Dennis Buzukja vs Melsik Baghdasaryan
- Dennis Buzukja
- Age: 22
- Pro Record: 4-1
- Tools: Buzukja has striking that’s a little above average (55) and above average wrestling (60).
- Melsik Baghdasaryan
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 4-1
- Tools: Baghdasaryan has above average striking (60) and fringe average wrestling (45).
Really interesting fight. I’m grading Buzukja’s wrestling as a 60 more of of projection due to his pedigree. And I also graded Baghdasaryan’s striking as a 60 from projection as he’s got some hype too. 3 of his last 4 wins were knockouts in under 15 seconds! Crazy. As exciting as that sounds, the reality is that Baghdasaryan lost his pro debut to a 2-4 grappler. He got submitted in under 2 minutes. I think Buzukja’s wrestling is real. He’s going to take Baghdasaryan down and smash him.
Chris’ Pick: Buzukja gets the ground and pound TKO in the 2nd round.
Nate Smith vs Jimmy Flick
- Nate Smith
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Tools: Smith has wrestling that’s a little above average (55). He also has grappling that’s a little above average (55).
- Jimmy Flick
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 14-5
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a well rounded 4-2 fighter and a 12-5 grappler. Lost to a 4-3 wrestler.
- Key Wins: Submitted a 10-1 grappler and a 5-2 grappler. Beat a 6-2 grappler.
- Tools: Flick has average grappling (50).
Jose Johnson vs Ronnie Lawrence
- Jose Johnson
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 11-5
- Key Losses: Lost to a 3-1 wrestler.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 5-2 fighter, a well rounded 5-1 fighter, and a well rounded 11-2 fighter.
- Tools: Johnson has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has average wrestling (50).
- Ronnie Lawrence
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 5-1
- Tools: Lawrence has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has fringe average wrestling (45).
Johnson’s pro record doesn’t look that great, but he lost a lot of the fights when he was 21, 22, 23 years old. He also has 5 1st round knockouts in a row. It’s possible his striking is a 60, but I’d like to see him against another quality guy. Meanwhile, Lawrence hasn’t beaten anybody. Lost to UFC fighter Steve Garcia. I think this spot is too much, too soon for him.
Chris’ Pick: Johnson mixes in some take downs to win by decision.
William Knight vs Cody Brundage
- William Knight
- Age: 32
- Pro Record: 7-1
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a 2-0 striker.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 5-0 fighter.
- Tools: Knight has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has average wrestling (50).
- Cody Brundage
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 5-0
- Tools: Brundage has average striking (50) and fringe average wrestling (45).
Brundage is all projection. All his wins are over cans. Knight has the one quality win on the Contender last year. Striker vs striker. Knight lost to Tafon Nchukwi, the 2-0 striker, but that guy looks like he could be really good as he’ll be on the Contender a couple weeks. I think Knight probably learned a bit in that fight. Will have the experience advantage. I think he gets it done.
Chris’ Pick: Knight knocks Brundage out in the 1st round.
Tucker Lutz vs Chase Gibson
- Tucker Lutz
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 9-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 3-0 fighter.
- Tools: Lutz has average striking (50) and average wrestling (50).
- Chase Gibson
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 9-4
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a 5-3 striker.
- Tools: Gibson has fringe average striking (45). He also has fringe average wrestling (45) and fringe average grappling (45).