Keisuke Sasu vs Sang Won Kim
- Keisuke Sasu
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 11-2-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out an 8-3-1 grappler. Beat a 23-3 grappler. Majority decision over a 10-1 striker.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Sang Won Kim
- Age: NA
- Pro Record: 9-5-1
- Key Draws: Fought a 9-6 wrestler to a draw.
- Key Wins: Submitted Jack Jenkins in 2018.
- Striking: average (50)
- Power: average (50)
- Grappling: average (50)
Sasu took on a 23-3 grappler who I think has 60 grappling and showed his wrestling was on par with his opponent. So his wrestling is an easy 60 for me. Not much footage of Kim out there, but Sasu should have better cardio and better wrestling to grind out a win.
Chris’ Pick: Sasu by decision.
What I think the odds should be: Sasu -175
Mark Climaco vs Jung Hyun Lee
- Mark Climaco
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 8-1
- Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 6-0 fighter. Beat a 5-0 wrestler, a 4-0 striker, a well rounded 4-0 fighter, and a 5-1 striker.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Jung Hyun Lee
- Age: 20
- Pro Record: 3-0
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: average (50)
Climaco’s wrestling tool is on the verge of a 65 grade and although I couldn’t find any footage on Lee, Climaco, who trains at AKA, should be able to win with take downs.
Chris’ Pick: Climaco by decision.
What I think the odds should be: Climaco -225
Zha Li vs Jiahefu Wuziazibieke
- Zha Yi
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 21-4
- UFC Record: 2-1
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to Jeong Yeong Lee.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 8-3 fighter. Submitted a well rounded 9-1 fighter. Split decision wins over a 13-5 striker and a well rounded 10-3 fighter.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
- Jiahefu Wuziazibieke
- Age: NA
- Pro Record: 29-11-1
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a well rounded 11-11 fighter. Lost to a 1-1 fighter.
- Key Draws: Fought a 9-4 wrestler to a draw.
- Striking: fringe average (45)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Grappling: fringe average (45)
Jeong Yeong Lee came in a decisive -230 favorite against Zha. I agreed, thought Lee should’ve been heavier at -325. But we had a case where not only did Zha show up improved, I think everybody was over rating Lee just a tad. I just can’t see Jiahefu faring any better in the wrestling than Lee did. I think Zha gets Jiahefu down quick.
Chris’ Pick: Zha by 1st round submission.
What I think the odds should be: Zha -350
Rei Tsuruya vs Ronal Siahaan
- Rei Tsuruya
- Age: 20
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 4-1 wrestler. Submitted an 8-3 wrestler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Ronal Siahaan
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 7-0
- Key Wins: Split decision over an 8-3 striker.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: average (50)
Siahaan’s last fight was against a 8-5 grappler. I thought the grappling was a 45, but it could’ve been a 50. Grappling went back and forth early on, but once they started trading strikes, it was clear Siahaan had a big advantage and seeing that reaffirmed the 55 grade I have for him. Tsuruya was much more impressive than I thought he’d be. Watched him take on a 4-1 wrestler. Tsuruya just mauled him both on the feet and the ground. And he’s only 20 years old. Might have the highest upside out of anyone in this year’s Road to UFC tournament.
Chris’ Pick: Tsuruya by 2nd round knockout.
What I think the odds should be: Tsuruya -325
Top Noi Kiwram vs Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
- Top Noi Kiwram
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 9-4
- Key Wins: Beat a well rounded 8-3 fighter. Majority decision over a 17-8 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: average (50)
- Nyamjargal Tumendemberel
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
There’s no way that Hyun Sung Park’s striking is worse than a 50. So after seeing that Kiwram out struck Park 21 to 3, I can confidently say Kiwram’s striking is a 60. But with how easily Park took him down and submitted him about a minute later, the wrestling is a 50 for me. Tumendemberel is really hard to grade because all 6 of his fights have been against weak competition and there’s not much video footage of him out there. But the fight could be as simple as whether Tumendemberel is able to get Kiwram down, as it’s very likely Kiwram is better on the feet.
Chris’ Pick: Kiwram by decision.
What I think the odds should be: Kiwram -135