Introduction
Sunday, February 18th, Portuguese heavyweight prospect Mario Pinto will be in action for Levels Fight League, where he will be looking continue his undefeated ways against Kasim Aras. He will be looking for another win, as Pinto looks to inch closer to a contract with the UFC. He represents Fightzone London, a smaller camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”
Strengths
Power Striking: A hulk for the heavyweight division at 6’5″ and 265 pounds, Pinto uses that size well when striking on the feet. He’s long, but he’s also very powerful when he lands. Five of his seven wins come by way of knockout, which comes as a result of his combination of technical prowess and blunt force. Four of those are in the first round. He also can score ground-and-pound on the mat with effectiveness, which makes him well-rounded.
Wrestling: In addition to his on-the-feet prowess, Pinto also has a solid wrestling game which he likely inherited from coach Stuart Austin. He’s good at shucking off takedowns, and is strong offensively as well. This is something he will need against current opponent Kasim Aras, who is a heavy wrestling artist in his own right. Pinto’s wrestling was seen in his one-night tournament for Levels Fight League, where he used it to dominate two of his opponents.
Needs Improvement
Strength of Schedule: To this point, Pinto really has not taken on an opponent of note that could really be a test to him, though his current opponent Aras looks to be that test. That means it’s a tad harder to gauge what level he is at right now, though he’s obviously talented. If he can get past Aras with flying colors, I think he’s ready to prove himself at the next level, whether that be the UFC or PFL.
Outlook
UFC Top-25: Pinto is just 25 years old, so he’s got an extremely bright future in this sport if he stays on the trajectory he’s on right now. Given his size and skill level, and the fact that the heavyweight division is thinner on talent than most, I am positive Pinto will make the roster and be successful. When you consider he hasn’t even hit his prime yet, seeing him in 2-3 years will be interesting to see where he’s at.
MMA Intel 