A big boom is headed for the UFC event on August 21 as Brian Kelleher takes on Domingo Pilarte this summer.
The news was initially reported by Sergio Pineiro with FighterPathMMA. This fight has been a long time coming. In fact, the two were slated to meet in 2018. However, the fight didn’t materialize and the two moved in different directions. Overall it seems like a better time for Kelleher to fight Pilarte since “Boom” was coming off a brutal TKO loss to John “Hands Of Stone” Lineker when they were first scheduled.
Brian Kelleher Is Looking To Rebound
A lot of time has passed since 2018 and Kelleher has made steady adaptations in his game. In particular, the bantamweight’s guillotine choke is always a legitimate threat wherever the fight goes. Looking in the eyes of defeat in his last outing, Kelleher is excited to perform.
Prior to the pairing with Pilarte, Kelleher struggled against the wrestling prowess of Ricky Simón. Despite the wide discrepancy in skill, “Boom” held on, even though he lost a unanimous decision to a tenacious wrestler. In the end, Kelleher’s composure could be a big factor as it was in his last win against Ray Rodriguez. In addition, another important factor to consider is that Kelleher’s striking has evolved, yet at times, fans don’t get to see those advancements because of his quick submissions.
Conversely, Pilarte is coming off a loss, but it’s only his second professional loss. As with most high-performance athletes, they are eager to erase those negative experiences with a fresh performance. The 6″0″ 30-year old has a giant opportunity in front of him, and after his no-contest result in his last bout, certainly, a win is paramount if he wants to continue his UFC career. Pilarte had a brilliant performance on the Dana White Contender Series in 2018. After that win, there is no doubt that many are excited to see what the “Son Of Fire” can accomplish.
Who is your pick in the fight between Brian Kelleher and Domingo Pilarte?
