UFC Fight Island 7: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs.Li Jingliang Picks and Predictions

Santiago Ponzinibbio and Li Jingliang face off on Saturday in UFC on ABC in a welterweight battle in the main card at the Flash Forum at Yas Island. 

Santiago “ Argentine Dagger” Ponzinibbio comes into the fight with a 28-3 and he has won seven fights in a row. Ponzinhibbio has had a long layoff though with his last fight coming all the way back in November of 2018 against Neil Magny and in that fight in the 4th round he was able to finish the fight by knockout. Ponzinibbio comes into this fight averaging 4.27 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4.02 significant strikes per minute. Ponzinibbio is averaging 0.54 takedowns every 15 minutes but is only successful on 44 percent of his attempts. He also is able to stop 60 percent of his opponents' takedown attempts. The one thing we won't see Ponzinibbio do in this fight is to try and finish the fight by submission attempt. Tw of his last three fights have come by knockout and that will be the goal in this one. 

Li “ The Leech” Jingliang comes into the fight with a 17-6 but one of those losses did come in his last against Neil Magny in March of 2020 Jingliang only had 16 significant strikes total and that led to the unanimous decision loss. Each of his last two wins though have been by knockout and he has proven that he can finish the fight at any time. The Leach is averaging 4.51 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.69 significant strikes per minute. Jingliang likes to get the fight to the ground and is averaging 1.32 successful takedowns every 15 minutes. One problem for Jinliang is he is only successful on 39 percent of his attempts, but he does stop 59 percent of his opponent's takedown attempts. In this fight, look for Jinliang to try to hunt the knockout early and land the big punch. 

AUTHOR: Shane Mickle

To Be Continued...