The former British Association of Mixed Martial Arts champion will make his organizational debut opposite Tim Wilde in a Bellator Champions Series 5 lightweight showcase on Saturday at the OVO Arena Wembley in London. Diakiese has won three of his past five bouts. The Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran last suited up at UFC Fight Night 231, where he eked out a split decision over Kaue Fernandes on Nov. 3. Wilde, meanwhile, has rattled off three victories across his past four appearances. He last fought on March 22, when he was victimized by a one-punch knockout from Manoel Sousa in the first round of their Bellator Champions Series 1 pairing.
As Diakiese and Wilde approach their clash at 155 pounds, a look at some of the numbers that have accompanied them to this point:
31: Years of age for Diakiese, who was born on March 16, 1993 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
11: Consecutive calendar years in which Diakiese has fought at least once. He went 2-0 in 2013, 4-0 in 2014, 2-0 in 2015, 3-0 in 2016, 1-2 in 2017, 0-1 in 2018, 2-0 in 2019, 0-1 in 2020, 0-1 in 2021, 2-1 in 2022 and 1-1 in 2023.
24: Seconds needed for Diakiese to cut down Selvarajah with punches at BAMMA 22 on Sept. 19, 2015. Nearly nine years later, it remains his fastest finish to date.
37: Years of age for Wilde, who was born in Wolverhampton, England, on June 30, 1987.
7: Wilde victories by knockout or technical knockout, accounting for 41% of his career total (17). His list of victims: Mike Hamel , Anthony Dizy , Ian Williams , Martin Delaney , Jefferson George and Phil Flynn (twice). Wilde owns one other victory by submission (6%)—he disposed of Dean Williams with a rear-naked choke at a Lionheart Fighting Championships show in 2013—and nine more by decision (53%).
49: Rounds started by Wilde as a professional mixed martial artist. He has gone the distance on 10 different occasions and carries a 9-0-1 record in those bouts.
1: Stalemate on the Wilde resume. He settled for a majority draw—27-29, 28-28, 28-28—with London Shootfighters export Alfie Davis at Bellator 281 on May 13, 2022.
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