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Dana White’s Contender Series: Baghdasaryan vs. Buzukia – Staff Predictions

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.”