Abdul-Malik vs Schultz, Meng vs Hamed, Lopes vs Sazhiniani Fight Picks – Contender Series – August 13, 2024

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

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