5 reasons why Cris Cyborg will beat Amanda Nunes

#3 Cyborg could bust out her wrestling game

Cyborg has underrated wrestling and top control

Most fans recognize Cyborg as a deadly striker, and it’s hardly a surprise – the Brazilian has an incredible record with 17 KO’s or TKO’s in 20 wins. Since she arrived in the UFC, she’s largely used her kickboxing game to beat opponents like Holly Holm and Tonya Evinger, but it’s also very forgettable that she’s a hell of a grappler, too.

An accomplished brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Cyborg might not be recognised for her submission game, but she has competed at the prestigious Abu Dhabi World Championships – picking up a bronze medal in the 60kg class in 2009. And due to her incredible physicality, she’s a great wrestler who is tricky to take down – and also has some tremendous takedowns of her own.

She’s showed off her ground-and-pound before – against fighters like Gina Carano and Marloes Coenen – and given Nunes’ last loss came to Cat Zingano, who took her down and then destroyed her from the top position with elbows and punches, there’s every chance that Cyborg will look to ground her smaller foe at UFC 232. If she gets on top of Nunes, then ‘The Lioness’ could be in deep trouble.