Shimon Smotritsky vs Mike Malott
- Shimon Smotritsky
- Age: 21
- Pro Record: 7-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 3-0 grappler. Beat a well rounded 3-0 fighter.
- Tools: Smotritsky has striking that’s a little above average (55) and wrestling that’s a little above average (55).
- Mike Malott
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 6-1-1
- Key Draws: Fought a 5-4 striker to a majority draw.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 6-1 fighter. Submitted a 6-0 wrestler and a 3-0 grappler.
- Tools: Malott has average striking (50) and grappling that’s a little above average (55).
Malott has some grappling. That was pretty clear when I watched him jump the back of a 6-0 wrestler. But how’s his striking? That’s what we should find out here. Because usually, when you have a fighter as young as 21 years old, what you see is they don’t have the same strength. Need time to grow into their body. But Smotritsky seems like the rare exception. He’s coming off a split decision over a 13-5 striker. 31 years old, had 50 wrestling. And Smotritsky out wrestled him. So I think he’ll be able to get back up if taken down. And on the feet, Smotritsky will have a big reach advantage.
Chris’ Pick: Smotritsky by decision.
Daniel Barez vs Carlos Hernandez
- Daniel Barez
- Age: 32
- Pro Record: 12-4
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 10-2 striker. Submitted a 6-0 grappler. Beat a 3-0 striker.
- Tools: Barez has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has above average wrestling (60) and grappling that’s a little above average (55).
- Carlos Hernandez
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 6-1
- Key Wins: Beat a 3-1 striker.
- Tools: Hernandez has average striking paired with below average power (50-40). He also has average grappling (50).
I just don’t understand this line. Barez at -125?? In my opinion, Barez should be around -450. Very generous discount. Maybe it’s because when you watch Hernandez take on a 3-1 wrestler at LFA, the announcers are talking up both prospects as being very, very good. But I disagree. I saw both as average. Barez on the other hand, took on a much tougher 10-2-1 striker. Barez was clearly a notch above in the striking and knocked the guy out in 2 minutes. Barez should easily win this fight.
Chris’ Pick: Barez by 2nd round knockout.
Joshua Weems vs Fernando Garcia
- Joshua Weems
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 7-1
- Key Wins: Split decision over a 3-1 striker.
- Tools: Weems has fringe average striking (45) and average grappling (50).
- Fernando Garcia
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 9-1
- Key Wins: Beat a well rounded 4-1 fighter.
- Tools: Garcia has average striking paired with below average power (50-40). He also has average wrestling (50).
Garcia should have the better striking here. Is more polished. Weems will look for the take down but won’t be able to keep Garcia there. The only real danger to Garcia in this fight is Weems might have more power.
Chris’ Pick: Garcia by decision.
Shonte Barnes vs Joseph Holmes
- Shonte Barnes
- Age: 34
- Pro Record: 6-1-1
- Key Draws: Fought a well rounded 6-5 fighter to a majority draw.
- Tools: Barnes has average striking (50) and fringe average grappling (45).
- Joseph Holmes
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 5-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 4-1 fighter.
- Tools: Holmes has average striking (50) and average grappling (50).
Coin flip fight. I don’t have a good handle on Barnes as most of the footage out there out him is from his earlier fights. Holmes just fought a 3-2 grappler in LFA last month and looked okay. He won mostly because the grappler gassed out in the 2nd. I’m going to pick Holmes because his grappling should be a tad better and he should have a big reach advantage.
Chris’ Pick: Holmes by split decision.
Patrik White vs Genaro Valdez
- Patrik White
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 9-1
- Tools: White has striking that’s a little above average (55) and fringe average wrestling (45).
- Genaro Valdez
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 9-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 4-0 fighter and an 8-3 wrestler.
- Tools: Valdez has striking that’s a little above average (55). He also has above average wrestling (60) and average grappling (50).
I have to project a little bit on White because there’s not a lot of footage of his recent fights. I have him with 45 wrestling right now. Maybe it’s a 50, but can’t be better than that. And after watching Valdez dominate a 8-3 wrestler, I’m pretty sure his wrestling is a 60. Should be the story of the fight. Valdez’s wrestling and ground and pound.
Chris’ Pick: Valdez by 2nd round ground and pound TKO.