The UFC Vegas 86 tournament kicked off with two promotional debutants and contender Series alum Timothy Cuamba and Bolaji Oki as the opening act in the preliminary card lightweight division. The original match was between Bolaji Oki and Damir Hadzovic, but Hadzovic was later removed following an announcement from UFC. There was no reason for the change, but an Instagram post by Hadzovic revealed it may be visa-related.
This new development left Timmy Cuamba as Hadzovic’s replacement. But, it also left Cuamba limited time to prepare for the fight, which many believe was the cause of his defeat.
The UFC Vegas 96 match was to be the pro-debut match for the two opponents Cuamba and Oki. The two both competed at the Contender Series where Oki defeated Dylan Salvador via first-round TKO, earning a UFC contract,. Although Cuamba also won his fight after scoring a second-round knockout of Micheal Stack, he did not receive a contract. Instead,he debuted as a short-notice replacement for Hadzovic eight days before the fight.
The rivals proved to be an interesting match from their previous fights, with Cuamba scoring eight wins and one loss in his past nine matches, four by TKO, while Oki scored eight wins and one loss with five wins by TKO. Both fights appear equally matched in their fighting styles and pro stats.
The first round began with both rivals staking out each other and looking for an opening. Cuamba made the first move, throwing a couple of punches and strikes that did not quite land, Later on, Oki picked up the pace and began delivering jabs and strikes. He soon followed with a smooth right hand and scored vicious hits to Cuamba’s face and midsection. Oki continued with his well-placed kicks and sharp jabs, his killer technique that left Cuamba red-faced.
In round two, Cuamba returned these strikes with a well-placed combo that seemed to distract Oki momentarily. Oki soon recovered and retaliated with a jab. The relentless attacks saw Cuamba go in on a single leg and try to takedown Oki, but the Zulu warrior had a strong defense and recovered quickly. Using his top strength, Cuamba wrestled Oki to the canvas and tried to secure a position on top. But he was not able to before the round came to an end.
The third and final round saw both opponent evenly balanced and none giving leeway to the other. In their exchange. Cuamba delivered a nice right cross, and Oki fired back with a jab. Cuamba tried for a takedown multiple times, but his attempts were unsuccessful. After a few feints and little action, Cuamba went in again for another takedown. The move saw him receiving endless jabs and punches from Oki. The Zulu Warrior managed to stay on his toes and delivered a series of blows and punches to keep the fight going.
Bolaji Oki’s jabs and strikes were the biggest factor in the match that secured his win. This, coupled with his resilience and stamina, earned him a narrow victory over Cuamba by split decision, albeit close. The players exhibited technical proficiency, and efficient use of strategic key moves. Although a case can be made for Cuamba who had a limited time window for preparation, Oki’s prowess trumped Cuamba’s in this match, proving him to be the better fighter in this UFC Vegas 96 bout.
