Contender Series 2022: Week 1

GOD ****I(NG DAMN! HOW DOES A FATASS ***** MISS WEIGHT BY 10 GOD DAMN POUND!?! Are you even ******* TRYING to get signed??? Jesus christ man get ur **** together. That was one of the more hype fights of the card too. I'm sure Farid will get another chance but that's a terrible look for Souza, doubt he gets another shot

Ozzy Diaz vs Joseph Pyfer

Joseph Pyfer, TKO, R2

Joe Pyfer and Ozzy Diaz both have tremendous power and finishing ability, but Pyfer has a wrinkle in his game known as wrestling. He's also been to decision a couple of times so I trust his cardio much more than Diaz's. Diaz could very well chin him with a shot, and idk why 90% of people are picking him when Pyfer is the slight favorite, but yeah I'm going with Pyfer due to ground and pound in the second round after hurting a gassed Diaz



Farid Basharat vs Willian "The Dumbass" Souza


Doesn't matter but Farid Basharat by decision

Mr. Bash-a-rat was gonna have his toughest test up to date. 8-0 vs 11-1 on an 11 fight win streak, grappling prowess vs knockout power. Was gonna be great but stupid ******* ****** decided to not even try to cut weight. Maybe he misunderstood and thought the fight was at 145? I don't think anyone's that stupid or unclear though. The worst part is he was a decent underdog pick and had a chance of chinning Farid in the first round. Moron. Was gonna pick Farid to win via wrestling and surviving the original onslaught, maybe getting a late second or third round submission on a gassed Souza, but it doesn't even matter anymore


Anton Turkalj vs Acacio dos Santos 

Acacio dos Santos, UD (29-28)

Very risky pick here. I'm honestly not that impressed with Santos, and I was going back and forth on this pick, but I already made an in depth prediction about why I'm going with Santos. so I gotta stick with it. The Pleasure Man could most certainly chin Acacio in the first round, and it's a very likely outcome, but tbh I'm not that impressed with him either. People are acting like he's the second coming of Christ or something, when in reality he's really not that good. I wish he was. Dude's entertaining, he's got a funny nickname, and seems like a character, but he's kinda mid. His cardio is abysmal and his ground game is meh. Very good power and finishing ability, but other than that he's really just blah. Dos Santos isn't anything special either, but I'd say he's more well rounded and also significantly better on the ground (One lost to Gustaffson. onel lost Jailton Almeida. I know which loss I value more) This is a risky pick but I'm taking the dawg


Dennis Buzukja vs Kaleio Romero

Dennis Buzukja, UD (30-27)

Why couldn't this fight have gotten cancelled instead? ******* hell. Probably the lowest level (relative to weight class) and most bland fight on the card. I don't think either of these guys gets signed unless they make a statement. Despite the fact that Romero is a collegiate wrestler with the nickname "KO", I think Buzuka has him beat in both those aspects. Not by much, but I give him the advantage pretty much everywhere. I think he'll mix up his tools better and use MMA wrestling to outwrestle Romero, and just generally outstrike him as well but a decently entertaining somewhat dominant victory, 


Alessandro Costa vs Andres Luna Martinetti

Alessandro Costa, SUB, R1


Speaking of statements, I think Alessandro Costa is gonna make one and a big one at that. Clearest fight of the entire card, average casual Tapology voters are delusional for making Martinetti the slight favorite. They're looking at his fancy shiny 12-0 record and overrating tf outta him. I will admit, even I thought this was kinda a setup fight for Luna when I first saw it (especially since Costa is 9-2 on Sherdog, which is 1 less win than here) but come on guys. Do a little research and you'll see Costa has Luna beat literally everywhere. Better grappler, better striker, more finishing ability, fought better competition. This is the lock of the card, and my most exciting fight of the card. This should be the main event IMO but I'm so glad its opening up the card