Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs George Hardwick
- Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 14-3
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a 6-7 striker.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 6-2 grappler, a well rounded 21-4 fighter and a 3-0 grappler. Submitted an 8-3 wrestler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- George Hardwick
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 12-1
- Key Wins: Submitted an 8-1 wrestler. Knocked out a 13-3 wrestler and a 9-1 grappler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Al-Selwady seemed a bit one dimensional when I saw him fight. Didn’t really let his hands go but had success because his wrestling is at least a 60. Hardwick looks well round. Saw him against a 9-1 grappler with 55 grappling. Got nowhere close to taking Hardwick down. His striking could be as high as a 65 and he should be better than Al-Selwady on the feet.
CHris’ Pick: Hardwick by 2nd round knockout.
What I think the odds should be: Hardwick -250
Ibo Aslan vs Paulo Renato Jr
- Ibo Aslan
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 11-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 4-0 grappler.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Paulo Renato Jr
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 12-2
- UFC Record: 0-1
- Key Wins: Split decision over an 8-1 grappler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
Aslan took on Anton Turkalj a few years ago, which is helpful. Aslan looked great early on, even took Turkalj down a couple times, had control for chunks of the round. But his cardio wasn’t good enough to do that for 3 rounds. He gassed out, Turkalj took him down, and that was a wrap. But Aslan’s wrestling is still at least a 60 for me. Renato Jr was given no chance on the Contender. His opponent Jamal Pogues closed as a -345 favorite. And the fact that Renato Jr is a natural light heavyweight and not a heavyweight like Pogues made Renato Jr’s chances of winning even slimmer. But it turned out to be a really close fight. Renato Jr defended a couple take downs and the wrestling is at least a 60. High quality fight here at 205 lbs, but I like Aslan’s striking better.
Chris’ Pick: Aslan by 1st round knockout.
What I think the odds should be: Aslan -200
Hyder Amil vs Emrah Sonmez
- Hyder Amil
- Age: 33
- Pro Record: 7-0
- Key Wins: Split decision win over a 9-7 grappler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: average (50)
- Emrah Sonmez
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 14-4
- Key Losses: Lost to a well rounded 7-3 fighter.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 9-3 fighter. Beat a well rounded 6-1 fighter and a well rounded 7-1 fighter.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
I’m not really impressed with Amil. His second to last fight, barely beat a 9-7 grappler. And I watched his last fight in the LFA against a well rounded 11-5 fighter. Amil got dominated in the 1st round, got his back taken. But Amil came back because his opponent had the body triangle on most of the round and gassed out. It’s possible Amil’s wrestling could be a 45. I expect Sonmez to cruise here with take downs.
Chris’ Pick: Sonmez by decision.
What I think the odds should be: Sonmez -250
Eduarda Moura vs Janaina Silva
- Eduarda Moura
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 8-0
- Key WIns: Knocked out a 6-3 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Janaina Silva
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 5-0
- Key Wins: Beat a well rounded 5-0 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
I couldn’t find video on either fighter, so total coin flip for me. Going on their resumes and records it looks like an even fight.
Chris’ Pick: Silva by split decision.
What I think the odds should be: Silva -125
Cameron Smotherman vs Charalampos Grigoriou
- Cameron Smotherman
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 8-3
- Key Wins: Split decision win over a well rounded 2-1 fighter.
- Striking: average (50)
- Power: average (50)
- Wrestling: average (50)
- Charalampos Grigoriou
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 7-3
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
Smotherman’s KO in his last fight might look impressive, but it was against a 12-5 grappler with 45 striking. Smotherman got off to a slow start, didn’t throw his hands much. Got the KO. But I have him with 50 tools. Grigoriou has experience against elite competition as he took on Christian Rodriguez a couple years ago. He lost, but didn’t get wiped out either.
Chris’ Pick: Grigoriou by 1st round knockout.
What I think the odds should be: Grigoriou -175