UFC Fight Island 8 will have a combat match. Dalcha Lungiambula is from South Africa. He has been out of the ring for over a year after being knocked out by Magomed Ankalaev. Marcus Perez is Brazilian and he has not won two matches in a row, but he also does not have much time to rest. The bookies think that Lungiambula will win because they prefer him more than Perez.
Dalcha Lungiambula
The fighter, who is 35 years old, has only fought two fights in the UFC. In his first one he knocked out someone and won. Then he was knocked out. The fighter did not fight in any tournaments in 2020.
Lungiambula is not a martial artist, but he punches hard. He is short but he has competed at the light heavyweight division. Dalcha can be tough to bring down, but African fighters can’t do anything against elite grapplers.
Marcus Perez
The 30-year-old Brazilian, Perez, began his pro career in 2013. He has won all 10 of his fights. But he has not been doing well in the UFC so far. In six bouts, he has only won twice and lost four times. And now he is coming off a streak of two straight losses: to Wellington Thurman (on points) and Dricus du Plessis (KO1).
Perez’s basic styles are BJM and Muay Thai. He is better on the ground than on the counter and he wins more often by painful holds and chokes. But only one time in his career did Markus lose early: the other three times he lost on points to much stronger, experienced opponents.
Fitness of the fighters
The African fighter is five years older than the other guy. The first guy, Dulch, is already 35 and probably past his peak physical condition. Plus, the other guy is coming back after a year off which might also have a negative impact on his physicality.
Perez is taller than his opponent by 12 cm. His arm span is also shorter by 6cm. I don’t think Dulcea will be able to keep the distance because of his striking gaps and he would have a hard time controlling Marcus in the clinch because of their difference in size.
Perez is moving up in weight. He was fighting at 170 pounds before and now he will fight at 147 pounds. This means that he doesn’t have to do as much weight training which might help him show off his moves better.
Summary of the fight
Dalcha Lungiambula is stronger in striking power than his opponent. But his opponent is better at technique and hitting him. But Dalcha Lungiambula lost the fight by a unanimous decision.