Preview: UFC on ESPN 55 ‘Nicolau vs. Perez’

Featherweights

Jonathan Pearce (14-5, 5-2 UFC) vs. David Onama (11-2, 3-2 UFC)

ODDS: Pearce (-175), Onama (+145)

If nothing else, this is an interesting clash of styles. The first UFC fighter out of Uganda, Onama impressed in his UFC debut, stepping in up a weight class on late notice and throwing down for three rounds against Mason Jones. In his four fights since, Onama has been equal parts tantalizing and frustrating. He is an obvious elite physical talent with some beautifully brutal knockout power but tends to fight down to his level of competition at times, along with having a questionable gas tank that was exposed in his 2022 war against Nate Landwehr. For all his issues, Onama still uncorks things like his impressive uppercut knockout of Gabriel Santos in June, and he looks to follow that with the biggest win of his career against Pearce.

In contrast to Onama’s flashes of violence, Pearce has settled in as an out-and-out grinder. Buoyed by a massive size advantage since cutting down to featherweight, “JSP” looks to pour on the pace, typically in the form of a lot of takedowns and scrambles. That approach quietly led Pearce to a five-fight winning streak heading into a hard-luck 2023 campaign. Injuries took Pearce out of a massive opportunity against Bryce Mitchell, and he suffered a sudden and stunning submission loss to Joanderson Brito upon his eventual return. Onama could certainly blast the Fight Ready product out of the gate. However, he leaves enough defensive openings that Pearce should succeed in making this a grind in short order, after which Onama’s cardio should be a clear liability. The pick is Pearce via decision.

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Nicolau vs. Perez
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Pearce vs. Onama
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The Prelims