Sudolski vs Potieria, Gaxhja vs Duncan, Jeffrey vs Borralho Fight Picks - Contender Series - September 28, 2021 - MMA Fight Picks By Chris Schweppe

Lukasz Sudolski vs Ihor Potieria

Lukasz Sudolski
Age: 28
Pro Record: 8-0
Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 4-1 fighter.
Tools: Sudolski has above average striking (60). He also has wrestling that’s a little above average (55) and average grappling (50).

Ihir Potieria
Age: 25
Pro Record: 18-2
Tools: Potieria has striking that’s a little above average (55) and average grappling (50).

Should be a fun striker vs striker fight. Although I’d say Sudolski is the more aggressive of the two. Potieria’s 18-2 record might look sparkly, but he doesn’t have a single quality win on his resume. 18 wins, but all over tomato cans. Sometimes fighters like that get that step up in competition under the bright lights and it’s too much for them. Plus I think Sudolski has the better striking. But I think Sudolski should be priced around -150, not the -240 that I’m seeing on the market right now.

Chris’ Pick: Suldolski by 1st round knockout.

Manuel Gaxhja vs Chris Duncan

Manuel Gaxhja
Age: 24
Pro Record: 7-0
Tools: Gaxhja has average striking (50) and average grappling (50).

Chris Duncan
Age: 26
Pro Record: 7-0
Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 8-2 fighter and a 14-5 wrestler.
Tools: Duncan has striking that’s a little above average (55) and average wrestling (50).

Duncan at -410 is way, way too heavy for me. There’s not a lot of footage out there on Gaxhja. But it is possible that his striking could be more of a 55 than a 50. And watching Duncan’s fight with that well rounded 8-2 fighter that had 50 striking, Duncan got hit quite a lot. I’m really confident that Duncan’s striking isn’t higher than a 55 at this point. Gaxhja is a live under and at anything near +300, there’s some value there.

Chris’ Pick: Duncan by 2nd round knockout.

Aaron Jeffrey vs Caio Barralho

Aaron Jeffrey
Age: 28
Pro Record: 10-2
Key Wins: Knocked out Andre Petroski. Beat a 9-2 grappler.
Tools: Jeffrey has striking that’s a little above average (55) and above average wrestling (60).

Caio Barralho
Age: 28
Pro Record: 8-1
Key Wins: Submitted a well rounded 5-2 fighter. Beat a 7-0 grappler.
Tools: Barralho has striking that’s a little above average (55) and average grappling (50).

After watching Jeffrey fight Petroski in LFA I’m pretty convinced that his cardio and pace will get it done against Barralho. On the feet, it’s pretty close. But Jeffrey should have a wrestling advantage.

Chris’ Pick: Jeffrey by decision.

Lucas Almeida vs Daniel Zellhuber

Lucas Almeida
Age: 30
Pro Record: 12-0
Key Wins: Submitted a 4-1 striker. Knocked out a 7-1 wrestler, a 12-3 grappler, and a well rounded 9-2 fighter.
Tools: Almeida has above average striking (60) and average grappling (50).

Daniel Zellhuber
Age: 22
Pro Record: 11-0
Key Wins: Knocked out an 11-3 striker, a well rounded 4-1 fighter, and a 4-0 striker. Beat a well rounded 6-2 fighter.
Tools: Zellhuber has striking that’s a little above average (55) and average wrestling (50).

I’m really surprised that Zellhuber is the favorite in this fight. Based on what I’ve seen from both, I think Almeida has the better striking. Almeida is also older. Zellhuber looks like he still has some growing to do into his body. I actually think Almeida should be at -175 but instead Zellhuber is at -225. That’s crazy.

Chris’ Pick: Almeida by 2nd round knockout.

Rizvan Kuniev vs Edivan Santos

Rizvan Kuniev
Age: 29
Pro Record: 9-2
Key Wins: Knocked out a 5-0 wrestler and an 11-4 striker.
Tools: Kuniev has striking that’s a little above average (55) and wrestling that’s a little above average (55).

Edivan Santos
Age: 29
Pro Record: 12-2
Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 5-2 fighter.
Tools: Santos has striking that’s a little above average (55) and fringe average grappling (45).

At first, I thought Santos might have 60 striking. I watched his fight against a well rounded 5-2 fighter. Santos got taken down a few times, got back up. Was clearly dominant on the feet. But there’s a big caveat. His opponent was a middleweight. And Santos is a heavyweight. And that raises a red flag for me, that he was taken down so many times by a middleweight. And. Santos has no other quality wins on his resumes, all other wins over tomato cans. Which leads me into to Kuniev, who I’m pretty sure has 55 wrestling. I think Kuniev is durable enough to take a few shots, close the distance, and get the take downs.

Chris’ Pick: Kuniev by 2nd round ground and pound TKO.

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