Prior to each UFC card, Jay Primetown takes a close look at debuting fighters. In the latest installment, we look at debuting welterweight Frank Camacho as takes on Li Jingliang at UFC Fight Night 111 in Singapore.
Frank Camacho
Hometown: Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Age: 28
Height: 5-foot-9
Reach: 70 inches
Weight Class: Welterweight
Camp: Trench Tech
Career Record: 20-4
Key Wins: Keita Nakamura
Key Losses: Yusuke Kasuya
Background A competitor on The Ultimate Fighter 16, Frank Camacho has been fighting throughout the Pacific Rim islands, competing in for organizations such as PXC and Rites of Passage. Camacho has won five of his last six fights. All five of those victories have come via stoppage.
Strengths
- Good hands
- Fires off strikes in combination
- In top position, does an excellent job of maneuvering to positions to secure a choke
Weaknesses
- Late replacement
- Tends to get pushed back against the cage
- Small for the weight class
- Takedown defense is questionable
- When taken down, his defense is porous and gives up advance positions easily
- Cardio is an issue
Fighter Grade
Offensive Striking: D+
Striking Defense: D
Knockout Power: D+
Athleticism / Speed: D
Footwork: D-
Chin: D
Offensive Wrestling: D-
Takedown Defense: D-
Submissions: C-
Conditioning: D-
Intangibles: D-
Overall Grade: D- Matchup with Li Jingliang Camacho makes his UFC debut on short notice against Jingliang. This is a tough matchup for Camacho, as he is at size, speed and strength disadvantages. Jingliang is a physically strong fighter, and combined with his three-inch height advantage, I expect the Chinese welterweight to be able to press the action and push Camacho against the cage. In Camacho’s previous fights, he tends to get pushed back and fight off his back foot. Jingliang should be able to replicate that in this bout. Furthermore, Jingliang has real power in his hands and should be able to land with regularity in this fight. Camacho is hittable, and there should be openings. Jingliang needs to be careful to avoid the counters. Camacho combines his punches well, so that’s the one area where Jingliang is vulnerable. If the fight goes to the ground, I expect Jingliang to be the one putting Camacho on his back. Jingliang averages 1.6 takedowns per 15 minute fight and succeeds on 35 percent of his takedown attempts. He’s more than capable of putting Camacho on his back. From there, he can hurt Camacho with ground-and-pound to get the finish. This is a fight that Jingliang should win with the capability of doing so in impressive fashion. All four of Camacho’s professional losses have come inside the distance. Jingliang to win inside the distance (-117) is the best way to bet this fight. He’s capable of finishing either with strikes on the feet, in ground-and-pound or securing a submission after landing ground-and-pound.
UFC Ceiling Camacho is a late replacement fighter that has an opportunity to make an impression in his UFC debut. From a skill and size standpoint, it’s going to be difficult for him to compete in the UFC. He’s an undersized welterweight without true fight-ending power. He has a nice offensive submission game but no way to obtain that position without a scramble on the ground to get on top. He trains at a small camp and really needs to make the move to a bigger camp if he has any shot to stick in the UFC.
Fight Film Check out Camacho in some of his most recent fights…
Camacho vs. Gun Han Park
Camacho vs. Kengo Ura
