Kangjie Zhu vs Bin Xie
- Kangjie Zhu
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 20-4
- UFC Record: 2-0
- Key Losses: Lost to a 10-10 striker.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 9-3 grappler. Beat a well rounded 14-3 fighter and a well rounded 4-0 fighter. Split decision over Shin Haraguchi.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Bin Xie
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 13-4
- UFC Record: 2-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 10-3 wrestler. Submitted a well rounded 5-1 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: average (50)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Chris’ Pick: Zhu by 2nd round knockout.
Yuji Ephoevi-Ga vs Dom Mar Fan
- Yuji Ephoevi-Ga
- Age: 25
- Pro Record: 11-0
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
- Dom Mar Fan
- Age: 23
- Pro Record: 6-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 4-0 fighter. Submitted a 4-1 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: above average (60)
I watched Fan’s matchup with UFC fighter Quillan Salkilld and it’s very interesting. Fan dominated most of the 1st round on the ground. But then in the 2nd round Salkilld got the better of Fan on the ground and took over. Possible Fan could’ve gassed out. Possible Fan’s grappling could be a 65.
Chris’ Pick: Ephoevi-Ga by split decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Ephoevi-Ga -125
Qinghe Zhang vs Lawrence Lui
- Qinghe Zhang
- Age: 23
- Pro Record: 16-7-1
- Key Losses: Knocked out by a 14-8 striker. Lost to a well rounded 6-8 fighter.
- Key Draws: Fought a well rounded 14-6 fighter to a draw.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 7-1 fighter.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: average (50)
- Lawrence Lui
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 5-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 6-2 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
Chris’ Pick: Lui by 2nd round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Lui -250
Sang Wook Kim vs Daichi Kamiya
- Sang Wook Kim
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 11-3
- UFC Record: 1-1
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Daichi Kamiya
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 6-0
- Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 7-1 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: average (50)
- Grappling: above average (60)
Based on how Kim looked against Rong Zhu, it’s very possible Kim’s wrestling could be a 65.
Chris’ Pick: Kim by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Kim -135
Rui Imura vs Van Y Nghiem
- Rui Imura
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 12-4
- Key Losses: Submitted by a 13-8 grappler.
- Key Wins: Submitted a 5-2 striker, a 7-1 striker and a 5-1 wrestler. Beat a well rounded 11-3 fighter and a 16-5 grappler, and an 8-2 striker.
- Striking: a little above average (55)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Van Y Nghiem
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 5-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 6-2 grappler.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
I couldn’t find any Imura video out there but based off his resume and experience, his grappling could be as high as a 65. Nghiem was so impressive in his last fight. Took on a 6-2 grappler who I think has 55 grappling. Nghiem’s opponent got nowhere close to getting him down. Nghiem is very fast. I really liked how defensively responsible he is and his ability to get in and out. Slight chance I’m over rating him a tad.
Chris’ Pick: Nghiem by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Nghiem -200