UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland · May 9, 2026 · Featherweight (145 lbs) · 3R
Sabatini vs Gomis
Wrestler vs French Striker
Sabatini 4.48 TD/15min, 62% sub rate, three straight wins. Gomis French striker with 5 wins in 6 UFC. Wrestler vs striker — classic.
Pat Sabatini
21-5-0 · N/R Featherweight
William Gomis
15-2-0 · N/R Featherweight
In 30 seconds
Pat Sabatini wins by Submission or Decision
- 4.48Sabatini's takedowns per 15 minutesAmong the highest in UFC featherweight.
- 13Sabatini's submissions in 21 wins62% sub rate. Submission specialist.
- 3Sabatini's straight winsBrito, Mariscal, Pearce.
The key to the fight
THE DECIDING POINT
Wrestling Pressure vs Striker Without Proven TDD
Sabatini is the American wrestler-grappler (21-5, 62% career sub rate) with 4.48 takedowns per 15 minutes — among the highest in UFC featherweight. Coming off three straight wins (Brito UD, Mariscal UD, Pearce sub R2).
Gomis is the French striker (15-2, 5W in 6 UFC) with a technical-boxer profile and good cardio, but TDD that hasn't been tested by an elite wrestler.
Stylistically, this is the textbook grappler-vs-striker fight: if Sabatini gets the takedown (and 4.48 TD/15min says he will), the Frenchman ends up on the ground with a clear disadvantage. Market opened Sabatini — and they're right.
Tale of the Tape
| Sabatini | Tale of the Tape | Gomis |
|---|---|---|
| 33 years | AgeGomis 5 years younger. | 28 years |
| 5'8" | HeightGomis 3 inches taller. | 5'11" |
| 70" | ReachGomis +2 inches. | 72" |
| Orthodox | StanceSame stance. | Orthodox |
| Philadelphia BJJ | CampBJJ-heavy camp vs French camp. | MMA Factory Paris |
Current form
Opponent caliber in recent fights
| Fighter | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Opponent caliber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Sabatini | Oct 2022 | Damon Jackson | L | TKO R1 | 1 |
| Pat Sabatini | May 2023 | Lucas Almeida | L | KO R1 | 1 |
| Pat Sabatini | Jan 2024 | Jonathan Pearce | W | Sub R2 | 2 |
| Pat Sabatini | Jul 2024 | Chepe Mariscal | W | UD | 2 |
| Pat Sabatini | Jul 2025 | Joanderson Brito | W | UD | 2 |
| William Gomis | Jun 2023 | Joel Alvarez | L | UD | 2 |
| William Gomis | Sep 2023 | Yanis Ghemmouri | W | UD | 1 |
| William Gomis | Mar 2024 | Joanderson Brito | L | UD | 2 |
| William Gomis | Jul 2024 | Hyder Amil | W | UD | 2 |
| William Gomis | May 2025 | Robert Ruchala | W | UD | 2 |
Pat Sabatini · On Fire
Three straight UFC wins (Brito UD, Mariscal UD, Pearce sub R2). 62% career sub rate. 4.48 TD/15min. Trains BJJ in Philadelphia.
William Gomis · On Fire
5 wins in 6 UFC fights. Coming off a UD over Robert Ruchala at UFC FN 256 (May 2025). Technical French striker, age 28.
Level of competition
Sabatini
Average opponent level (1 to 5)2
Record3W-2L (last 5)
Against the top 50W-0L
Gomis
Average opponent level (1 to 5)2
Record3W-2L (last 5)
Against the top 50W-0L
Common opponent: Joanderson Brito. BOTH beat Brito. Sabatini beat Brito via UD in July 2025, Gomis beat Brito via SD in September 2024. Neutral transitivity. Both proved capable of beating a ranked prospect.
Stats
Sig. Strikes per MinuteGomis volume edge on the feet.
Striking Accuracy (%)Gomis slight edge.
Takedowns per 15 MinSabatini 9x more offensive wrestling.
Submissions per 15 MinSabatini submission specialist.
Takedown Defense (%)Sabatini better TDD.
How they win and lose
Sabatini
- KO/TKO 10% (2)
- Submission 61% (13)
- Decision 29% (6)
- KO/TKO 60% (3)
- Submission 0% (0)
- Decision 40% (2)
Gomis
- KO/TKO 46% (7)
- Submission 7% (1)
- Decision 47% (7)
- KO/TKO 0% (0)
- Submission 33% (1)
- Decision 67% (2)
Sabatini 62% by sub (classic jiu-jitsu profile). Gomis 47% by KO/TKO + 46% by decision (technical French striker with more KO power than the stereotype suggests). Only 1 career sub for the Frenchman.
Sabatini 60% of losses by KO/TKO (3 of 5): Damon Jackson TKO R1 (UFC Fight Night 210), Diego Lopes KO R1 (UFC 295), Gonzalez TKO R1 at CFFC (broken arm, 46 seconds). Pattern: folds quickly to explosive strikers when striking gets honest.
Gomis has 3 losses, ZERO by KO — reliable French chin. 1 sub (Charriere 2016 early career) and 2 decisions (including Hyder Amil March 2025). For value bets: Gomis by KO/TKO is a realistic path given Sabatini's pattern against strikers; Sabatini by sub runs into the French armor against finishes.
Skills
Where each fighter has the edge
1. Wrestling / TakedownsEdge: Sabatini (5/5)
Sabatini 4.48 TD/15min vs Gomis 0.5. Identity.
2. Ground Game / BJJEdge: Sabatini (5/5)
62% sub rate from Sabatini. Gomis without offensive ground game.
3. Striking on the FeetEdge: Gomis (3/5)
Gomis 4.5 SLpM vs 3.2. Technical striker.
4. Takedown DefenseEdge: Sabatini (2/5)
Sabatini 70% TDD vs 58%.
5. Cardio (3 rounds)Even
Both proven across 3 rounds.
6. Range / PhysicalEdge: Gomis (2/5)
Gomis 2 inches reach + 3 inches height.
Sabatini dominates on the ground. Gomis on the feet. For Gomis to win, he needs to defend 70%+ takedowns across 3 rounds.
Full prediction
The thesis
The thesis is: Pat Sabatini wins because, first, he has 4.48 takedowns per 15 minutes (among the highest in UFC featherweight) and 70% TDD. Second, 62% career sub rate against a striker without offensive ground game. Third, the Brito common opponent shows slight transitivity edge. Path: takedown in R1, hunt the sub or top control across 3 rounds. Falls apart if Gomis defends 70%+ of takedowns.
Conviction 7 because three dimensions converge strongly. Not 8 because Gomis is on a hot streak with 5W in 6 UFC and good cardio.
What breaks the thesis
- Gomis defends every takedown across 3 rounds
- Sabatini doesn't have cardio for cumulative wrestling
- Gomis lands a shot in transition
- Sabatini's age 33 weighs against a striker 5 years younger
The underdog's path
Gomis sprawls the takedowns, keeps distance on the feet, stacks volume with 4.5 SLpM. 30-27 cards or KO in R3.
- 70%+ TDD across 3 rounds
- Keep distance on the feet
- Cardio holds against wrestling pressure
- Don't get caught in scrambles