Heavy-hitting welterweight contenders collide in the preliminary part of the UFC Houston card on Feb. 21, as Chidi Njokuani takes on Carlos Leal inside the Toyota Center.
Both are coming off losses in their previous bouts, but Leal is going to be the betting favorite with -120 UFC odds. Njokuani, on the other hand, will be the betting underdog with +100 odds.
UFC Houston: Chidi Njokuani vs. Carlos Leal Fight Odds
- Chidi Njokuani: +100
- Carlos Leal: -120
UFC Houston: Chidi Njokuani vs. Carlos Leal: Tale of the Tape
Chidi NjokuaniCarlos LealAge3731Height6’3”5’11”Reach80 inches74 inchesLeg Reach45 inches40 inchesRecord25-1122-7Fighting StyleMMAStrikerFinishing Rate64%59%
UFC Houston: Chidi Njokuani vs. Carlos Leal: Prediction
In this battle of hard-hitters, I predict a TKO/KO win for Njokuani mainly because of his longer physical frame, which gives him 6 inches of reach and 5 inches of leg reach advantage. These edges will be crucial in striking exchanges.
Both have solid Muay Thai skills, but I think Njokuani will fully utilize his range and tear up Leal from the outside. He knows that Leal carries incredible power in his punches, especially on the clinch, where he thrives with punches and knee strikes to the body.
While he moves forward and pressures Njokuani against the cage to cover distance, Leal might come across a solid front kick or a strong straight punch that Njokuani will throw. These strikes will keep Leal at bay and inflict significant damage.
Chidi Njokuani’s Recent Fight Results
Njokuani was a product of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, where he defeated Mario Sousa to earn a roster spot in the UFC. Since then, he recorded five wins and four losses. In his last five fights, he defeated Rhys McKee, Jared Gordon, and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, but lost to Michal Oleksiejczuk and Jake Matthews.
Carlos Leal’s Recent Fight Results
Leal was the former Samurai FC and LFA champion before he was signed by the UFC in 2024. He lost his octagon debut to Rinat Fakhretdinov, but he immediately bounced back with a win over Alex Morono. His most recent bout under the promotion was a defeat to Muslim Salikhov.
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