Introduction
Saturday, March 28th, Chinese featherweight prospect Naertai Kezibayi will be in action for JCK Kings, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Nulikuwati Bahatuoli. He will be looking for another win, as Kezibai looks to inch closer to a UFC contract. He represents Longyun MMA Gym, a lesser-known camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”
Strengths
Kickboxing: As a striker, Kezibayi is a stud on the feet with great overall technique with both his hands and his lower body. He has strong kicks and knees to go with his solid hands, meaning he can mix things up and keep his opponent off balance. He has one-punch knockout power and is proficient with both straights and hooks. That keeps him in the fight no matter what, meaning his opponents have to respect him even if they have the upper hand.
Submission Grappling: When on the mat and on the offensive, Kezibayi is a strong submission grappler with a solid arsenal of finishing techniques. He only has three submissions, but that’s just because his striking does most of his talking. He’s underrated as a submission artist but clearly has some ability.
Needs Improvement
Grappling Defense: Kezibayi struggles most when he’s put on the defensive on the mat. In his lone loss, he was outgrappled and choked out by his opponent. Seeing as China isn’t exactly chalk full of offensive wrestlers and isn’t always challenged in that area, it still appears to be an area that Kezibayi can continue to improve on.
Outlook
UFC Midcarder: Chinese fighters are going to take precedent on the UFC’s wish list, given how massive a market China is, and Kezibayi should be at the top of that list. Many Chinese prospects are not UFC ready and still need much seasoning, but it doesn’t appear Kezibayi is one of them. He looks legit UFC ready. He also has a style that Dana White tends to gravitate toward, so he should be on the fast track with another win this weekend.
MMA Intel 