The fighters have validated their weigh-in, the fight can begin. The French Taylor Lapilus (32 years old, 19 victories, 4 defeats), member of the Bantamweight category (bantamweight, 57-61 kg) will challenge the American Cody Stamann (34 years old, 21 victories, 6 losses, 1 draw) in the UFC Fight Night card in Louisville (United States).
Card during which another Frenchman, Nassourdine Imavov (7th), will be in the main fight against Jared Cannonier (4th) to get a little closer to a chance for the title in the Middleweight category (middleweight, 70-77 kg).
Stamann, a versatile fighter
The fight will not be easy for Lapilus, who will face a seasoned fighter, in the UFC since 2017. At his best level, Stamann had reached the top 10 in the bantamweight category, offering himself meetings against Merab Dvalishvili (pretender No. 1 to face champion Sean O’Malley) or Aljamain Sterling, former bantamweight champion, who defeated him each time. However, he is currently on a series of four defeats in six fights.
He is a versatile fighter, who gets by in grappling (ground wrestling) as in striking (standing combat), without excelling in a single sector of combat. With an inconsistent boxing, he can also bring his opponent to the ground very quickly, but is not the most effective in control once he has knocked him down.
For Lapilus, the opportunity to relaunch
On the other side of the octagon, “ Double Impact » favorite in a fight which could allow him to relaunch, five months after his defeat against the Afghan Farid Basharat (1.68 m, 61 kg, 11-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), whose trainer, Eric Nicksick, will also be in Stamann’s corner. Beating the American would be an opportunity to show his progress in grapplingand perhaps get closer to a place in the top 15 of the category, to give a new dimension to this second career in the UFC.
Lapilus will be able to count on his boxing based on the counter, benefiting from a better reach than Stamann (185 cm, against 164 cm for the American), and should be able to use it more easily than during his last defeat, the opponent being less effective in striking than Basharat. He could also take advantage of his strategic advantage, he who knows how to adapt to his opponent and his fighting style.
