Rinat Fakhretdinov meets UFC newcomer Carlos Leal

Rinat Fakhretdinov: UFC 308 promises an exciting welterweight showdown as unbeaten Russian fighter Rinat Fakhretdinov meets UFC debutant and PFL finalist Carlos Leal. While Fakhretdinov has yet to record a UFC loss, his last two fights showed he was vulnerable. In a close battle against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, he fought to a hard-fought 28:28 draw, narrowly maintaining his unbeaten streak. A controversial battle followed with Denmark’s Nicolas Dalby, who evaded Fakhretdinov’s attempts to attack and overtook him, leading many fans and media members to believe that Dalby deserved the win.

Known for his powerful clinch work and punching power, Carlos Leal has an impressive record, with just one loss since 2014. With 50% of his career wins coming by knockout, Leal’s striking and clinch control could pose the Russian in great stead pose challenges. While Fakhretdinov’s wrestling output remains impressive, his struggle to control fighters outside the welterweight rankings raises questions about his ability to handle Leal’s pressure and knockout power.

In what appears to be a close fight, Leal’s ability to recover from grappling positions and deal consistent damage in the clinch could tip the fight in his favor. Given Fakhretdinov’s recent poor performances, this matchup could be exciting and potentially end in a split decision. Many experts believe Leal’s debut could result in an upset and mark a key moment in the UFC’s welterweight division.

With fight fans eagerly awaiting this fight, Fakhretdinov will have to give his best to defeat the Brazilian debutant.