MMA Match Preview: Ibo Aslan (14-3-0) vs. Billy Elekana (8-2-0)

In a battle of redemption and raw power, Ibo “The Last Ottoman” Aslan faces Billy “Son of Susie” Elekana in a light heavyweight clash at UFC on ABC 9: Whittaker vs. De Ridder, held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Both fighters are coming off losses and looking to reassert their place in one of the UFC’s most volatile divisions.

Tale of the Tape

Attribute	Ibo Aslan	Billy Elekana
Age	29	30
Height	6′3″	6′3″
Reach	77″	77″
Record	14-3-0	8-2-0
UFC Record	2-2	1-1
Fighting Style	Power striker	Grappler/pressure striker
Finish Rate	100% (14 KOs)	50% (3 KOs, 1 Sub)

Ibo Aslan – The KO Machine

Strengths:

Devastating knockout power (14 wins by KO)

Fast starter with aggressive pace

Solid takedown defense (83%)

Weaknesses:

Vulnerable on the ground (2 submission losses)

Unproven cardio in deep rounds

Recent Form:

Loss to Ion Cutelaba (Sub, R1)

Wins over Raffael Cerqueira (KO, R1) and Anton Turkalj (KO, R3)

Aslan is a highlight-reel finisher who thrives in early exchanges. His jab-to-hook combinations and counter-punching are lethal, but his grappling gaps were exposed in his last bout. Expect him to come out swinging, looking to end it before Elekana can settle.

Billy Elekana – The Pressure Grappler

Strengths:

Durable and composed under fire

Strong wrestling base and clinch control

High striking accuracy (71%)

Weaknesses:

Suspect cardio under pressure

Limited finishing ability at UFC level

Recent Form:

Loss to Bogdan Guskov (Sub, R2)

Win over Aslan (Decision, July 2025)

Elekana’s game revolves around grinding pace and positional control. He showed flashes of grappling skill in his debut but faded late. Against Aslan, he survived the early storm and used front kicks, feints, and cage pressure to edge a decision win.

Fight Breakdown

Round 1: Expect Aslan to take center and throw heat early. Elekana will likely stay mobile, using kicks and clinch entries to slow the pace.

Round 2: If Elekana survives, he’ll test Aslan’s cardio with takedown attempts and pressure.

Round 3: Could be a grind, but Elekana’s durability gives him a chance to steal rounds if Aslan fades.