It’s Tuesday, and that means one thing: live mixed martial arts.
UFC President Dana White’s eponymous Dana White’s Contender Series is back with Week 5 of the program, and ten UFC hopefuls will seek to impress the promotional boss and earn a UFC contract.
The full card, and the MMA-Prospects team’s staff predictions, are available below:
- Melsik Baghdasaryan (4-1) vs. Dennis Buzukia (4-1)
- Jimmy Flick (14-5) vs. Nate Smith (6-0)
- Jose Johnson (11-5) vs. Ronnie Lawrence (5-1)
- William Knight (7-1) vs. Cody Brundage (5-0)
- Tucker Lutz (9-1) vs. Chase Gibson (9-4)
Shawn Bitter, Contributor (2020 Record: 5-5)
Dennis Buzukia, Nate Smith, Jose Johnson, Cody Brundage, Tucker Lutz
“Most confident in Lutz,” wrote Bitter. “I believe Lutz is better everywhere but has the superior wrestling skills. I think he gets it with a late stoppage.”
Joe McDonagh, Contributor (2020 Record: 4-6)
Dennis Buzukia, Nate Smith, Jose Johnson, William Knight, Tucker Lutz
“Most confident: Jose Johnson. Began his career 0-2, then 5-4. Now 11-5, and on a 5 fight win streak (all by 1st round finish), including the viral elbow at LFA78,” wrote McDonagh, “Johnson is on a tear and I see it continuing tomorrow night.”
Zain Bando, Contributor (2020 Record: 2-3)
Dennis Buzika, Nate Smith, Jose Johnson, William Knight, Tucker Lutz
“Most confident — Lutz!” wrote Bando. “It’s hard to pick against a guy who has won his last nine fights, rarely sees a third round and has a combined fight time of 6:04 in his last two outings. I think his striking will be too much for Gibson, as Gibson is accepting the bout on only a few days’ notice. Look for a TKO stoppage in the second round, and likely a contract from Dana White.”
Sergio Pineiro, Contributor (2020 Record: Debut)
Dennis Buzukja, Jimmy Flick, Jose Johnson, William Knight, Tucker Lutz
“Most Confident: Lutz. He has strung together a 9-fight win streak since his pro debut,” wrote Pineiro. “He has faced some high-level competition in his career, including Isata and Presley. Gibson has some impressive victories in his own right, but against some questionable opposition (his last three opponents had a combined record of 0-22). Expect Lutz to finish this one early and open up the night with a UFC contract.”
Ryan Fortune, Contributor (2020 Record: 6-4)
Dennis Buzukja, Jimmy Flick, Jose Johnson, William Knight, and Tucker Lutz.
“Most confident: Tucker Lutz. I just think he is better everywhere and has fought better competition,” wrote Fortune. “Lutz is likely to get a finish in this bout, in my opinion.”
Vince Rodemer, Contributor (2020 Record: 2-3)
Dennis Buzukja, Jimmy Flick, Jose Johnson, William Knight, and Tucker Lutz.
“Most confident in Johnson,” wrote Rodemer. “Lawrence has a very questionable caliber of competition.”