- Timmy Cuamba vs Benardo Sopaj
- UFC Vegas 117: A Showdown in Las Vegas
- Meta APEX Arena, Las Vegas
- Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
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In an electrifying match at UFC Vegas 117 scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, Timmy Cuamba will go head-to-head against Benardo Sopaj. The initial betting line presents Cuamba at +130, while Sopaj stands at -150.
Timmy “Twilight” Cuamba is eager to enhance his professional record of 10-3-0. At 27 years old, he stands 5’9″ and weighs 135 lbs, boasting a reach of 71″. On the other hand, Benardo “Lion King” Sopaj is 25 years old, measuring 5’6″ and also weighing in at 135 lbs, with a reach of 66″. Looking at their striking statistics, Cuamba averages 2.77 significant strikes landed per minute with a striking accuracy of 44%, while Sopaj performs significantly better at 4.24 strikes per minute, landing 56% of his attempts. In terms of defense, Cuamba absorbs 3.58 significant strikes per minute and successfully evades 57% of incoming strikes, whereas Sopaj allows 4.88 strikes per minute and defends against 49% of his opponent’s attempts.
| UFC Vegas 117 Fights | Timmy Cuamba | Benardo Sopaj |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Betting Odds | +130 | -150 |
| Fight Record | 10-3-0 | 12-3-0 |
| Average Fight Duration | 13:47 | 14:51 |
| Height | 5’9″ | 5’6″ |
| Weight Class | 135 lbs | 135 lbs |
| Reach | 71″ | 66″ |
| Strikes Landed/Minute | 2.77 | 4.24 |
| Striking Precision | 44% | 56% |
In take-down statistics, Cuamba is less effective, averaging 1.31 takedowns per three rounds, connecting 31% of the time, and successfully defending against 72% of attempts from his opponents. Sopaj, in contrast, boasts a phenomenal takedown success rate of 71% and averts 76% of take-down attempts against him. Regarding submission attempts, Cuamba leads with 0.8 submissions per three rounds, whereas Sopaj averages 0.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
In his last match, Timmy Cuamba went up against ChangHo Lee and emerged victorious by unanimous decision after three rounds. In this bout, Lee landed 88 out of 141 total strikes, while Cuamba successfully connected with 39 out of 48 strikes. Lee’s significant strike accuracy was 57%, landing 15 out of 26 attempts, including 10 of 18 aimed at the head. Cuamba, on the other hand, showcased impressive accuracy with 71%, landing 23 out of 32 significant strikes, predominantly focused on the head with 17 out of 26 connections at that target.
Benardo Sopaj’s last appearance in the Octagon was against Ricky Turcios, where he also secured a victory by unanimous decision after round 3. Turcios managed to hit 76% of his distance strikes, while Sopaj connected with 59% of his attempts from a distance. Sopaj displayed impressive stats, landing 81 out of 139 significant strikes, achieving 64 hits directed at the head. Turcios had a total of 78 successful strikes out of 144 attempts. In terms of significant striking accuracy, he hit 30 out of 86 head strikes. Overall, Turcios threw 187 total strikes, landing 113, while Sopaj hit 97 of his 155 total strikes.
Noteworthy Fights on the UFC Card
A key matchup to keep an eye on is Nikolay Veretennikov versus Khaos Williams. Veretennikov holds a record of 14-7-0, weighing in at 170 lbs and standing at 6’1″ with a 74″ reach. Williams, meanwhile, is 6’0″ and also competes at 170 lbs. He aims to improve his record of 15-5-0 and has a reach of 77″. When it comes to takedowns, Veretennikov scores an average of 0.42 takedowns per 3 rounds, whereas Williams averages 0.60 per 15 minutes. In striking statistics, Veretennikov lands 2.69 strikes per minute with a striking accuracy of 56%. By contrast, Khaos Williams connects on 39% of his attempted strikes at a higher rate of 4.94 strikes per minute.
Equally intriguing is the matchup between Ivan Erslan and Tuco Tokkos. Tokkos arrives with a record of 11-5-0, weighing 205 lbs and measuring 6’4″. He possesses a reach of 76″. Erslan, on the other hand, stands at 6’2″ and also weighs 205 lbs, seeking to uplift his career record of 14-6-0 (1 NC). Regarding wrestling, Tokkos effectively thwarts 33% of attempted takedowns while successfully executing takedowns 47% of the time. Meanwhile, Erslan averages a takedown success rate of 20% and defends 61% of takedown attempts against him. In striking, Tokkos absorbs 4.27 strikes per minute while dishing out only 2.12 strikes per minute. Erslan, conversely, takes 5.01 strikes per minute while landing 2.55 strikes per minute.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s action-packed UFC contest?
Prediction: Bet on Benardo Sopaj (-150)
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