Prior to each UFC card, Jay Primetown takes a close look at debuting fighters. In the latest installment, we look at Landon Vannata debuting on short notice against top five lightweight Tony Ferguson at UFC Fight Night 91 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Landon Vannata Hometown: Neptune, New Jersey Age: 24 Height: 5’9” Reach: 71” Weight Class: Lightweight Camp: Jackson-Wink MMA Career Record: 8-0 Key Wins: None Key Losses: None Background The Jackson-Wink MMA product enters the UFC with an undefeated record finishing seven of his eight career fights. Vannata holds a purple belt in jiu jitsu and wrestled a semester in college prior to going to Jackson-Wink. Strengths
- Very good footwork
- Constantly moving in the cage
- Quick hands
- Diverse striking attack
- Accurate with punches
Weaknesses
- Tends to keep hands low
- Can be caught coming in
- Too willing to be held against the cage
- Has fought primarily at featherweight
- Low level of competition
Match-up against Tony Ferguson An exciting matchup is featured in the co-main event of Fight Night 91 as Landon Vannata debuts against Tony Ferguson. This is a really interesting matchup as rarely do we see two fighters with such great footwork face off. Both fighters have a nice striking skill set and tend to move in and out of range being the aggressors in their bouts. Where they differ is in the damage they are able to pile on. Ferguson is a master of using elbows and inflicting maximum damage. Vannata has been caught coming into exchanges in previous fights and has been knocked back. Against lesser fighters Vannata has been able to get away with it, but that isn’t going to work against Ferguson. After a few fun exchanges, I expect Ferguson to clip Vannata and put him in trouble. If the fight goes to the ground, Ferguson has a major advantage with his excellent submission game. Vannata could land a couple decent strikes on the feet, but ultimately look for Ferguson to land the decisive blows and earn himself a stoppage win in this bout. UFC Ceiling Landon Vannata appears to have a bright future in MMA. He combines excellent footwork with striking where he can move in and out of range. His ground game hasn’t been tested much in his MMA career, but if he’s able to prevent takedowns and force opponents into a striking exchange with him, he’s going to win the majority of his fights in the UFC. Fight Film Check out Landon Vannata in some of his most recent fights: Landon Vannata vs. Ramico Blackmon Landon Vannata vs. Chad Curry