The UFC returns to Kansas City this Saturday for the first time since 2017, with a Fight Night card headlined by featherweights Max Holloway and Arnold Allen. There are two newcomers on the UFC Kansas City card, one being Bellator MMA vet Gaston Bolanos. He’s been paired with Aaron Phillips.
Gaston Bolanos “Dream Killer”
Standing at five feet seven
Fighting at 145 lbs (Featherweight)
30 years
Fighting outside Lima, Peru / Dublin, California
Training outside the Combat Sports Academy
Pro record of 6-3
6 KOs/TKOs
How will Gaston Bolanos perform in the UFC?
Bolaños’ signing was surprising. All of his professional fights have been for Bellator and he is 1-2 in his last three fights. Although he delivered a few outstanding reel knockouts, he should never lose to entry-level Bellator fighters. I’d imagine the UFC went after him because of the high level of violence.
Bolaños comes from a Muay Thai/Kickboxing breeding. I remember watching him fight for Lion Fights back in the day on AXS TV. He even went 2-0 in Bellator kickboxing as well.
Through his professional Muay Thai and mixed martial arts career, he is best known for his back elbow knockout. Although this is his special move, Bolanos is much more than a rolling elbow; Instead, Bolanos definitely has the Muay Thai base in his hitting. The clinched action with knees and elbows sucks. Outside, he’ll cut with leg kicks and find his shots with his hands. Everything he does in the Strike Division is thought out and prepared. Each side attacks and mixes their attack well. It hit him nasty and dangerous every second that stood in front of him.
Being the traditional attacker, his defense will be tested. Throughout his career, he has been eliminated and submitted twice. He can usually get back to his feet once he is on the ground but will do so leaving himself open to being taken on his back or placed underground. I can’t get too excited about the upside to Bolanos because of who he actually lost to. With the right encounters, I think he will put up memorable fights. A fun signature to say the least.
How Bolanos and Aaron Phillips match up:
He’s still amazed at Phillips’ return to the UFC after going 0-2 in 2014. He’s been short of one good draft win to prove he’s UFC level. He hasn’t fought in nearly three years and is losing to Jack Shore. This is a fight to set Bolanos up for the win. You want a wrestler who beats Bolanos and Phillips barely wrestles enough. On the feet, Phillips is low in size and not the best defensively. I’m not too confident but this is a perfect stylistic match for Bolanos.