Prior to each UFC card, Jay Primetown takes a close look at debuting fighters. In the latest installment, we look at Dana White Contender Series Winner Rogerio Bontorin as he makes his UFC debut against talented Russian Magomed Bibulatov at UFC on ESPN+2 in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Rogerio Bontorin
Hometown: Adrianopolis, Parana, Brazil
Age: 26
Height: 5’5”
Reach:
Weight Class: Flyweight
Camp: Gile Rebeiro Team
Career Record: 14-1
Key Wins: None
Key Losses: Michinori Tanaka
Background
The Brazilian flyweight has fought all around the world including in his native Brazil as well as the Japanese promotion Pancrase. Bontorin is a finisher with his last eight victories coming by stoppage.
Strengths
- Decent standup power
- Tends to push opponents against the cage to neutralize striking
- Strong in scramble situations
- Once he gets opponents to the mat, he’s very good at keeping opponents grounded
- Physical on the mat with strikes and submission attempts
- Ability to recover well and finish even after being badly hurt
Weaknesses
- Not an aggressive striker
- Doesn’t throw with a lot of volume especially for this weight class
- Fights off his back foot
- Can be clipped by a good striker
- Not a great entry into takedown attempts
Fighter Grade
Offensive Striking: D+
Striking Defense: D+
Knockout Power: C-
Athleticism / Speed: D
Footwork: D-
Chin: D+
Offensive Wrestling: D
Takedown Defense: C
Submissions: C+
Conditioning: C-
Intangibles: C
Overall Grade: D+
Matchup with Magomed Bibulatov
In what I expect to be a battle of contrasting styles, Magomed Bibulatov welcomes Rogerio Bontorin to the UFC. While Bontorin will be happy to make his promotional debut, he’s in for an awfully difficult matchup. Bontorin is a fighter that does better on the counter and throws at low volume. Bibulatov is aggressive and has a lot of variety. Bontorin’s style plays well into Bibulatov’s strengths. I expect Bibulatov to be able to utilize his full array of strikes in this one and have his way on the feet. Bontorin will certainly look to get his opponent to the mat where he tends to have his most success. The problem here is that Bontorin, while good on the mat, doesn’t have good entries into takedown attempts and struggles for the initial takedown. Bibulatov is a really good athlete and shouldn’t have much trouble at all fending off takedown attempts. Bontorin was clipped badly in his Contender Series fight against a fighter who doesn’t have nearly the variety and creativity that Bibulatov has. Bibulatov is a deserving favorite at -460, but he’s only finished half of his victories. I believe a finish is the most likely result, but I’m not confident given Bibulatov’s finishing record.
UFC Ceiling
Rogerio Bontorin in an opportunistic grappler that can fair well in bouts when the fight goes to the mat. On the feet, he has his struggles as he’s not active enough and will give away rounds due to lack of volume. He could get some wins in the UFC, but will need to be matched up against the lower fighters in the flyweight division in order to do so.
Fight Film
Check out Rogerio Bontorin in some of his most recent fights:
Rogerio Bontorin vs. Ridelci Dias
Rogerio Bontorin vs. Gustavo Gabriel
(Starts at 1h 36m)
Rogerio Bontorin vs. Jon Olivar Jr.
