Two welterweights look for their first UFC win in their sophomore
efforts in what should be a fun fight. The latest in a long line of
exciting Louisiana prospects, Fletcher started off the 2021 edition
of Dana White’s Contender Series with a bang, uncorking a flying
knee knockout in the first fight of the first show of the season. A
fireplug of a fighter, “The Ghost” backs up knockout power with a
surprisingly effective wrestling game given his lack of a wrestling
background, though he was mostly unproven in deeper waters upon his
UFC debut in March. While Fletcher lost that promotional debut to
Matthew
Semelsberger via decision, it was nice to see him go relatively
even with another physically talented prospect for three hard
rounds in a fight that did not dull much of his upside. Fletcher
looks to rebound against Switzerland’s Loosa, another 2021 graduate
of the Contender Series. Loosa lost his fight on DWCS to Jack
Della Maddalena, but things worked out for “The Last Ninja” in
the end. That result continues to age well with Maddalena’s
subsequent success, and Loosa won his next bout to set himself up
for a late-notice call-up in April. Everything Loosa does is sound
and he is a powerful athlete, but the main issue is that he is an
overly patient fighter without much of a second gear. In his debut
loss to Mounir
Lazzez, in particular, Loosa just never turned things up as a
striker or a wrestler, and he was mostly outstruck from range. It
would not be a shock if Loosa turned out to be the stronger
wrestler and got a decision win as a result, but Fletcher should
wind up taking the initiative the entire fight and has enough power
behind him to cause some damage. In a well-matched bout, the pick
is Fletcher via decision.
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