This year starts off great, with a few excellent middleweights in the main battle, and a couple of excellent chances rounding out the card. The search for further top of the range delicate heavyweights has been rather fruitful for the series, as quite a lot of chances have had a possibility to make waves on the show. Flyweight and featherweight might see some new additions this week as well.

In a little bit of unfortunate data, a bout between Willian Souza and Farid Basharat was once cancelled after Souza were given right here in a whopping ten pounds overweight. So with that one scratched, we’re proper right down to 4 fights.

That shouldn’t sour the festivities by the use of quite a lot of, even though. The remaining fights are top of the range bouts with some high movement conceivable. Alternatively that number one fit is excellent and a truly absolute best method to end a debut card for the year.

Ozzy Diaz (7-1) earned a handful of finishes in his amateur days, on the other hand changed into skilled and really set to work. Taking footage the Lights Out XF and LFA middleweight championships in consecutive fights, he’s primed to take the next step up in competition. After finding his rhythm, he’s great at finding openings and working opponents on the within. He runs a solid pace that’s hard to keep up with once that happens.

His opponent is none other that Joseph “Bodybagz“ Pyfer (8-2), whom we’ve written about faster than. He fought Dustin Stoltzfus on Contender Assortment in 2020, suffering an arm harm after being slammed. Now he’ll get each different selection in opposition to each different very difficult prospect, and it’s a curious matchup. Every may also be made to battle off their once more foot from time to time, on the other hand every pack power and have excellent finishing instincts with a perfect submission recreation. I say it too regularly, on the other hand this is a have compatibility between two fighters that may have merely been signed outright. I stand by the use of it yet again proper right here.

Anton Turkkalj (7-0) is known to some as “The Pleasure Man“, and for the main time in my adult life, I am jealous of each different man’s nickname. The Swedish upstart has been on a tear and has never had a battle to to a decision as a certified. Except a nifty highlight reel, he’s got a large number of athleticism and wily offense. With a a large number of kicking recreation to stick opponents guessing, he so much up heavy on that correct hand and without reference to being on the slim facet, doesn’t get bullied spherical along with his 6’4 frame.

He meets Brazil’s Acacio dos Santos (14-4). His most notable opponent was once Matheus Scheffel, who now not too way back defeated former PFL champ Bruno Cappelozza. Except that, it’s now not so much to write area about in terms of wins and losses. Alternatively his artwork throughout the cage is superb, enforcing counter hooks, thudding body kicks and front teeps to the leg. His cardio appears to be stunning excellent, on the other hand he would perhaps find some struggles if he’s pitted in opposition to a further wrestling-oriented opponent. That’s now not the case proper right here, however it’s going to need to be a very fun scrap.

Dennis Buzukja (7-2) is underneath the tutelage of Ray Longo, and has had some excellent fortune throughout the meat grinder that is Ring of Struggle. With some finishes on his amateur document and additional selection wins on his skilled document, he’s racked up a excellent amount of revel in so far. His boxing is on stage, on the other hand he may also be bullied by the use of tough wrestlers, specifically in opposition to the cage.

And that’s a big drawback in opposition to Kaleio Romero (6-1), who has a wrestling background. He’s moreover got some hard leg kicks and a little bit quite a lot of reliance on his overhand correct. It cracks when it connects, even though. So it’s a little bit of a gamble. Romero’s got a very dynamic and athletic style using explosive movement and doesn’t stray too far out of his comfort zone along with his offense. It’s a troublesome check out for every pageant.

After all, each different shiny delicate for flyweight makes an glance proper right here to strike it massive. Alessandro Costa (10-2) is a Brazilian fighter lighting up the Mexican circuit. He’s got great hands and a very aggressive submission recreation. He appears to be UFC-ready as is. His opponent may well be Andres Luna Martinetti (12-0), who has some crucial flypaper grappling for the reason that backbone of his submission arsenal. He’s made his bones on the South American circuit, so his opposition has been a very mixed bag. His talent is very so much there, but it’s a vital sticking stage whilst you’re a fighter bobbing up and coping with an opponent like Costa.

You’ll be able to be in a position to try the faceoffs proper ere, courtesy of the group of workers at MMA Junkie:

Ozzy Diaz (186) vs. Joe Pyfer (185) – Middleweight

Anton Turkalj (205) vs. Acacio dos Santos (201) – Delicate heavyweight

Dennis Buzukja (146) vs. Kaleio Romero (146) – Featherweight

Alessandro Costa (126) vs. Andres Luna Martinetti (126) – Flyweight

Dana White’s Contender Assortment begins its new season this Tuesday night time time, starting at 8:00pm EST. This series may well be streaming utterly on ESPN+.