Carlos Ulberg vs Bruno Oliveira
- Carlos Ulberg
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 2-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-1 grappler.
- Tools: Ulberg has above average striking paired with average power (60-50). He also has average wrestling (50).
- Bruno Oliveira
- Age: 36
- Pro Record: 8-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 14-3 fighter. Beat a 3-0 grappler.
- Tools: Oliveira has striking that’s a little above average (55) and below average wrestling (40).
Ulberg has a lot of hype coming into this fight, being from City Kickboxing. And despite having only 2 pro fights in MMA, he’s got a lot of kickboxing experience. I watched him beat a 2-0 striker. Ulberg was very technical. Not in a rush. Seemed to be content with picking up cage time and experience. But he takes on a dangerous striker in Oliveira who starched UFC fighter Jared Gooden in less than one minute in his last fight. But Ulberg is going to have a big size advantage in this fight. Ulberg is a natural light heavyweight, who’s also fought at heavyweight. Oliveira is a natural middleweight. And even if Ulberg gets in trouble on the feet, I think he’d be able to take Oliveira down if he needs to.
Chris’ Pick: Ulberg by decision.
Edson Gomez vs Ignacio Bahamondes
- Edson Gomez
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 6-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-1 striker.
- Tools: Gomez has average striking (50) and fringe average wrestling (45).
- Ignacio Bahamondes
- Age: 23
- Pro Record: 10-3
- Key Wins: Beat a well rounded 5-1 fighter. Split decision over a well rounded 5-2 fighter.
- Tools: Bahamondes has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has average wrestling (50).
There’s not a lot of available footage on Gomez. Based on his record and who he’s beat, I’m decently confident in the tools I graded him with. Bahamondes is a heavy 4 to 1 favorite. Watching his last fight, he passes the eye test. He should be better than Gomez everywhere.
Chris’ Pick: Bahamondes by 2nd round knockout.
Vince Murdock vs Luis Saldana
- Vince Murdock
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 11-5
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a 3-1 striker.
- Key Wins: Beat a 10-2 grappler.
- Tools: Murdock has fringe average striking (45) and below average wrestling (40).
- Luis Saldana
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 12-6
- Key Losses: Submitted by a well rounded 7-4 fighter. Lost to a 1-1 fighter and a 2-2 fighter.
- Tools: Saldana has fringe average striking (45) and fringe average grappling (45).
Interesting fight. Murdock’s comeback has been well documented. But what’s most interesting to me is figuring out where Murdock’s skills really are. 2 of Murdock’s fights were losses to below average competition. A doctor stopped a fight against a 2-2 fighter and he was stopped by a 3-1 fighter. Did Murdock fight the way he did because of the stuff he was dealing with? I think it’s possible. His tools might be better than I’m grading them. And in a fight that looks 50/50 on paper to me, I’m going to give Murdock the edge on projection.
Chris’ Pick: Murdock by decision.
Jared Vanderaa vs Harry Hunsucker
- Jared Vanderaa
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 10-4
- Key Losses: Lost to a 4-3 striker.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 3-0 fighter.
- Tools: Vanderaa has fringe average striking (45) and average grappling (50).
- Harry Hunsucker
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 6-2
- Tools: Hunsucker has average striking (50) and average grappling (50).
Close fight. Hunsucker is harder to grade because the only time he’s fought a quality opponent is Don’tale Mayes, in his 3rd pro fight, and Mayes knocked him out. But that was back in 2016. But based on the eye test of watching Hunsucker, I think he’s going to have better striking.
Chris’ Pick: Hunsucker knocks Vanderaa out in the 2nd round.