Welterweights
Dhiego Lima (14-7) vs. Luke Jumeau (13-4)Advertisement
It took five years and two different tenures, but Lima might finally be turning the corner towards UFC success. The brother of former Bellator MMA champion Douglas Lima, he looked like exactly the type of fighter who could succeed on “The Ultimate Fighter” and did so throughout Season 19, relying on his wrestling and grappling game to make his way to the tournament final. However, Eddie Gordon blew off his doors in the season finale, which basically sealed the story on the rest of Lima’s first UFC run. He was a solid and well-rounded fighter, but his lack of durability continued to be a fatal flaw that would get him sparked in nearly every bout. After a solid run on the regional scene, Lima got the call back for the 2017 “Redemption” season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” and it was much the same story, with Lima grinding his way to the live final. Only this time, it was a stronger wrestler in Jesse Taylor who managed to stick Lima in one phase of the fight and eventually earn a submission. Lima figured to be gone after a grinding loss to Yushin Okami, but he got one more chance in the Octagon and made good on it, knocking out Chad Laprise in under two minutes. After a narrow win over Court McGee in April, Lima is suddenly riding a two-fight winning streak, with Jumeau set to become victim No. 3.
Jumeau has quietly put together a decent UFC run, albeit mostly on the prelims in and around his native New Zealand. “The Jedi” is not particularly dynamic, but he is a powerful counterpuncher, which has done him well against Dominique Steele and Daichi Abe in underrated, fun fights. There is a clear ceiling on things. Jumeau has yet to face an elite athlete, and Shinsho Anzai managed to control him enough through wrestling to win their bout on the cards. Yet Jumeau is a clear example of the progress that Anzac MMA has made over the years and should keep providing some solid fights.
Lima should take this. He is the quicker fighter, and he seems to have both of his preferred paths available to him. He should have the wrestling to just grind this out, but if he is willing to play the range striking game that he showed against Laprise and McGee, his advantages in terms of range and speed should work well. The possibility of a knockout loss always looms for Lima, but given Jumeau’s lack of defense, it seems just as likely that Lima can get a finish. At any rate, the pick is for Lima to keep things relatively safe and earn a clear decision in the process.
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