UAE Warriors has a huge week of fights coming up, with UAE Warriors 56 taking place on Thursday at 10:00 AM ET, and UAE Warriors 57 taking place on Friday at 10:00 AM ET. Both cards will be broadcast on UFC Fight Pass.
UAE Warriors 56: Arabia vs. Africa
UAE Warriors 56 has a cool theme but 57 is definitely the better card. This card features more up and comers whereas 57 focuses on more established prospects.
XAVIER ALAOUI (14-6) vs. DEMARTE PENA (15-2) – Bantamweight
Demarte Pena fights for the second time since he lost his belt in 2024. Pena is mostly a wreslter who wants to control the fight on top. He is decent at striking but mostly wants to wrestle. Alaoui is the much more dangerous fighter but he have seen him taken down and controlled against lesser opponents. The odds are very wide here as Pena is – 500. I am very confident he wins though.
Pick: Demarte Pena by decision. High confidence.
OMAR TUGAREV (5-0) vs. HUMPHREY MULENGA (6-2) – Lightweight (161 lbs)
This is a striker vs. grappler fight. I was surprised looking into Mulenga that he likes to offensively wrestle, as all of his wins have come by first round finish. Mulenga is a tall lightweight but he is very slim. He was on a tear dominating in Africa at EFC until he ran into the champion Igeu Kabesa who dominatred him. Tugarev doesn't seem to strike much at all as his game plan is pretty simple. He pressures forward, gets a take down, and then looks for a submission or ground and pound. As long as Tugarev doesn't get knocked out in the first round he should be able to out grapple Mulenga. There aren't odds available yet.
Pick: Tuagrev by submission in round 1. Medium-high confidence.
UAE Warriors 57
This is a stacked card full of great prospects. Many of these fighters are one win away from the UFC or the Contender Series.
ASAF CHOPUROV (6-0) vs. WANDERLEY JUNIOR (17-8) – Bantamweight
Asaf Chopurov is probabaly the most hyped up prospect out of the UFC. He is only 23 years old and has incredible wrestling as well as a huge 31-1 amateur MMA record where he became an IMMAF champion. He has already beaten some great fighters as a pro in Denis Lavrentyev and Nikita Mikhailov who went 3-2 in Bellator. His striking is improving but so far he hasn't found himself in any trouble as he is so strong in the wrestling. I hadn't heard of his opponent before now but Wanderley has fought some really great competition himself, but he typically comes up short. Despite being a threat on the ground with his BJJ and fensive submissions, I don't think this is a step up in competition for Chopurov and I think he finds a finish here and becomes undeniable for the UFC or DWCS.
Pick: Asaf Chopurov by KO/TKO in round 1. High confidence.
YAMATO FUJITA (12-5) vs. JUAN PUERTA (25-8) – Fly/Bantamweight (130 lbs)
Juan Puerta has been on the regional scene forever now but hasn't been given a big opportunity by anyone yet. This is likely due to his fighting style as he is quite boring. He is a wrestler who gets his take downs and then works with control on top. He doesn't do much damage in his fights as he doesn't throw a lot of ground and pound and he doesn't look good on the feet. Fujito could be live for an upset here as he is a significantly better kick boxer than Puerta. His wrestling is quite good as well but I worry about the size disadvantage he is giving up in this match up. I am picking Juan but with low confidence. I would like Fujita to win as I think he would be on the Road to UFC tournament if he did win this fight.
Pick: Juan Archuleta by decision. Low confidence.
PETER DANESOE (7-3) vs. FLORENTINO CORONEL (3-1) – Bantamweight
Speaking of Road to UFC, Peter Danesoe has competed on the show in bonus non-tournament bouts, going 1-1. He is a great striker but his grappling does need a lot of improvement if he was to make it to the next level. I couldn't find much on his opponent but I know Danesoe's skill set and he has fought the much better competition. He is pretty small so I wouldn't mind seeing him fight at 125 lbs again.
Pick: Peter Danesoe by KO/TKO in round 1. Medium confidence.
DHOUGLAS RIBEIRO (13-10) vs. KHABIB NABIEV (9-0) – 194 lbs
Khabib is a former welterweight has recently started to fight at middleweight. I assume the catch weight has been made so he can get an easy win. Ribeiro is a fun striker but he has lost to every grappler he has ever fought and I don't think this will be any different.
Pick: Khabib Nabiev by KO/TKO in round 1. High confidence.
KHUSEYN TATALAEV (6-1) vs. ROMAN LUKASHEVICH (9-0) – 214 lbs
Lukashevich was brought in to lose to Lawrence Phillips on a ONE card, but he won by brutal knee bar submission and caused a big upset. He is a relentless wrestler always shooting for take downs. He has multiple submissions at heavyweight which are quite rare for the weight class such as arm bar, knee bar, and heel hook. He has fought at 205 lbs and given the catch weight we could see him at light heavyweight if he was to fight in a big promotion. Tatalaev is a young prospect at 205 lbs himself but he is coming off his first professional loss. In that fight he was taken down and controlled for all 3 rounds. Lukashevich is quite one dimensional but he will be shooting very often until he gets it.
Pick: Roman Lukashevich by submission. Low-medium confidence.
