Sebastian Szalay vs Baergeng Jieleyisi
- Sebastian Szalay
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 8-1
- Key Wins: Beat an 8-0 wrestler and a 6-0 wrestler. Split decision over a 4-0 grappler.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Baergeng Jieleyisi
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 18-6
- UFC Record: 2-2
- Key Wins: Beat a 12-3 grappler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: above average (60)
Szalay trains with Alexander Volkanovski at Freestyle in Austrailia. Very confident Szalay’s wrestling is no better than a 60. Also possible his striking could be as low as a 60, but his cardio is great.
Chris’ Pick: Szalay by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Szalay -300
Shuai Yin vs Kai Yoshida
- Shuai Yin
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 17-5
- UFC Record: 0-1
- Key Wins: Beat a well rounded 19-4 fighter. Split decision over a 19-17 wrestler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
- Kai Yoshida
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 6-1
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: average (50)
I thought the judges got it wrong and that Yin beat eventual Road to UFC winner Kierandip Singh Sahota. This looks like a big mismatch. If a 4-0 grappler who i think has 55-60ish grappling could take down and submit Yoshida in a few minutes, I don’t think Yin will have much of a problem doing the same thing. And it’s not like Yoshida got out classed on the ground years ago. This happened in his last fight, just a few months ago back in January.
Chris’ Pick: Yin by 1st round submission.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Yin -400
Keiichiro Nakamura vs Eo Jin Park
- Keiichiro Nakamura
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 5-1
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: above average (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Eo Jin Park
- Age: 23
- Pro Record: 9-1-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 7-2 striker.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
I’m really impressed with Nakamura. He looks like a UFC level fighter. Good length, knows how to use it. Great patience. Watched him knock out a durable, well rounded 6-7-2 fighter who’d never been knocked out before but Nakamura got the KO in the 1st round.
Chris’ Pick: Nakamura by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Nakamura -300
Wataru Yamauchi vs Namsrai Batbayar
- Wataru Yamauchi
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 7-1
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a 12-10-1 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: average (50)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
- Namsrai Batbayar
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 7-1
- Key Wins: Submitted a 5-1 wrestler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Chris’ Pick: Batbayar by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Batbayar -125
Xiaocan Feng vs Arisa Matsuda
- Xiaocan Feng
- Age: 23
- Pro Record: 10-3
- UFC Record: 2-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out Feier Huang and a 7-3 grappler. Submitted Miki Motono. Beat a 14-5 striker.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Arisa Matsuda
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Key Wins: Split decision over a 4-0 grappler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: average (50)
Chris’ Pick: Feng by 2nd round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Feng -350