Shamil Gaziev vs Greg Velasco
- Shamil Gaziev
- Age: 33
- Pro Record: 10-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out Darko Stosic and a 4-0 striker. Split decision over a 13-0 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
- Greg Velasco
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 3-0 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: average (50)
Velasco took on a 3-0 striker in his last fight and on the surface, you look at the end result, Velasco won via ground and pound TKO in the 2nd round. Great. Velasco must have had superior wrestling. But that’s not the case. The opponent took Velasco down multiple times, controlled him for most of the fight. But amazingly, the opponent gassed out, while on top. Velasco was able to reverse, took mount, ended the fight. Gaziev is levels above Velasco and see this as a bit of a mismatch because of Gaziev’s ability to take him down.
Chris’ Pick: Gaziev by 1st round ground and pound TKO.
What I think the odds should be: Gaziev -350
Jacobi Jones vs Daniel James Allen
- Jacobi Jones
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 6-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-1 grappler. Submitted a well rounded 3-0 fighter.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: average (50)
- Daniel James Allen
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 4-0
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
It’s possible that Allen’s striking could be as low as a 50. The fight of him I watched, I didn’t see much of his striking because he was able to put his opponent on his back for almost the whole 15 minutes. Close fight. But I’m more confident that Jones’ striking is a 55. Allen is more one dimensional from what I’ve seen.
Chris’ Pick: Jones by split decision.
What I think the odds should be: Jones -125
Stephanie Luciano vs Talita Alencar
- Stephanie Luciano
- Age: 23
- Pro Record: 5-1
- Key Wins: Beat a 5-0 grappler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
- Talita Alencar
- Age: 32
- Pro Record: 4-0
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Grappling: above average (60)
Coin flip type fight. I think Alencar’s got a bit of a grappling edge. Luciano should have more power, but not by much. I see a lot of this fight being on the ground.
Chris’ Pick: Alencar by 2nd round submission.
What I think the odds should be: Alencar -175
Kaynan Kruschewsky vs Dylan Mantello
- Kaynan Kruschewsky
- Age: 32
- Pro Record: 14-2
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a 12-5 striker. Lost to a well rounded 18-4-3 fighter.
- Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 8-2 fighter. Knocked out a 5-1 striker, an 8-3 wrestler, and an 8-3 striker.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
- Dylan Mantello
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 7-2
- Key Wins: Submitted a 9-3 grappler.
- Striking: average (50)
- Power: average (50)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Chris’ Pick: Kruschewsky by decision.
What I think the odds should be: Kruschewsky -175
Igor da Silva vs Jhonata Silva
- Igor da Silva
- Age: 20
- Pro Record: 7-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 9-1 fighter, a well rounded 3-0 fighter, and a 5-0 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
- Jhonata Silva
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 8-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 11-3 fighter and a well rounded 3-0 fighter. Beat a 3-0 striker.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: average (50)
Silva has KO power, but I question his ability to get to it. He doesn’t throw as much volume, usually sticks to sitting back and throwing power shots. And also, he’s a smaller flyweight, fights at strawweight sometimes. Da Silva took on a 9-1 grappler who was desperate to get the fight on the ground. No dice. Got nowhere close to taking da Silva down. Da Silva has to watch out for Silva’s power, but da Silva should have 2 paths to victory here.
Chris’ Pick: da Silva by 2nd round knockout.
What I think the odds should be: da Silva -250