Strawweights
Konklak “Loma Lookboonmee” Suphisara (10-3) vs. Alexia Thainara (12-1)Odds: Thainara (-240); Suphisara (+200)
In the only fight on Saturday’s card not to feature an Aussie or New Zealander, “Loma Lookboonmee” will seek to extend her career-best win streak to five fights while inserting herself into the title discussion as she closes in on her 30th birthday. Thainara looks to build on the momentum of her dominant debut at UFC London six months ago, and perhaps follow her teammate Amanda Ribas into strawweight contention.
The good news for Suphisara is that she has won four straight fights. The bad news is that it took her this long to do it; Saturday will mark the first time she has fought twice in a calendar year since 2021. The former muay thai star has carved an interesting path to her 7-2 mark in the UFC. A bit like Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Suphisara came to the promotion as a hyperkinetic striker and had to reinvent herself when she ran into the much larger women who make up most of the UFC strawweight division. And like the “Karate Hottie,” she has found surprising success as an offensive wrestler despite being so small.
The fact that Thainara is such a heavy favorite here despite Suphisara’s win streak is testament to what a daunting matchup this is. While Suphisara was able to push around the likes of Elise Reed and even Denise Gomes, Thainara is bigger, stronger and a lifelong judoka who is very difficult to handle in the clinch. This may turn into a fight where Suphisara can’t find a comfortable position in which to work, as she is likely to struggle in the clinch, but may also have trouble forcing an outside striking battle if Thainara wants things in the phone booth. On the ground, Suphisara is an improving offensive grappler but should want no part of being on the bottom against Thainara.
This feels like a dreadful matchup for “Loma Lookboonmee,” and while that 7-2 UFC record of hers includes several examples of overcoming supposedly bad matchups with grit and intelligence, I don’t think that happens Saturday. The pick is Thainara by late submission after some rag-dolling takedowns and a lot of work from top position for most of the first two rounds.
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