T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas, Nevada
A high‑energy featherweight matchup opens the UFC 117 card as Albanian pressure‑fighter Benardo Sopaj meets explosive American prospect Timmy Cuamba. Both men are young, aggressive, and hungry for a breakout moment. Stylistically, this is a classic clash of relentless pace vs. explosive athleticism — and it has all the makings of a sleeper Fight of the Night contender.
VENUE & EVENT DETAILS
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Early Prelims Start: 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT
Sopaj vs. Cuamba: Expected around 6:20 PM ET / 3:20 PM PT
Cage Size: 30‑foot Octagon
Altitude: Sea level
INJURY REPORT & CAMP NOTES
Benardo Sopaj
- No reported injuries
- Full camp at Allstars Training Center (Sweden)
- Focus on pressure footwork, clinch entries, and body‑shot combinations
- Coaches emphasize avoiding wild exchanges and keeping a tight guard
Timmy Cuamba
- Minor wrist soreness early in camp — fully cleared
- Camp at Xtreme Couture (Las Vegas)
- Emphasis on explosive counters, takedown defense, and lateral movement
- Added more grappling rounds to prepare for Sopaj’s pressure
Both fighters enter healthy and well‑prepared.
RECENT FORM & MOMENTUM
Benardo Sopaj — Last 5 Fights
- Record: 4–1
- Wins: 2 KO/TKO, 2 decisions
- Loss: 1 decision
- Trend: Relentless pace, strong clinch work, improving boxing
Timmy Cuamba — Last 5 Fights
- Record: 3–2
- Wins: 2 KO/TKO, 1 decision
- Losses: 1 KO, 1 decision
- Trend: Explosive early, dangerous counters, inconsistent late‑fight pacing
FIGHTER MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
Striking
- Sopaj: Pressure boxer, heavy body shots, strong inside fighting
- Cuamba: Fast hands, sharp counters, powerful right hand Edge: Cuamba (power), Sopaj (volume)
Grappling
- Sopaj: Strong clinch, good trips, solid top control
- Cuamba: Good defensive wrestling, limited offensive grappling Edge: Sopaj
Cardio
- Sopaj: Excellent 3‑round engine
- Cuamba: Strong early, fades if pressured Edge: Sopaj
Fight IQ
- Sopaj: Smart pressure fighter, but can get hit clean entering range
- Cuamba: Good reads, but sometimes waits too long to pull the trigger Edge: Even
FIGHT HISTORY & CONTEXT
This is the first meeting between the two fighters.
Benardo Sopaj’s UFC Trajectory
- Rising European prospect with a fan‑friendly style
- Known for pace, durability, and pressure
- A win here could earn him a mid‑tier featherweight matchup
Timmy Cuamba’s UFC Trajectory
- Explosive athlete with real finishing upside
- UFC sees him as a potential breakout if he can tighten his defense
- A win stabilizes his momentum after inconsistent results
BETTING TRENDS
Benardo Sopaj Trends
- 4–1 in last 5
- 3–0 when landing 60+ significant strikes
- 0–2 when opponents land early knockdowns
Timmy Cuamba Trends
- 5 of last 7 fights ended inside the distance
- 3–1 when landing a knockdown
- 0–3 when out‑paced by 25+ significant strikes
Matchup Trends
- Sopaj thrives in extended exchanges
- Cuamba thrives in explosive moments
- Early exchanges likely determine the fight’s rhythm
FIGHT ODDS
Benardo Sopaj – 125
Timmy Cuamba – 105
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, May 15, 2026
