The Fresh Faces of UFC Vegas 54
A deep dive on fighters making their promotional debut this weekend
So… I’m back.
Hopefully for good.
Life’s been somewhat chaotic over the last month, hence the lapse in posts - but now we’re jumping straight back in the thick of it and getting you the rundown on every promotional debutant making an appearance on UFC Vegas 54: Blachowicz vs Rakic this coming weekend.
Without any further ado, let’s get stuck in.
CARLOS CANDELARIO - 8-1-0
2 KO/3 SUB/3 DEC
USA
Age: 30
Height: 5’8”
Reach: 68”
Flyweight
After a failed attempt at securing a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017, Connecticut native Carlos Candelario came out guns-a-blazing in his sophomore appearance on the program.
In that fight, despite ‘The Cannon’ coming up short on the scorecards (unfairly, in my opinion), the performance from both himself and his dance partner, Victor Altamirano, earned each fighter a shot at the ‘big leagues’.
A former golden gloves champion, Candelario made the jump to mixed martial arts in 2012 - at the age of 20 - when he began competing at an amateur level. After five straight wins, four by submission (in the same year no less), and one by TKO he upped the ante and turned pro in 2015.
Seven years on, the lightning-quick flyweight now sports a professional record of 8-1 and has a chance to shake up the UFC’s 125-pound division.
Showing clear talent in the art of striking, the southpaw Candelario has presented a challenge while standing for most of his opposition to date.
The rangey, kickboxing style employed by the 5’8” fighter helps him to dictate the pace and position of the fight on the feet - and the speed at which he operates allows him to enter and exit the pocket (generally unscathed) while landing two and three strike combinations that frequently surprise opponents.
Not just a one-trick pony, though, Candelario has shown a comprehensive understanding and application of grappling inside the cage as well.
Relying on his hands early in a fight, he’ll often lull foes into a firefight - leaving Candelario, who’s proven to be adept at timing his level changes, open to grab ahold of a single leg and chain shots together until he ends up in top position.
On the ground the Underdog MMA affiliate has displayed smothering top pressure at times, controlling opponents for entire rounds (if they avoid submission), all the while landing vicious ground and pound and handily avoiding sub attempts thrown back his way.
It is worth noting, however, that Candelario has shown to fade in the later rounds, probably due to his high output - this was evident recently in the Altamirano fight.
Early bodywork and calf kicks have been key tactics to finding any sort of success against this dangerous up-and-comer. If left unchecked in beginning rounds, he’ll take an early lead and earn the victory on that merit, regardless of his stamina late.
PROSPECT RATING: 3.5/5
LOSSES: 1 DEC
KNOWN STRENGTHS:
Fast & agile
Former Golden Gloves champion
Amateur experience
Good distance management
Well rounded
LIABILITIES:
Gas tank issues late at times
Lead leg heavy - open for calf kicks
Open for body shots
Average strength of schedule for the most part
TATSURO TAIRA - 10-0-0
3 KO/5 SUB/2 DEC
JAPAN
Age: 22
Height: 5’7”
Reach: 70”
Flyweight
Okinawa's 10-0 superstar Tatsuro Taira (pronounced tie-rah, for those interested) is the only debutant this week not earning his spot in the promotion via the in-house feeder program that is the Contender Series.
At just twenty-two years old, this renowned finisher marks just the third fighter born after the year 2000 to compete in the UFC - a look down his resume quickly shows you how he made it here at such a tender age.
Entering his first bout at sixteen, Taira went on a tear through Japan’s amateur ranks; racking up nine straight victories in under a year.
Not a whole heap has changed since he made the jump to pro in 2018 - other than the experience of the person opposite him, and the rate at which he finishes them.
Of ten professional fights, Taira finished eight inside the distance, with seven of those stoppages coming in the first round.
The former Shooto flyweight champion isn’t as aggressive a fighter as his record may suggest, however.
A patient and calculated striker on the feet, Taira is generally content to throw single kicks to the calf or body, and use teeps and oblique shots to keep opponents at distance - looking to counter with punches as they rush in.
When those fists land flush, it’s often not long before the fight is over.
Taira, a grappling standout, has a penchant for snatching the neck of a standing-but-wobbled fighter. Should they manage to evade a submission, his smothering but patient top pressure, and heavy ground strikes help finish the job.
Defensively, the Japanese prospect has foot and head movement that generally keeps him out of harm's way, incorporating lateral movement as he retreats - however, at times opponents have successfully darted in from range and tagged him clean - leaving him stunned.
Taira’s somewhat unique style of patient striking can, on occasion, leave him patient to a fault (evidenced in his 2020 contest opposite Kiyotaka Shimizu). A scenario in which the undefeated fighter fails to impress the judges after fifteen minutes isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Should his record move to 11-0 after this weekend's prelim bout opposite Carlos Candelario (see above), the ceiling certainly increases on this young martial artist.
PROSPECT RATING: 4/5
LOSSES: None
KNOWN STRENGTHS:
High level grappling
Calculated & technical
Powerful
Good at dictating range
Decent strength of schedule inside of Japan
KNOWN LIABILITIES:
Can be patient to a fault
Untested on an international scale at a high level
MANUEL TORRES 12-2-0
5 KO/6 SUB/1 DEC
MEXICO
Age: 27
Height: 5’10”
Reach: 73.5”
Lightweight
Coming off his eleventh first-round finish on Dana White’s Contender Series last year, Tijuana’s Manuel Torres finds himself in a favorable match-up this weekend opposite Frank Camacho for his UFC debut.
Initially embarking on his mixed martial arts journey as little more than a self-professed “wild striker,” Torres started competing on a professional level in 2014. He amassed seven first-round finishes out of eight wins on his four-year unbeaten streak, before finally tasting defeat. A reckless error forced him to submit to the 8-7 Mahatma Avalos; caught in a heel hook inside the opening minute of the fight.
After suffering two losses in quick succession due to ill-advised offensive tactics, the twenty-seven-year-old made a conscious choice to dial back the aggression and employ a more calculated strategy.
Now 12-2, the former Beat Down and RRR promotions featherweight champion is taking the plunge into the UFC’s stacked lightweight division for a chance at glory.
The composed nature of the underdog’s contract-winning performance under the bright lights of the Contender Series shocked the commentators, who were expecting to see an all-out brawl.
Weaponizing his reach, this ‘new’ version of Torres employed a fast and consistent jab, keeping his dance partner at range, and relying on that to set up his power shots (he’ll often use front kicks to a similar effect).
An unfortunate eye-poke that led to the finishing sequence went unnoticed by the referee and marred what was a flawless performance by the talented prospect.
The Entram gym standout pressures forward, hunting for his shot when he smells blood in the water, always with a watchful eye on the neck of an opponent should they duck or shoot.
With six finishes by submission, Torres' proficiency in grappling exchanges is a proven threat. Whether he locks in a choke standing (ala the Carlos Canada fight), or dumps foes on the mat (see the Jesus Tejada fight) and works for a finish on the ground; he’s always looking to end the fight.
In the same vein, Torres's two career losses come by way of submission, highlighting a lack of defensive awareness from the once chaotic finisher.
It’s too soon to tell how easily the wild man inside of him can be coaxed out and taken advantage of.
A calculated Manuel Torres may have a bright future ahead of him - though if ‘El Loco’ rears his head in the UFC, the talent-filled 155-pound division will eat him alive.
PROSPECT RATING: 3.5/5
LOSSES: 2 SUB
KNOWN STRENGTHS:
Varied striking
KO power
Weaponizes reach
Calculated offence from Torres ‘2.0’
Decent strength of schedule
Proven submission threat
KNOWN LIABILITIES:
Relatively untested in later rounds
Chance of wild, defensively irresponsible ‘El Loco’ being coaxed out
JAKE HADLEY - 8-0-0
2 KO/4 SUB/2 DEC
ENGLAND
Age: 25
Height: 5’7”
Reach: 70”
Flyweight
Twenty-five-year-old all-rounder Jake Hadley is a young man that many ‘in the know’ UK MMA fans have been keeping their eye on for some years now.
The former Cage Warriors and EFC flyweight titleholder had an amateur career beginning in 2014, that stretched across nine fights before he made the jump to pro - he won all but two of those bouts.
In the four years since he burst onto the pro circuit, Hadley has kept a squeaky clean resume, winning all eight fights thus far - with six of them coming by way of stoppage.
Hadley got the call to appear on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, taking on the skilled Ultimate Fighter participant Mitch Raposo - and though Hadley finished the fight in the second round, a weight miss left the cocky UK fighter’s future in the promotion uncertain.
He was in tears at the time the White was deciding whether to sign him or not.
Fortunately for Hadley, his performance was impressive enough that the UFC president opted to take a chance on the young prospect, despite his pre-fight shortcomings.
Training out of the same stable as welterweight contender Leon Edwards, Hadley isn’t short on skill, or confidence. His ‘bully’ tactics on the feet often see him pressuring opposition backward with all manner of kicks from distance. He’ll employ a long 70” jab to keep their guard high and leave their body open for energy-sapping strikes or takedowns.
Should the fight hit the ground, Hadley’s arsenal of grappling skills has proven difficult to overcome. From top position, the submission wiz works to smother his opponent - lacing their legs to limit movement and always working to improve his position.
If forced to work off of his back, the Birmingham native isn’t one to hold still and accept the position. Whether it’s sweeps, sub attempts (he’s partial to a gogoplata) or nasty elbows to the dome, he’s always looking to create action.
Hadley’s ability to seamlessly take the back of an unwitting opponent is quite a marvel to behold - it helps explain the four rear-naked chokes on the youngsters’ record - counting for half of the wins over his entire pro run.
The amount of experience behind Hadley has helped mold him into a calculated fighter at such a young age. His calm demeanor in bad situations seems years beyond his quarter-century-long life - and the fight IQ he possesses isn’t far behind.
If there is one knock on this prospect, though, it’s his willingness at times to engage in a firefight.
Though it’s failed to prove an issue so far - and probably won’t opposite Alan Nascimento this weekend - some lessons may eventually have to be learned the hard way.
PROSPECT RATING: 4/5
LOSSES: None
KNOWN STRENGTHS:
Well rounded
Superb grappler
Smothering top pressure
25-minute experience
Calm and collected
Good fight IQ
KNOWN LIABILITIES:
Can, at times, be coaxed into a firefight
Weight cut issues