Prates vs Ramirez, Belgaroui vs Costa, Cuamba vs Vogel Fight Picks – Contender Series – August 29, 2023

Carlos Prates vs Mitch Ramirez

• Carlos Prates
• Age: 29
• Pro Record: 16-6
• Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-0 striker and an 8-3 striker, and a well rounded 21-7 fighter.
• Striking: above average (60)
• Power: above average (60)
• Wrestling: a little above average (55)

• Mitch Ramirez
• Age: 30
• Pro Record: 7-0
• Key Wins: Knocked out an 11-3 grappler.
• Striking: a little above average (55)
• Power: a little above average (55)
• Grappling: a little above average (55)

Ramirez looks like a fun fighter. Talks in the cage, can be aggressive. But he gets hit too much and that makes his striking a 55 for me. And I think Prates’ striking is better.

Chris’ Pick: Prates by 2nd round knockout.

What I think the odds should be: Prates -175

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Yousri Belgaroui vs Marco Tulio

• Yousri Belgaroui
• Age: 31
• Pro Record: 5-2
• Striking: above average (60)
• Power: above average (60)
• Wrestling: average (50)

• Marco Tulio
• Age: 28
• Pro Record: 9-1
• Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 22-7 fighter and a 6-1 striker. Beat a 6-1 wrestler.
• Striking: near plus (65)
• Power: near plus (65)
• Wrestling: above average (60)

The trend has been very good, UFC ready fighters coming out of Dhiego Lima’s Chute Boxe in Brazil. Tulio is the next one. He’s going to overwhelm Belgaroui.

Chris’ Pick: Tulio by 2nd round knockout.

What I think the odds should be: Tulio -275

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Timothy Cuamba vs Mateo Vogel

• Timothy Cuamba
• Age: 24
• Pro Record: 6-1
• Striking: a little above average (55)
• Power: a little above average (55)
• Wrestling: above average (60)

• Mateo Vogel
• Age: 27
• Pro Record: 8-2
• Key Wins: Submitted Garrett Armfield. Beat a 4-0 striker.
• Striking: a little above average (55)
• Power: a little above average (55)
• Wrestling: above average (60)
• Grappling: a little above average (55)

Cuamba turned out to be much better than I thought after watching him. Fast hands, 60 wrestling. Turns out Da’Mon Blackshear is really good. And Vogel fought him in 2021. And Vogel didn’t do that bad. Blackshear edged him out everywhere, but it wasn’t lopsided either. I have this at a near pick em and could go either way.

Chris’ Pick: Vogel by split decision.

What I think the odds should be: Vogel -125

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Thomas Petersen vs Chandler Cole

• Thomas Petersen
• Age: 28
• Pro Record: 7-1
• Striking: near plus (65)
• Power: near plus (65)
• Wrestling: above average (60)

• Chandler Cole
• Age: 28
• Pro Record: 10-3
• Key Losses: Knocked out by a 9-9 striker.
• Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 3-0 fighter.
• Striking: a little above average (55)
• Power: a little above average (55)
• Wrestling: average (50)

July of 2022 I watched Waldo Acosta-Cortes vs Petersen because Acosta-Cortes was about to fight on the Contender. And after watching it, I predicted we’d eventually see Petersen in the UFC. Well, here we are. And we now know how good Acosta-Cortes is, which is helpful in grading Petersen. When initially watching Cole, it appeared he might have 55 wrestling, but he doesn’t have the cardio to utilize the tool before gassing out. I see Petersen battering Cole from everywhere.

Chris’ Pick: Petersen by 1st round knockout.

What I think the odds should be: Petersen -325

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Dylan Salvador vs Bolaji Oki

• Dylan Salvador
• Age: 30
• Pro Record: 5-1
• Key Wins: Knocked out an 11-4 striker. Submitted a 7-1 striker, a well rounded 3-0 fighter, and a 6-1 wrestler.
• Striking: a little above average (55)
• Power: a little above average (55)
• Grappling: a little above average (55)

• Bolaji Oki
• Age: 27
• Pro Record: 6-1
• Key Wins: Beat an 11-0 striker.
• Striking: a little above average (55)
• Power: a little above average (55)
• Wrestling: above average (60)

Chris’ Pick: Oki by decision.

What I think the odds should be: Oki -135