Andrey Pulyaev vs Liam Anderson
- Andrey Pulyaev
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 8-2
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Liam Anderson
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 6-2
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
I watched one of Anderson’s last fights against a well rounded 2-0 fighter and was underwhelmed. It was at LFA and let’s say Anderson’s opponent is better than just the 2 pro fights indicate, that maybe he has 55 striking and 50 wrestling. Highly doubt his tools are better than that. That said, most of the fight was close. Anderson didn’t get very close to taking the guy down. Striking was close to equal. Main reason Anderson won is because his opponent gassed out mid way through. Pulyaev has great height and length for the weight class, controls range really well. Good cardio. Wrestling might be a 55 though.
Chris’ Pick: Pulyaev by 2nd round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Pulyaev -200
Bogdan Grad vs Michael Aswell
- Bogdan Grad
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 13-2
- UFC Record: 0-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 4-0 grappler. Submitted a well rounded 6-2 fighter. Beat a well rounded 17-6 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Michael Aswell
- Age: 23
- Pro Record: 9-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-2 grappler and an 11-4 striker.
- Striking: average (50)
- Power: average (50)
- Wrestling: average (50)
Wasn’t impressed with Aswell. I watched one of his last fights against a well rounded 5-2 fighter who I’m pretty darn sure has striking that’s no better than a 50. And both him and Aswell went back and forth, strikes close to equal. Aswell also made a couple loose take down attempts and got nowhere close. When Grad fought Tom Nolan on the Contender, Nolan closed as only a -155 favorite. Grad’s wrestling could be as high as a 65.
Chris’ Pick: Grad by 2nd round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Grad -450
Marco Tulio vs Matthieu Duclos
- Marco Tulio
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 11-1
- UFC Record: 1-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 22-7 fighter and a 6-1 striker. Beat a 5-2 striker and a 6-1 wrestler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Matthieu Duclos
- Age: NA
- Pro Record: 6-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 3-0 fighter and a 5-2 grappler.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
Duclos looks so smooth on the feet. Controls range well. Makes it look like he throws light, looking for volume, but has deceptive power.
Chris’ Pick: Duclos by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Duclos -250
Malcolm Wellmaker vs Adam Bramhald
- Malcolm Wellmaker
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 7-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-2 grappler.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
- Adam Bramhald
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 13-2
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: average (50)
Wasn’t that impressed watching Bramhald. He’s an entertaining fighter to watch but gets hit a ton. Cardio is good. Has good range for the weight. Wellmaker is explosive and has good power, but he doesn’t throw as much volume. Striking is almost a 50 because of that. Grappling is borderline a 50 as well.
Chris’ Pick: Wellmaker by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Wellmaker -125
Jack Duffy vs Nick Piccininni
- Jack Duffy
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 7-0
- Key Wins: Beat a well rounded 3-1 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: near plus (65)
- Nick Piccininni
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Key Wins: Submitted a 4-0 striker and a well rounded 7-2 fighter.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: fringe average (45)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Going into Duffy’s last fight, I really thought it was a coin flip, but wow, instead it was one sided with Duffy dominating the whole fight on the ground. Easy 65 grappling. Looking at Piccininni’s wrestling, I had high expectations for him. Then I watched his last fight and was underwhelmed. Took on an opponent who I’m confident had 50 wrestling. And I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at. Piccininni got a take down towards the beginning of the fight. Wasn’t able to keep the opponent down, opponent got up. And I was puzzled because the striking on the feet was close, with Piccininni arguably getting the worse of it. And Piccininni might have less than his usual gas tank taking this fight on less than 2 weeks notice.
Chris’ Pick: Duffy by 2nd round submission.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Duffy -400