Introduction
Saturday, November 21st, Polish lightweight prospect Mateusz Legierski will be in action for Oktagon MMA, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Ivan Buchinger. He will be looking for another win, as Legierski looks to inch closer to a UFC contract. He represents Octagon Team, a smaller camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”
Strengths
Submission Wrestling: Legierski is an excellent offensive wrestler with good takedowns, throws and trips. When he closes the distance, he has great physical strength and technique to force the mat game. Once down, he has a relentless offense, looking to secure submissions while throwing effective ground-and-pound. Eight of his fourteen wins come by finish, showing he’s no lay-and-pray artist.
Kickboxing: Legierski rounds his game off with a solid kickboxing, especially when he controls the pace. He has good power and mixes his kicks and punches well. He will throw some flashy techniques at times, but for the most part he’s very fundamental in his approach. He also uses it well to set up his takedowns.
Needs Improvement
Counter-Striking: While Legierski is a solid striker, he can be walked down and outstruck when forced to fight off his back foot. His most recent loss was to now-UFC fighter Losene Keita, where he was clearly outpointed on the feet and looked uncomfortable with his aggression. Legierski is best kept on his front foot, where he does his best work with his kickboxing.
Outlook
Regional Champ/Major League Prelim Fighter: Legierski is a quality fighter that is the current Oktagon Lightweight Champion, which is a major accomplishment. If he continues to win against strong opposition like he has been doing, the UFC or PFL are going to have to come calling. He has a strong skill set that would be tested there, but his toughness and overall ability would make him competitive on either roster.
