If you’re an MMA fan, Dana White’s Contender Series is the time of the year. If you’re a casual, it’s your chance to meet the new crop of fighters on the way up. If you’re a diehard, it’s a chance to see prospects you love finally get their shot. And if you’re a degen, there are usually some juicy lines to get some DWCS bets in for.
We’ve taken a look at all of Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 and looked to get you some winners. Come check out what we have cooked up for you.
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Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 – Predictions & Best Bets
Damian Pinas (-140) vs. Vitor Costa
There is certainly a concern about the takedown defense of Pinas in this fight. However, there are two things that I think should help him out there. The first is that, even when he gets taken down, he pops right back up. Additionally, we’re seeing far less grappling on this season of Contender Series. As a result, I expect Pinas to be able to show off his hands – which should be faster and more powerful than Costa.
Kurtis Campbell (-380) vs. Demba Seck
This is a fight where the UFC clearly knows what they want. They lined up a big personality in Kurtis Campbell with a fighter he is miles better than in just about every facet. More importantly, he also has a solid stylistic matchup for this fight as well. Seck likes to get into the clinch to work and Campbell is more dangerous there. Additionally, he might be able to work in a takedown or two.
Eliezer Kubanza (-270) vs. Christopher Alvidrez
This fight, despite being closer in odds, might be more one-sided than the last. Kubanza is a wildly dangerous striker with power well beyond what you’d expect in his division. Additionally, his unconventional martial arts background has him with some very difficult takedowns to deal with. He comes from Mukumbusu, which is an African fighting art that involves big slams. Not only do I expect Kubanza to win this one, but I doubt Alvidrez gets out of the first round.
Magno Dias (+130) vs. Louis Joudain
I actually expected Dias to be a favorite in this fight, but the books seem to like Jourdain. The younger brother of the UFC’s Charles, Jourdain is definitely craftier on the feet. However, the difference maker for me in this one is the pressure. Dias dials it up whenever he starts to land. He stacks his strikes on top of each other and has the cardio to keep that going late into the fight.
Rashid Vagabov (-525) vs. Paulo da Silva
Paulo da Silva has been in there with some high level competition in LFA, but the problem is that in everyone of those fights, he showed holes in his wrestling. Now he just happens to be getting the worst kind of opponent for that deficiency. Vagabov prefers to strike and should be the better of the strikers, but will also have the takedown card in his back pocket as well.
If you’d like even more Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 bets, be sure to check out the MMA Gambling Podcast. The guys are dropping weekly episodes to make you the smartest guy at the bar.
