Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Wes Schultz
- Mansur Abdul-Malik
- Age: 36
- Pro Record: 5-0
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Wes Schultz
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 6-1
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Most of Schultz’s fights, he immediately goes to his wrestling and gets his way. Doesn’t show a lot of his stand up. Possible his striking tool could be a 60. Only 1 fighter has made it past 2 minutes in Abdul-Malik’s 5 pro fights. Trains with MMA Masters. It’s possible I’m over rating his striking because he’s just never in the cage that long.
Chris’ Pick: Abdul-Malik by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Abdul-Malik -250
Meng Ding vs Rami Hamed
- Meng Ding
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 34-8
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a 3-2 striker and a well rounded 28-17 fighter.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 4-0 striker, another 4-0 striker, and a 6-0 striker.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
- Rami Hamed
- Age: 33
- Pro Record: 12-3
- Key Losses: Submitted by a 13-7 grappler.
- Key Wins: Submitted a 3-0 wrestler. Beat a 3-0 grappler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
Hamed hasn’t been very active. First fight here in almost 2 years. Only 4 pro fights in the last 4 years. I watched a fight of his that was from 2019 and Hamed’s wrestling was only a 50. He trains at MMA Masters now, so his wrestling has likely improved to a 55.
Chris’ Pick: Hamed by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Hamed -125
Bruno Lopes vs Mikheil Sazhiniani
- Bruno Lopes
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 12-1
- UFC Record: 0-1
- 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)
- Mikheil Sazhiniani
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 13-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 7-2 fighter and a 7-1 striker. Beat a 4-1 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
Sazhiniani’s resume looks stronger than his skills are. Thought he had 65 striking. Fought a 7-1 striker that I thought has 55 tools. Sazhiniani out struck him by a little bit. Got hit a lot. I was most underwhelmed with his cardio as he gassed out at the start of the 2nd round. Lopes came into his last Contender fight as a monster -675 against Brendson Ribeiro, but that had more to do with no one knowing how good Ribeiro is.
Chris’ Pick: Lopes by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Lopes -225
Jose Delgado vs Ernie Juarez
- Jose Delgado
- Age: NA
- Pro Record: 7-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 4-1 fighter and a 7-2 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Ernie Juarez
- Age: NA
- Pro Record: 7-0
- Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 4-0 fighter. Beat a 6-1 grappler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Juarez is an entertaining fighter with good cardio, throws a lot, but also gets hit a lot. Delgado trains at MMA lab, very tall and long range for the weight class. Striking could be as high as 65.
Chris’ Pick: Delgado by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Delgado -250
Lone’er Kavanagh vs An Tuan Ho
- Lone’er Kavanagh
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 4-0 fighter. Beat a 6-0 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- An Tuan Ho
- Age: 23
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Key Wins: Beat a 4-1 wrestler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
I know Tuan Ho trains at the MMA Lab. On the surface of his resume on paper, I feel like I should be grading his skills higher. But I watched his last fight against a 4-1 wrestler who I’m pretty sure his wrestling isn’t better than a 55. And arguably, Tuan Ho’s opponent got the better of the wrestling. on the feet, it was close, with Tuan Ho’s opponent possibly landing more strikes. Unless this 4-1 wrestler is better than I think he is, I have Tuan Ho graded accurately. I was really impressed with Kavanaugh’s speed and how well his cardio holds up despite keeping a frenetic pace, even for flyweight.
Chris’ Pick: Kavanagh by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Kavanaugh -200