Alioune Nahaye vs Eduard Kexel Prediction: A battle of dominance

The upcoming MMA bout between Eduard Kexel and Alioune Nahaye promises to deliver an intense clash of styles and skill. Scheduled for December 20, 2024, at KSW 101 in France, this lightweight versus featherweight contest has garnered significant attention due to the fighters’ contrasting records and rankings. Kexel, a rising force in the lightweight division, enters the cage with an unbroken streak in his last five fights, while Nahaye, known as “Le Jaguar,” brings experience and resilience, looking to assert his dominance in front of a home crowd. Let’s break down their form, key stats, and my fight prediction.

Alioune Nahaye is a skilled and determined professional MMA fighter with an impressive record of 14 wins and 4 losses, with no draws. Standing at 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) and fighting out of France, Nahaye is ranked as the #3 featherweight in France and #10 in the Europe Western sub-region. His most recent weigh-in was 146.2 lbs, cementing his status as a featherweight contender. Born on July 6, 1991, Nahaye fights under Team Jaguar as his primary training camp, with additional representation from Manganum Sport Agency. Known for his aggressive style and finishing ability, he boasts 9 wins by TKO, 4 by submission, and 1 by decision. His losses have come evenly split between submission and decision, showing his resilience in the cage. Nahaye is currently on a two-fight win streak, including an electrifying first-round TKO victory via flying knee against Luis Miguel Aular on April 18, 2024, and a dominant performance against Pedro Colman, finishing the bout with devastating leg kicks. Despite setbacks in 2023, including a submission loss to Felipe Colares, Nahaye has proven his ability to bounce back stronger. Set to face Eduard Kexel at KSW 101 on December 20, 2024, Nahaye aims to maintain his momentum and climb the European featherweight ranks. To secure victory, I believe Nahaye will need to leverage his finishing instincts and avoid Kexel’s precision striking. With his tenacity and home-country advantage, Nahaye’s performance will undoubtedly be one to watch.

Eduard Kexel is a professional MMA fighter with an impressive record of 10 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws, including 2 wins by TKO and 1 by submission. Standing at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) and competing in the lightweight division, Kexel weighs in at 154.1 lbs. Born and fighting out of Germany, he has steadily climbed the regional rankings, currently sitting at #93 Pro Lightweight in Europe and #14 in Germany. Kexel is on an outstanding 6-fight winning streak, with his latest victory on January 27, 2024, against Rafael Hudson, securing a first-round rear-naked choke submission. Before that, he earned a unanimous decision win over Michal Jančuška in the same month. In 2023, Kexel showcased his striking power with a TKO victory over Abubakar Sabirov in the first round. His sole career loss occurred in June 2021 against Adam Meskini via TKO from an upkick. With a finish rate of 33% and a solid ability to grind out decisions, Kexel has demonstrated his versatility and resilience in the cage. I believe Eduard Kexel should focus on building his striking defense and pushing for more early finishes to solidify his position in the welterweight division.

• • Kexel recently won a fight with a first-round rear-naked choke, showing his strong grappling ability.
• • Kexel once won a fight in just seven seconds, proving his explosive striking power.
• • Nahaye has nine decision wins, showing his stamina and ability to last in tough fights.
• • Nahaye has beaten many experienced fighters, proving he can compete at a high level.
• • This fight is a classic matchup, with Nahaye excelling in striking and Kexel being a grappling expert.

Based on the stats, I believe Eduard Kexel is the clear favorite to win his upcoming fight against Alioune Nahaye. Kexel’s six-fight winning streak demonstrates his momentum, and his ability to finish fights, particularly with submissions, makes him a dangerous opponent for Nahaye, who has shown vulnerabilities in grappling exchanges. Kexel’s recent first-round submission win over Rafael Hudson highlights his ground game dominance, and I expect him to employ a similar strategy here. Nahaye has been consistent but lacks the versatility Kexel brings to the cage. I predict Kexel will secure the win via submission in the second round, capitalizing on Nahaye’s defensive lapses.