Dana WhiteâÂÂs Contender Series Week 7 Predictions and Picks
Week 7 of Dana White's Contender Series lands Tuesday, September 22, live from Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Paramount+ at 7 p.m. ET.
This is one of the deepest cards of the season, headlined by a pair of well-rounded wrestlers and featuring what could be the best pure striking matchup Season 10 has produced. Here's a full breakdown of every fight and my picks.
Norbert Novenyi Jr. (10-1) vs. Theo Haig (7-1)
Both fighters bring legitimate wrestling pedigrees, which should largely neutralize each other and shift this fight toward whoever is the better all-around athlete. Novenyi, a Bellator veteran out of London Shootfighters, has the sharper hands and more finishing experience on the feet, while Haig has been sharpening his own striking at American Kickboxing Academy since his last Contender Series appearance. The key variable is that Novenyi has already been tested at a higher level in Bellator, giving him composure in scramble situations that Haig hasn't had to develop yet. When the wrestling cancels out, Novenyi's cleaner technical striking should be the separator.
Pick: Norbert Novenyi Jr. by TKO, Round 2
Alvi Dasuyev (9-0) vs. Jaden Ortega (6-0)
This is the best pure fight on the card, pitting two of the most complete welterweight prospects in this Contender Series season against each other. Dasuyev is a nasty, well-rounded striker with a strong wrestling base out of Deathrow MMA, giving him multiple ways to win. Ortega counters with flashy, violent striking, including spinning and flying attacks, and has finished five of his six career wins by knockout. The deciding factor should be Dasuyev's ability to mix in takedowns if the striking exchanges get dangerous, giving him a safety valve that Ortega, a pure striker, simply doesn't have.
Pick: Alvi Dasuyev by decision
Marcos Degli (14-3) vs. Paris Moran (14-3)
Degli is the most explosive fighter on this entire card, a heavy-handed brawler who throws with reckless power to the head and body and finishes at a high rate for the flyweight division. Moran, a 17-fight veteran out of Gracie Barra, is the clear grappler in this matchup and will need to change levels quickly to have a chance, since Degli is also a capable grappler in his own right and won't be an easy takedown. If Degli can keep this standing even briefly, his power and volume should be too much for Moran to survive.
Pick: Marcos Degli by TKO, Round 1
Piero Guaylupo (11-0) vs. Callum Connor (8-0)
Both lightweights are undefeated strikers who like to plant their feet and trade, setting up a genuine firefight. Guaylupo brings nasty kicks and heavy hands from Peru, while Connor, despite a significant height advantage at 6-foot to Guaylupo's 5-foot-9, has built his record against lighter regional competition. The height difference could matter if Connor uses it to control range with his jab and kicks, but Guaylupo's power and craft against tougher opposition should let him close distance and land the more damaging shots when the two inevitably meet in the pocket.
Pick: Piero Guaylupo by TKO, Round 2
Damian Piwowarczyk (11-4) vs. Emilio Quissua (8-0)
This fight represents two of Europe's top promotions, with Quissua repping OKTAGON and Piwowarczyk repping KSW. Quissua brings a kickboxing background and well-rounded striking, while Piwowarczyk uses his massive 6-foot-6 frame to strike from range and also carries a legitimate submission arsenal as a backup plan. The size and reach differential should let Piwowarczyk dictate distance behind his jab and kicks, and if the fight does hit the mat, his submission skills give him a finishing route that Quissua's game doesn't clearly counter.
Pick: Damian Piwowarczyk by decision
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