Blood Diamond, a fighter with one of the most unique names and explosive fighting styles to grace the UFC, was widely expected to make waves in the welterweight division. Born Mike Mathetha, the Zimbabwean-born New Zealander earned his nickname and reputation through his dynamic striking abilities honed at City Kickboxing. This powerhouse MMA gym has produced champions like Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski. Despite the hype, Blood Diamond’s transition into the UFC hasn’t gone as planned. Here’s a closer look at his career, challenges, and why his UFC run has yet to meet fans’ high expectations.
Who is Blood Diamond?
Blood Diamond’s martial arts journey began with kickboxing, where he developed a flashy yet powerful striking style. He had a successful career in kickboxing and amassed a 3-0 MMA record before signing with the UFC. His creativity and unorthodox striking caught the eye of UFC scouts, especially given that he was training alongside elite fighters like Adesanya. Fans were hopeful that Blood Diamond would bring his electrifying stand-up skills into the Octagon, injecting fresh excitement into the welterweight division.
When Blood Diamond entered the UFC in 2022, he did so with considerable expectations. His striking background and association with City Kickboxing led fans and analysts to believe he would be an exciting addition to the UFC’s roster. However, his lack of MMA experience relative to other welterweights raised questions about whether he could adapt his striking-heavy game to the diverse demands of UFC-level competition.
Struggles in the UFC: A Rocky Start
Blood Diamond’s UFC debut came against Jeremiah Wells in February 2022 at UFC 271, and it was a baptism by fire. Wells, a seasoned grappler, took advantage of Blood Diamond’s lack of grappling experience. Wells secured a first-round rear-naked choke, exposing the striking specialist’s lack of grappling defence and raising immediate concerns about his readiness for the UFC. Despite his stellar striking, Blood Diamond’s debut underscored the importance of a well-rounded skill set, particularly the ability to counter wrestling and grappling at the elite level.
His second fight, against Orion Cosce, followed a similar trajectory. While Blood Diamond showcased flashes of his striking ability, Cosce again exposed his grappling deficiencies, defeating him by decision after taking him down multiple times and controlling him on the ground. The fight further highlighted Blood Diamond’s struggles with the ground game and the wrestling-heavy approach many UFC welterweights bring to their fights.
His final UFC fight against Charles Radtke led to his dismissal. Another poor performance and even though he was able to defend five of Radtke’s six takedowns, Diamond looked lacklustre on the feet too showing no signs of improvement and even looking poor in the standup which should be his bread and butter.
Earlier in 2024, after being cut by the UFC, he lost in the HEX fight series to an uppercut meaning his record is 3-4.
Key Factors Contributing to Blood Diamond’s UFC Struggles
- Lack of MMA Experience
Blood Diamond entered the UFC with only three MMA fights, all in regional circuits, and he didn’t fully prepare for the calibre of competition in the UFC. Inexperienced fighters often face a steep learning curve when they enter the Octagon, where they encounter opponents who excel in multiple disciplines. The UFC is unforgiving to newcomers, and without extensive grappling or wrestling experience, transitioning from a kickboxing background can be incredibly challenging and Diamond faced this first hand. In his three MMA bouts, he failed to impress in all disciplines of MMA and the fast rush into the UFC mainly due to his connections in the sport were to his detriment because more time to develop his skill in the regional scene gradually increasing the difficulty of opponents would’ve allowed for him to learn the sport of MMA. - Grappling Deficiencies
Blood Diamond’s kickboxing background has made him a skilled and dangerous striker, but his grappling and wrestling have lagged behind. His fights with Wells and Cosce illustrated how quickly the fight could shift out of his control once it hit the mat. In MMA, striking specialists who lack takedown defence often struggle, especially in a division like welterweight, where many fighters possess a strong wrestling foundation. Without a well-rounded ground game, Diamond’s opponents have been able to neutralise his striking by taking him down, controlling him on the mat, and avoiding his mighty strikes. - Pressure and Expectations
Being associated with City Kickboxing brought heightened expectations, especially given the success of his teammates, Adesanya and Volkanovski. Blood Diamond was expected to showcase the same dynamic abilities and technical precision, but these expectations may have contributed to additional pressure. He was thrust into a spotlight, and instead of growing at a steady pace, he found himself in challenging matchups against well-rounded opponents who exploited his inexperience. - Adjustment to MMA’s Pacing and Strategy
Kickboxing is a sport with pacing and strategic demands different from MMA. Blood Diamond’s fights have shown that he’s struggled to find a rhythm in the Octagon, where the threat of a takedown forces fighters to adjust their striking approach and think defensively. Striking specialists must adjust their distance management, striking output, and defensive awareness in MMA, where the dynamics of striking and grappling are interwoven. Blood Diamond’s struggles reflect the difficulty of making these adjustments, which many other striking specialists have also encountered when transitioning to MMA.
What Could Blood Diamond Do to Turn Things Around?
- Focus on Defensive Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu
In reality it’s unlikely that things will turn around for Diamond. MMA is an unforgiving sport and at 36 years old he’s coming to the tail end of his fight career. However, to succeed in MMA, Blood Diamond must bridge the gap in his grappling and wrestling skills. A significant improvement in his takedown defence would allow him to keep fights standing, where he’s most dangerous. Building a competent defensive grappling skill set could help him recover and escape from bad positions on the ground. Many striking-focused fighters, such as Adesanya, have invested heavily in takedown defence to keep the fight in their preferred domain. Blood Diamond could benefit from a similar approach, dedicating significant time to wrestling and jiu-jitsu to shore up these weaknesses. - Training Evolution
Training with City Kickboxing has undoubtedly exposed Blood Diamond to high-level striking and well-rounded MMA instruction. Still, he may benefit from cross-training with gyms specialising in wrestling or grappling. Learning from teams with strong wrestling traditions or grappling programs could provide him with insights and techniques to counteract his deficiencies and further develop his skills. - Mental and Tactical Adjustments
Building confidence after a rocky start can be challenging, but it’s essential for Blood Diamond’s progression. By focusing on minor tactical adjustments, such as pacing his striking output, managing distance, and using footwork to avoid takedowns, he can find ways to stay competitive in the Octagon. Many fighters have successfully adapted over time, and Blood Diamond has the raw talent to do the same if he remains dedicated to improving his overall fight game.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead for Blood Diamond
Blood Diamond’s journey in the UFC may not have gone as expected, but for him personally despite struggling outside of the UFC too, it would be horrible to see someone with an inspiring life story give up on their dreams now. There have been a multitude of fighters who have had slow starts turn their careers around, and Diamond’s dynamic striking style still has the potential to impact MMA if he addresses his weaknesses. He may not find a road to return to the UFC or any other major promotion but if he does he needs to address his clear weaknesses. The welterweight division is stacked with talented wrestlers and grapplers. Still, with the proper adjustments and training, Blood Diamond could develop into a well-rounded fighter capable of competing at a high level.
If he can learn from his losses, strengthen his grappling, and make the tactical adjustments needed, Blood Diamond’s unique fighting style and striking prowess could eventually shine in the cage wherever his next step is. While the road to success may be extremely steep, I’ll continue to root for him, hoping he can unlock his potential and find his footing among the world’s best fighters.
TheWrestlingFallacy 
Leave a comment