Southpaw Report: UFC 312

Southpaw Report: UFC 312

Hello and welcome to the ever-popular southpaw report, which can now be found here exclusively at Home of Fight!

Aside from the fact that most statistics you see on major broadcasts are drawn from a faulty well of information full of misinterpretation and human error, the statistical categories discussed generally lack proper sample sizes and contexts.

So, with that in mind, I try to provide unique, applicable and (hopefully) interesting stats in the form of my patent southpaw reports.

Here, I will do my best to provide you with everything from stats to written and visual analysis covering every fighter facing a dedicated southpaw on upcoming UFC cards.

UFC 312 offers a slew of listed southpaws, so let’s get started!

Zhang Weili vs Tatiana Suarez

Summary: Zhang Weili, who faces Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312, is officially 1-0 against UFC-level southpaws (beating Amanda Lemos).

Despite listing herself as a southpaw, Lemos has primarily operated out of orthodox as of late. That said, she did provide a decent amount of looks for Zhang to work with in their 25-minute affair.

Zhang Weili’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1887707344047587430

When Zhang was presented with opportunities from the open stance, initiating exchanges off of kicks appeared to be her modus operandi. From stabbing sidekicks to powerful Thai kicks, Zhang does a decent job of variating her attacks and can counter naked kicks that come her way.

Since training at Bang Tao Muay Thai, Zhang has been a lot better with her kick defense and command of kicking traffic, in general. That said, Zhang is not beyond having her kicks countered, which is a common culprit for a large portion of her opponents’ big moments against her (both in the takedown and striking department).

My prediction: Stance analysis aside, I believe that Zhang should be the more potent striker by a country mile. The potential problem, however, is that Suarez appears hardwired to counter kicks – which could limit Zhang’s offense and open up the champion for takedowns.

For that reason, I’ll officially pick the challenger in Suarez to force her win conditions and take the title by submission in Round 2.

Tallison Teixeira vs Justin Tafa

Summary: Tallison Teixiera, who faces Justin Tafa at UFC 312, is officially 0-0 opposite UFC-level southpaws.

However, I was able to find a southpaw sample within his short stint with the LFA, where he fought a 2-1 fighter named Arthur Fonseca.

Tallison Teixeira’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1887719138388570470

Although I’m happy to see a fighter with the size and length of Teixeira actually using their jab, I have to agree with Gilbert Burns on the commentary in the sample above.

Not only does Teixeira tend to headhunt, but the Brazilian also gets a bit too excited for his own good when it comes to engaging forward or following a fleeing foe.

My prediction: Despite Fonseca appearing to be both undersized and out of shape in the clip linked above, he was still able to check Teixeira a few times with counters that a more serviceable fighter could take advantage of. Tafa may not be much to look at on paper, but he packs all the counters that a southpaw shouldn’t leave home without.

I’ll officially pick Tafa to knock Teixeira out with a counter right hook in Round 1.

Viacheslav Borshchev vs Tom Nolan

Summary: Viacheslav Borshchev, who faces southpaw Tom Nolan at UFC 312, is officially 0-1-1 against UFC-level southpaws (Loss: Chase Hooper; Draw: Nazim Sadykhov).

Despite technically being winless against UFC lefties, Borshchev looked good prior to his two sustained knockdowns. Borshchev was caught misjudging distance early in his fight with Hooper, but his battle with Serra-Longo’s Sadykhov provided some solid samples.

Viacheslav Borshchev’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1887730176223814120

Although Borshchev is capable of variating attacks in open-stance affairs, the Russian fighter has proven that he can competently match a southpaw and strike with them in their stance. Borshchev is also excellent at mixing up his attacks to the legs and body, regardless of what side he’s operating from.

My prediction: As someone who faded Nolan in his debut opposite Nikolas Motta, I can sadly say that I’ve never been impressed by the Australian prospect. Even in his subsequent wins, Nolan’s eagerness and lack of defensive awareness run his work right into his opponent’s range for counters.

I’ll pick Borshchev to clean Nolan’s clock with his patent left hook by Round 2.

Bruna Brasil vs Cong Wang

Summary: Bruna Brasil, who faces Wang Cong at UFC 312, is officially 1-0 opposite UFC-level southpaws (beating Marnic Mann on the Contender Series).

Brasil, who is a member of the fast-rising Fighting Nerds team, shows a similar swagger to her stablemates that arguably becomes more apparent in open-stance affairs.

Bruna Brasil’s southpaw report: https://x.com/DanTomMMA/status/1887714905694028240

As a lover of bodywork, I’m a big fan of the body teeps that Brasil attempts to build her attacks off of.

Brasil has shown flashes of a competent boxing presence at times, but her greenness shows in her hardwiring to rush her success by crowding her work into the clinch. “The Special One” also tends to get upright on retreats as her facade of composure can fall apart footwork-wise (as well as structurally) when meaningfully countered or attacked.

My Prediction: It’s hard not to see Brasil’s head kick highlight above and not think of the upset that Cong suffered in her last outing. However, despite that loss not being that long ago, I still believe that Cong is the more skilled striker – particularly at boxing range.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see a more conservative Cong this time around, so I’ll take her to win a competitive decision over Brasil.

Kevin Jousset vs Jonathan Micallef

Summary: Kevin Jousset, who faces Jonathan Micallef at UFC 312, is officially 0-0 opposite UFC-level southpaws.

I couldn’t find any relevant footage of Jousset opposite southpaws, but he does come from City Kickboxing, which is a camp full of competent stance switchers. That said, I’m, not sure how much striking Micallef will be looking to do.

Although Micallef kicked off his pro career with a head-kick knockout, the Australian native is more of a southpaw wrestle-grappler whose yet to be taken deep or tested at the UFC level.

My Prediction: Despite durable southpaws who can wrestle being one of my favorite archetypes to take underdog shots on, I can’t say I know how durable or dependable Micallef is at this point of his career. If Jousset’s judo background can keep him standing, then I suspect that the larger octagon will favor the more experienced man.

The pick is Jousset by unanimous decision.

Want to know more about each event? Visit homeoffight.com or any of our social media accounts for more articles, fighter interviews, and plenty of more coverage. Enjoy the fights, let us know how you’ll be watching!