Anyone who decides to get into the fight game does so with the intention of one day becoming a champion. There are, of course, different levels of champion to be attained in the MMA, with a title at the UFC level currently the top of the totem pole. Getting to the UFC is a challenge in itself, while climbing to the top of your weight class is a goal that proves to be unattainable for most. It all begins with getting in, though, and the Dana White Contender Series gives fighters that opportunity. Now in its 5th season, the Contender Series heads into Week 2 with 5 big fights on the main card. Let’s take a look at those battles, with predictions for each so you can make your bets against their MMA odds.
MMA Betting Preview for Contender Series: Season 5, Week 2
Muin Gafurov Vs Chad Anheliger
The main card begins with a Bantamweight bout that looks to be pretty evenly matched. Gafurov has been fighting at Featherweight and has put together a 17-3 record, which includes 4 wins in his last 5 fights. Anheliger has been fighting in a number of different organizations and racking up wins wherever he goes. The Canadian comes into this one on an 8-fight win streak. I think that run comes to an end here, as I like Gafurov by KO.
Bruno Korea Vs Carlos Vergara
The Flyweights step into the octagon next, with this bout featuring a pair of fighters in very good form. Korea is 12-3-1 overall and is now unbeaten in his last 6 fights, going 5-0-1 during that stretch. Vergara is 8-2-1 and is also on a very decent run, winning 4 in a row, with all 4 of those victories coming inside the distance. I don’t see this one going all the way either, but I think it will be Korea getting the win via submission.
Saimon Oliveira Vs Jose Alday
The next fight on the main card is a Bantamweight bout that sees Oliveira make the move from Featherweight to try and get the win. The Brazilian is 17-3 overall and comes into this fight on a 4-fight win streak that includes a trio of opening round wins. Alday is 14-5-1 overall, but he has been a little up and down of late, going 3-2 in his last 5 fights. That does not bode well for him, which is why I have Oliveira winning by submission.
Mario Sousa Vs Chidi Njokuani
The penultimate fight of the night is a good looking Middleweight bout that might not be as close as the current odds might suggest. Sousa has only taken 1 career loss to this point, going 12-1 as a pro and coming into this fight on a winning streak that goes back 5 fights. Things have not been so good for Njokuani, as he has lost 3 of his last 5, although he did win last time out. I think we have to go with Sousa to get the job done here.
Josh Quinlan Vs Logan Urban
The two Welterweights in the main event may not have a lot of pro experience under their belts, but both are very highly rated. Quinlan comes into this fight with a perfect 5-0 record and a run that has seen him finish every fight inside the distance. Urban is 5-1 now after starting his pro career at 1-1. Like Quinlan, he has never had to go the distance. I think this one also ends early, and I am on Quinlan to come up with the KO.
