looked great in his debut, stopping Rhys McKee with a third round body shot. The former Ares FC champion followed that up with a FOTY contender against Mason Jones, starting well but fading down the stretch under “The Dragon’s” relentless pressure to eventually lose by decision. Fighting with a bladed stance, Sola has a crisp, accurate 1-2 and chops excellent kicks to the body and head, while he’s not afraid to leverage his enormous frame to mix in well timed bursts of offensive wrestling.
Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola prediction
The X-factor here is Sola’s last fight. The Frenchman may have made it to a decision against Mason Jones, but he absorbed an inhuman amount of damage along the way. He’s also been hurt badly in some of his fights on the regional circuit; Bonfim has power and it’s not out of the realms of possibility that the damage catches up with Sola here if "Marreta" can nail him with something early.
With that being said, we’re still going with him here. Bonfim has looked awful in his most recent fights, succumbing to consecutive stoppage losses in his last two fights; if he doesn’t score a flash KO in the early goings, it’s hard to see an outcome where he wins a decision. Sola is an enormous lightweight and has a significant edge in both height and reach, with excellent cardio and a refined striking game providing him with extra avenues to victory here.
I think this is going to look like most Bonfim’s UFC fights to date, with “Marreta” crumbling in short order when he’s unable to get the first round finish. I actually like Sola to earn a stoppage of his own, weathering an early storm and chipping away at Bonfim with sharp combinations and chopping body kicks to either win a decision or score the TKO somewhere in the second half of the fight.
Prediction: Axel Sola to win
