Solomon Renfro vs Jonny Parsons
- Solomon Renfro
- Age: 24
- Pro Record: 8-1
- Key Wins: Split decision over a well rounded 3-0 fighter.
- Tools: Renfro has striking that’s a little above average (55) and average wrestling (50).
- Jonny Parsons
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 6-3
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-2 striker.
- Tools: Parsons has average striking (50) and fringe average wrestling (45).
I watched Parsons take on a 5-2 striker. I wasn’t overly impressed. The striking was pretty close to equal until Parsons landed a big right hand that put his opponent out. Meanwhile, something interesting has happened with Renfro. Going into his fight with Mike Malott, Renfro had a 6-1 record. Out of the 6 wins, he had 1 submission win and 5 decision wins. Renfro had been a volume puncher, lacked power. Got submitted by Malott. Then. Renfro’s next 2 fights, 1st round knockouts. Seems ever since that loss, he’s figured out how to unlock more power in his striking and I like him to continue that trend.
Chris’ Pick: Renfro by 1st round knockout.
Valesca Machado da Silva vs Pierangela Rodriguez
- Valesca Machado da Silva
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 8-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-1 grappler. Split decision over a 3-0 striker.
- Tools: Machado da Silva has striking that’s a little above average (55) and wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
- Pierangela Rodriguez
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 13-4 grappler and a 3-1 grappler.
- Tools: Rodriguez has above average striking (60) and wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
Although Machado da Silva is an inch taller than Rodriguez, Machado da Silva will come in the smaller fighter as she sometimes fights at 105 lbs. And Rodriguez’s power is very rare at 115 lbs. 6 wins. 5 knockouts. And 2 of her 6 knockouts were over quality opponents. Stand up fight. Rodriguez is going to get it done.
Chris’ Pick: Rodriguez by 2nd round knockout.
Caio Barralho vs Jesse Murray
- Caio Barralho
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 9-1
- UFC Record: 1-0
- Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 5-2 fighter. Beat a 10-2 striker and a 7-0 grappler.
- Tools: Barralho has above average striking paired with average power (60-50). He also has wrestling that’s a little above average (55) and average grappling (50).
- Jesse Murray
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 8-3
- Key Wins: Beat a 7-1 wrestler.
- Tools: Murray has average striking paired with below average power (50-40). He also has average grappling (50).
Barralho just fought a few weeks ago on The Contender. Won. But it was a lackluster win. His opponent Aaron Jeffrey was content to try to clinch Barralho against the fence most of the fight. What’s striking to me is how most of the time Barralho just accepted it and as a result, didn’t get a UFC contract. I think he’s going to be more aggressive here. And even though the win was lackluster, I’m very confident Jeffrey has 55 striking with how he handled UFC fighter Andre Petroski. Therefore I have Barralho’s striking graded as a 60 and there’s no way Murray’s striking could be on that level.
Chris’ Pick: Barralho by 2nd round knockout.
Armen Petrosyan vs Kaloyan Kolev
- Armen Petrosyan
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 5-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 7-0 wrestler and a 4-1 grappler.
- Tools: Petrosyan has above average striking (60) and average wrestling (50).
- Kaloyan Kolev
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 10-0
- Tools: Kolev has striking that’s a little above average (55) and wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
This fight could go pretty similar to Petrosyan’s fight with the 4-1 grappler. Petrosyan struggled through most of that fight. Got taken down over and over again. But got back up and knocked the guy out. With this fight, Kolev should get some take downs. But I see him tiring out, I see Petrosyan getting back up, and being on his feet long enough to get the KO.
Chris’ Pick: Petrosyan by 2nd round knockout.
Pedro Falcao vs James Barnes
- Pedro Falcao
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 14-3
- Tools: Falcao has average striking paired with below average power (50-40). He also has grappling that’s a little above average (55).
- James Barnes
- Age: 39
- Pro Record: 14-4
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a well rounded 16-8 fighter and a well rounded 9-4 fighter.
- Key Wins: Submitted Albert Morales and a 5-0 striker.
- Tools: Barnes has fringe average striking paired with below average power (45-35). He also has average grappling (50).
Barnes is the rare bantamweight fighter that gets a shot on The Contender at 39 years old. There’s not a lot of video on him. I think his grappling is a 50, but I could be wrong. It could be a 55. Falcao is a winnable matchup for Barnes because the main way Barnes loses is getting knocked out. Falcao has 40 below average power. Fight will probably be on the feet. I think Falcao’s striking is slightly better.
Chris’ Pick: Falcao by split decision.