What’s ups my fellow degenerates! After we got absolutely screwed by the judges at UFC307 on Saturday, we head back the Apex for this weeks Dana Whites contender series! I retired from betting on MMA on Saturday. So congrats to me for making it 2 days till I said FOOK the judges! I’m back baby! We got 5 fights, so let’s look for some wins that’s leave the judges out of the equation.

First up!

SEAN GAUCI V ANTHONY DRILICH

We open the card with the flyweight battle of Australia. To be fair, I can see why they have picked this to open as it has fight of the night written all over it! Both guys can bang, both look for the finish, and both can set an insane pace. What’s not to love!

Both guys are champions in their current promotions so the logical next step for both is a trip to the big show. The judges won’t be needed here. Both guys have records that stand out to me as finishers. Gauchi also owns a win over Steve Erceg which shows he certainly can fight, even if it was back in 2017. I just think the underdog is a solid play here, and has the more well rounded game. He can mix in his wrestling, as I think he has the advantage on the ground. It’s more of a pick ‘em fight than the odds suggest. Let’s get the show off with the dog barking!

PICK – Anthony Drilich to win @ +150

We head to fight two in the 170lb division.

ISLAM DULATOV V VANILTO ANTUNES

What I love about this fight? Again, the judges can join the unemployment line for it. As both these guys come to put your lights out.

Dulatov is a massive -650 favourite at the time of writing. An sadly the props for under rounds 1.5 and 2.5 ain’t out yet. So it’s not worth picking the ML win really. Unless you fancy a punt on Antunes as a dog at around +450. But he does come into the fight on short notice so tread lightly. Even if Antunes is the current LFA WW Champ. Dulatov just looks to be the better fighter in nearly every area. I expect him to shine.

For me this fights going to be a no bet match up. I expect Dulatov to win. If you fancy a flutter it’s the Antunes dog bet, or under 2.5 if value is decent. Sometimes you got to realise you just have to leave it alone.

PICK – No bet.

3rd fight, judges again can take the fight off as it’s two unbeaten big boys squaring off!

MARIO PINTO V LUCAS CAMACHO.

Who doesn’t love heavyweights! I know I do! Let the big guys brawl. Whoever lands first usually gets the W! It just makes for exciting fights usually. I don’t expect this one to be the exception to the rule, as they look to impress Dana. The only down side about the fight is that again we have a huge favourite in Mario Pinto at around -650.

Mario Pinto hails from Brazil has crisp striking, great footwork and looks really good at controlling distance. Which is a solid skill to have fighting in the HW division.

Camacho appears to have a much more aggressive and violent approach to his work. But knowing that Pinto has a better grappling pedigree to him, means he might dial it down a little here. I’m hoping he doesn’t. It’s not that Camacho isn’t a threat on the ground, he’s just not as good as Pinto there. A similar story to the stand up game.

Saying all that, in the heavyweight division he have already seen a big underdog cash in this seasons DWCS. So for that very reason I’ll be sprinkling a little juice on the dog Camacho to upset the odds, and get the W here. For me, the favourite is just not appealing at the price.

PICK – Lucas Camacho to win @+450

Two fights left, which in my eyes always makes this the co main event of the evening!

KODY STEELE V CHASEN BLAIR

Kody Steele was supposed to feature a few weeks ago on DWCS, but his opponent had a panic attack of sorts and pulled out moments before the fight.

On the regional scene Steele has been racking up the wins. He has 6 wins in 6 and 4 have them have come by finish in the 155lb division. Saying I really like this kid would be an understatement. He’s got solid striking, power and a really underrated grappling game. He’s a high level BJJ black belt, but cos he’s more of a grappler/striker first, his sub game doesn’t get as much praise. I’ll be finding the prop play for his sub here and playing it for sure.

Chasen Blair currently fights on the Cage Warriors promotion, and I have had a lot of success fading their fighters of late. I just think the American scene is a better quality of opponent. Plus an American fighting on a European promotion? Why? Is it because he’s not on the level? Maybe. Like Steele, Blair is a dual threat fighter. He’s got a solid stand up game, power and is no slouch on the ground. It’s not that I think he’s terrible. He just isn’t as good as Steele.

PICK – Steele to win @ -225

ITS TIME FOR THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!

ARTEM VAKHITOV V ISLEM MASRAF.

Artem Vakhitov has a 2-1 record as a MMA fighter. But don’t let this fool you. He’s had a good pro kickboxing career before he got here. Including a win over Alex Pereira. Plus Vakhitovs loss was because of an injury, not a legit loss. He’s a big favourite coming into this fight, and has a ton of hype behind him as you’d expect. But as I said earlier with the heavyweight division. Anything can happy with the big boys.

Islem Masraf enters with a 3-0 record but overall his experience in the fight game is nowhere near the level of his opponent. Basically this guy is a sacrificial lamb. He’s been brought in to get defeated by the hype train that is Vakhitov. I’ll throw the ML -550 in a parlay. If props eventually appear I’ll throw some on the ROUND 1 finish for Vakhitov too. This isn’t a spot even at heavyweight to sprinkle on the dog. His 3-0 record means nothing. He’s going to sleep, and probably in spectacular fashion.

PICK – Vakhitov to win @ -550.

If you fancy a free bet on any of the fights, hit up my man theverifiedbookie.com and use code BANANAS for a free 20$ bet on any fight.

Enjoy the violence.
Phil (@PhilsBananas)