
Bruno Lopes vs Brendson Ribeiro
- Bruno Lopes
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 11-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out Gregory Rodrigues. Submitted a well rounded 10-3 fighter. Beat a well rounded 5-0 fighter.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Brendson Ribeiro
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 14-5
- Key Wins: Submitted Antonio Arroyo and a 6-1 striker. Knocked out a 7-1 striker.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Lopes looks like an elite prospect at 205 lbs. Well rounded. Possible his grappling is a 65. But his stand up is where he gets it done. Ribeiro’s striking is only a 55 for me as he gets hit too much.
Chris’ Pick: Lopes by 1st round knockout.
What I think the odds should be: Lopes -350
Ramon Taveras vs Serhiy Sidey
- Ramon Taveras
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 8-1
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: average (50)
- Serhiy Sidey
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 9-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 4-1 grappler. Beat a well rounded 3-0 fighter.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: average (50)
Coin flip fight. But I think Tavares’ striking is closer to a 60.
Chris’ Pick: Tavares by 2nd round knockout.
What I think the odds should be: Tavares -125
Chad Hanekom vs Dylan Budka
- Chad Hanekom
- Age: 33
- Pro Record: 9-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out an 11-1 wrestler. Beat a well rounded 8-0 fighter.
- Striking: average (50)
- Power: average (50)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
- Dylan Budka
- Age: 23
- Pro Record: 5-2
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to a well rounded 15-3 fighter.
- Key Wins: Submitted a 4-1 striker. Beat a 3-0 grappler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
I watched Hanekom take on a 5-4 striker on short notice and saw a big lack of confidence. Hanekom was very tentative on the feet. Didn’t want to exchange strikes. Preferred to wrestle as much as he could. I really liked what I saw from Budka against a well rounded 15-3 fighter. Budka was taken down a few times though and why he lost the fight. But it’s possible his striking and wrestling could be 60s.
Chris’ Pick: Budka by decision.
What I think the odds should be: Budka -175
Jean Silva vs Kevin Vallejos
- Jean Silva
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 10-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 4-0 fighter, a well rounded 7-2 fighter, and a 5-2 striker. Submitted a 5-2 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
- Kevin Vallejos
- Age: 21
- Pro Record: 11-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out Luiz Garagorri.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
I was really close to grading Vallejos’ striking a 65. He took on UFC vet Luiz Garagorri and it almost looked like Vallejos was fighting up a weight class. But Vallejos made up for it in speed. This is a high quality fight here, but I like Vallejos more because he’s more well rounded.
Chris’ Pick: Vallejos by 2nd round knockout.
What I think the odds should be: Vallejos -175
Rainn Guerrero vs Dione Barbosa de Lima
- Rainn Guerrero
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 5-1
- Key Wins: Submitted a 3-0 striker. Beat Christina Marks.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
- Dione Barbosa de Lima
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 5-2
- Key Wins: Beat Karine Silva.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Guerrero fights a lot like Loopey Godinez. Has great cardio, well rounded. On paper, I have both graded close to identical. But Barbosa de Lima is taking this fight on less than a week’s notice and I see Guerrero’s cardio being the difference.
Chris’ Pick: Guerrero by split decision.
What I think the odds should be: Guerrero -135