Topic: Contender Series 2023

Contender Series 2023: Week 1

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Tapology
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05.05.2023 | 1:45 PM ET

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!
Contender Series 2023
  • Tuesday 08.08.2023 at 07:00 PM ET
  • U.S. Broadcast: ESPN+
  • Promotion: Dana White's Contender Series
  • Ownership:
  • Venue: UFC Apex
  • Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
  • Enclosure: Octagon
  • TV Announcers: Dan Hellie, Laura Sanko, Paul Felder
  • Ring Announcer: Justin Bernard
  • Post-Fight Interviews: Laura Sanko
  • MMA Bouts: 5
  • Event Links:
Bout   Info
César Almeida   defeats   Lucas Fernando   via Decision, Unanimous   3 Rounds, 15:00 Total Bout Page
Tom Nolan   defeats   Bogdan Grad   via KO/TKO, Left Hook and Ground Punch   1:23 Round 1 of 3 Bout Page
Caio Machado   defeats   Kevin Szaflarski   via Decision, Unanimous   3 Rounds, 15:00 Total Bout Page
Payton Talbott   defeats   Reyes Cortez   via Decision, Unanimous   3 Rounds, 15:00 Total Bout Page
Kevin Borjas   defeats   Victor Dias   via Decision, Unanimous   3 Rounds, 15:00 Total Bout Page

Responses Page 3

houdini199x
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08.06.2023 | 11:19 PM ET

Predictions: 2 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 100 Points   |   Tied for 514th

@MMAparlay69 
how old is buddy? (Borjas)

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banjo47
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08.07.2023 | 12:16 AM ET

Predictions: 4 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 215 Points   |   Tied for 50th with 8 others

@MMAparlay69 
 Agreed bro. Actually like what i saw on tape from Borjas. I think he’s got a decent shot here

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MMAparlay69
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08.07.2023 | 12:44 AM ET

@banjo47 
yeah man I’m not even going to bet on this one but I know the -390 way off..  Borjas just needs to defend takedowns and he’ll light him up on the feet. (His takedown defence looks good and is training at a good camp with guys like Jesus Pinedo 
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MMAparlay69
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08.07.2023 | 12:45 AM ET

@Houdini Bets 
not sure he looks like he’s in his mid 20s though
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AustinLaxton
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08.07.2023 | 12:45 AM ET

Prediction Comments

Predictions: 2 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 100 Points   |   Tied for 514th

Almeida vs. Fernando
Lucas Fernando, TKO, R1
No disrespect intended but how did Cesar Almeida get a DWCS fight? He’s beaten 2 0-0 fighters and his last win was against a dude with a 5-28 record. The UFC really need a prospect guy on their team. They should call Shawn Bitter of CageSide Press.

Machado vs. Szaflarski
Kevin Szaflarski, DEC
The UFC could use both of these guys

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houdini199x
houdini199x
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08.07.2023 | 2:34 AM ET

Predictions: 2 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 100 Points   |   Tied for 514th

@MMAparlay69 
if that's the case he's losing. Dias has grown man strength with decent mma to win. 

"High risk is high adrenaline. ..."

STOMPZ
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08.07.2023 | 8:02 AM ET

Predictions: 2 of 5 Winners, 1 Perfect, 125 Points   |   Tied for 342nd

The same thing I said about Jesús Pinedo I say about Kevin Borjas they are from the same team, a team where fighting and grappling predominate lately they are forming strikers like Jesus Pinedo Daniel Marcos, I saw videos of Kevin Borjas and Enrique Barzola doing intense fighting and excellent cardio, so I don't think Víctor Dias has the level of fighting or the cardio of Enrique Barzola, plus Claudio Puelles, who knows about anti-fighting, will be in Kevin Borjas' corner, the DWCS is about providing a show, if the fight goes the way I am thinking I see Kevin Borjas murdering him and giving away a show
AyyLmaonnaise
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08.07.2023 | 8:12 AM ET

Predictions: 3 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 165 Points   |   Tied for 160th

I think dias takes him down and subs him in 1. The difference in grappling is not remotely close

"“Unfortunately you can’t talk like that on FOX” - Joe Rogan"

theproishiphop
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08.07.2023 | 8:16 AM ET

Predictions: 0 of 2 Winners, 0 Perfect, 0 Points   |   Tied for 1193rd

@AyyLmaonnaise 


It is amazing that this guy is on his third replacement, and very much for good reason.  Van showed he belongs in the UFC and probably sooner than it took. I know you have loved Van and I have become a fan the last couple of years.  I feel bad for Rickson because I thought he was going home with a limb after this match up.  Dias is probably more of the same.  It is clear to me that they are using Borjas as a warm body.  I don't think he is a bad fighter at all.  But they are giving him really tough matchups.

* Edited at 08.07.2023, 8:18 AM ET *

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AyyLmaonnaise
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08.07.2023 | 8:38 AM ET

Predictions: 3 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 165 Points   |   Tied for 160th

@thepro exactly, I don’t get how people don’t realize the ufc doesn’t want this guy. He was brought in to lose from the beginning

Also side note, I saw a lot of people talking about Borjas training partners, dias is an ATT mainstay and the main training partner of pantoja. That’s much better than training with Pinedo (a striker) and puelles (a heel hook guy who can’t fight)

"“Unfortunately you can’t talk like that on FOX” - Joe Rogan"

AyyLmaonnaise
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08.07.2023 | 9:28 AM ET

Predictions: 3 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 165 Points   |   Tied for 160th

@mmaparlay sure, it looks good against guys who can’t wrestle. He’s now fighting a very good grappler who trains at the best grappling gym in the world. Huge difference between fighting part time farmers vs fighting someone who trains day in and day out with a ufc champion. Also dias is a 2nd degree black belt & ibjjf champion 

* Edited at 08.07.2023, 9:34 AM ET *

"“Unfortunately you can’t talk like that on FOX” - Joe Rogan"

Meluka
Meluka
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08.07.2023 | 11:20 AM ET

After watching tape on all the fights I feel like Payton Talbott is a really strong play for this card. I feel like this is just a terrible matchup for Cortez honestly, I don’t think his wrestling is anywhere near good enough to control Payton and amass any damage and Payton is a pretty sublime striker, reminds me a lot of Luke Riley the way he holds and fires his hands. I guess Cortez has a puncher’s chance because Payton does get caught a few times a fight usually but he’s displayed an incredible chin and Cortez doesn’t seem like he has much power. I’m all over Payton on this card
Tjl0106
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08.07.2023 | 11:40 AM ET

Prediction Comments

Predictions: 1 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 50 Points   |   Tied for 844th

Almeida vs. Fernando
Lucas Fernando, TKO, R1
This is gonna be a fun technical fight to watch. Both fighters pack a lot of damage in their kicks and I could definitely see Almeida winning a decision or even wearing down Fernando to the point he crumbles and Almeida gets a late TKO. But Fernando is more experienced in MMA and has a much better ground game so I think he will win.

Nolan vs. Grad
Bogdan Grad, TKO, R1
50/50 but Grad has a better ground game so I’ll take him.

Machado vs. Szaflarski
Caio Machado, TKO, R1
I have no idea why Szaflarski is a huge favorite here. I understand the hype but I don’t see any way he can win against Machado. Machado is the more athletic fighter, packs more power, and is a much better wrestler, plus he has black belts in multiple martial arts. Szaflarski has quite literally no way to win. Machado is better everywhere.

Talbott vs. Cortez
Reyes Cortez, TKO, R2
Talbott could certainly win but Reyes Cortez is the more experienced fighter + he’s already been on DWCS once. Also despite coming from a wrestling background, Talbott isn’t a great defensive grappler, which won’t help against an opponent like Cortez.

Borjas vs. Dias
Victor Dias, SUB, R1
Both look very good but Borjas cannot wrestle at all whatsoever. He would probably win against a striker.

"I kind of try to focus on the moment, in the present. That’s humility. That’s being humble. That’s not setting no expectation. That’s going out there, enjoying the game, competing at a high level.” - Giannis Antetokounmpo"

Tjl0106
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08.07.2023 | 11:43 AM ET

Predictions: 1 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 50 Points   |   Tied for 844th

As for contracts I think all 5 winners will get a UFC contract 

"I kind of try to focus on the moment, in the present. That’s humility. That’s being humble. That’s not setting no expectation. That’s going out there, enjoying the game, competing at a high level.” - Giannis Antetokounmpo"

TARTARA
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08.07.2023 | 12:30 PM ET

Predictions: 1 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 50 Points   |   Tied for 844th

6 Contracts !

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banjo47
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08.07.2023 | 12:31 PM ET

Predictions: 4 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 215 Points   |   Tied for 50th with 8 others

Dias looked terrible on the scales

"“It’s tight” - Daniel Cormier"

Meluka
Meluka
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08.07.2023 | 1:05 PM ET

Bogdan needed the box but hit 156 flat, glad to see no misses
2023.08.07 1:38 PM ET

weigh-in result

Kevin Borjas: 125.5 lbs (56.9 kgs)
2023.08.07 1:38 PM ET

weigh-in result

Victor Dias: 126.0 lbs (57.2 kgs)
2023.08.07 1:38 PM ET

weigh-in result

Payton Talbott: 135.5 lbs (61.5 kgs)
2023.08.07 1:38 PM ET

weigh-in result

Reyes Cortez: 135.5 lbs (61.5 kgs)
2023.08.07 1:39 PM ET

weigh-in result

Caio Machado: 256.0 lbs (116.1 kgs)
2023.08.07 1:39 PM ET

weigh-in result

Kevin Szaflarski: 260.5 lbs (118.2 kgs)
2023.08.07 1:39 PM ET

weigh-in result

Tom Nolan: 155.0 lbs (70.3 kgs)
2023.08.07 1:39 PM ET

weigh-in result

Bogdan Grad: 156.0 lbs (70.8 kgs)
2023.08.07 1:40 PM ET

weigh-in result

César Almeida: 185.5 lbs (84.1 kgs)
2023.08.07 1:40 PM ET

weigh-in result

Lucas Fernando: 186.0 lbs (84.4 kgs)
AyyLmaonnaise
AyyLmaonnaise
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08.07.2023 | 1:46 PM ET

Predictions: 3 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 165 Points   |   Tied for 160th

Fernando -270 is a gift. He’s gonna look -600 tmrw

"“Unfortunately you can’t talk like that on FOX” - Joe Rogan"

Mav58
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08.07.2023 | 2:13 PM ET

@AyyLmaonnaise 
I see Almeida hasn't fought mma in close to 2 years, and last against a guy with a 5-28-1 record. I don't know about either guy but this seems like a mismatch with Fernando.
AyyLmaonnaise
AyyLmaonnaise
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08.07.2023 | 2:18 PM ET

Predictions: 3 of 5 Winners, 0 Perfect, 165 Points   |   Tied for 160th

Almeida was an elite kickboxer but he’s well past his prime and hasn’t done any mma in 2.5 years. Sure he’s been training in that time but training and fighting are very different. Fernando is a very good prospect; I think he makes quick work of almeida 

"“Unfortunately you can’t talk like that on FOX” - Joe Rogan"

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