
Phillip Latu vs Navajo Stirling
- Phillip Latu
- Age: 33
- Pro Record: 6-1
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
- Navajo Stirling
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 4-0
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
Latu trains at Elevation fight team, has impressive power, but he got hit too much for me to put a 65 grade on his striking. Pretty confident his striking is just a 60 for now. Stirling only has 4 pro MMA fights, so not a lot of video on him out there in the cage, but the video I did see showed a kickboxer that was patient and very accurate. Stirling trains at City Kickboxing, has a lot of hype as one of the best pound for pound prospects outside the UFC in the Austrailia, New Zealand area. I’m decently confident I can project him to have 65 striking and just think if Dylan Potter had success landing shots on Latu that Stirling should have no problem.
Chris’ Pick: Stirling by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Stirling -250
Kody Steele vs Quemuel Ottoni
- Kody Steele
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
- Quemuel Ottoni
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 12-3
- Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 6-1 fighter. Submitted a well rounded 9-3 fighter. Beat a 10-2 striker.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Steele’s best weapon seems to be his cardio. Regular 55 tools, nothing special, but the cardio and pace stood out. Just like with Laframboise, Ottoni has a tool that’s on the bubble between a 60 and a 65, his striking. But because his last fight was two and a half years ago, it’s most likely he shows up with legit 65 striking. Ottoni fought at a high pace but didn’t show any signs of getting tired.
Chris’ Pick: Ottoni by 2nd round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Ottoni -350
Yousri Belgaroui vs Taiga Iwasaki
- Yousri Belgaroui
- Age: 32
- Pro Record: 7-3
- UFC Record: 0-1
- Key Wins: Beat a well rounded 11-3 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
- Taiga Iwasaki
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 9-1
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: average (50)
Somewhat possible Iwasaki’s wrestling is a 55, but I doubt it. Watched his last fight against a 40 year old 7-6 fighter and was underwhelmed.
Chris’ Pick: Belgaroui by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Belgaroui -250
Otari Tanzilov vs Josias Musasa
- Otari Tanzilov
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 9-0
- Key Wins: Beat an 8-2-2 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
- Josias Musasa
- Age: 24
- Pro Record: 7-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 11-1 fighter and a 5-1 grappler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
Six of Musasa’s wins were in the 1st round, all knockouts. He’s only fought in the 2nd round once. Possible his tools are 65’s, but who knows if he has the cardio to do what he does all 3 rounds. I wasn’t that impressed with Tanzilov’s wrestling. He was taken down and controlled for the first half of his last fight against a guy who I thought had 55 wrestling. Main reason Tanzilov won is because his opponent gassed out. But. Tanzilov hasn’t fought in a year and a half and there’s a decent chance he shows up improved.
Chris’ Pick: Musasa by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Musasa -175
Corinne Laframboise vs Nicolle Caliari
- Corinne Laframboise
- Age: 35
- Pro Record: 8-4
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 3-1 striker. Submitted a well rounded 7-0 fighter and a well rounded 4-0 fighter. Split decision over a 4-1 wrestler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: near plus (65)
- Nicolle Caliari
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 7-2
- Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 8-2 fighter and a well rounded 6-2 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Laframboise’s submission win over previously undefeated Carolina Jimenez was really impressive. But that was 2 and a half years ago. The grappling tool is on the bubble between a 60 and 65 but the fact that it’s likely she shows up improved means 65 is the most plausible grade. Most recent fight I could find on Caliari to watch was her Kay Hansen match up, but that’s from 2019. Over 5 years ago. Caliari also has a submission win over Jimenez. So my Caliari grades have more projection baked in than normal.
Chris’ Pick: Laframboise by 2nd round submission.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Laframboise -200