Point of interest: Swimming with sharks
Considering the skill deficit on paper, I will be curious to see how much Carvalho looks to test Freire in the grappling department.
Despite owning a superior rank in jiu-jitsu (something that does not necessarily mean anything in MMA), Freire commands an underrated wrestling game that will provide a decent hurdle for the title challenger.
Training for years under the tutelage of acclaimed wrestler Eric Albarracin (wrestling coach to the likes of Henry Cejudo and Paulo Costa), Freire has been able to improve his wrestling ability by applying high-level techniques to his already impressive athleticism. Whether he’s balancing on one leg while shutting down takedowns or changing his level to dump an opponent, the 14-year pro has been increasingly difficult to control over the most recent stretch of his career.
Freire also has gotten tighter and more conservative with his jiu-jitsu prowess, playing more of a positional savvy game when the occasions call for it. Nevertheless, Freire still carries a deadly guillotine choke for overzealous opponents who are looking to grapple – which could come in handy for this matchup.
A ready and willing grappler, Carvalho will often find himself following his striking combinations into close spaces that give way to takedowns (for either party). Whether Carvalho’s changing his level for a shot or going with the flow when it comes to taking the ride his opposition is offering him, the SBG fighter – for the most part – appears comfortable with offering answers from almost any spot on the mat.
Should he achieve a top position, Carvalho transitions competently as he works toward positional advancements and submissions. And when he’s put on his back, the man from Portugal offers up a plethora of guard attacks where he turns failed submission attempts in scrambling opportunities.
I’m not sure I’d bet on Carvalho to out-grapple Freire from Jump Street, but the 24-year-old talent does work at a voracious pace that could make things interesting as the contest wears on.
Next point of interest: Odds, opinion and prediction