There’s an previous adage that will get thrown round once in a while: “Time flies once you’re having enjoyable.” The identical is true for season eight of Dana White’s Contender Sequence. Solely two episodes stay till the UFC Apex closes its doorways to MMA prospects till the summer time of 2025.
Stay protection of week 9 begins Tuesday at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on ESPN+ inside america. As at all times, the cardboard options 5 MMA fights. Per week in the past, 5 prospects scored their golden tickets to the UFC, bringing the variety of contracts awarded as a direct results of showing on Contender Sequence this season to 34 with two exhibits to go.
Heavyweights Meet to Cap Week 9 Tuesday Night time
Highlighting the slate is a heavyweight showcase within the DWCS 75 primary occasion. Former GLORY Kickboxing Gentle Heavyweight Champion Artem Vakhitov (2-1 MMA) makes his third stroll to the cage this yr when he takes on undefeated Islem Masraf (3-0 MMA), an alumnus of each Ares FC and PFL Europe.
As with all fights on Contender Sequence, this one is an marketed most of three rounds at 5 minutes per spherical.
DWCS 75 Fundamental Occasion Fighter Comparability and Betting Odds
Heading into the DWCS 75 primary occasion on Tuesday evening, Artem Vakhitov stands because the taller man at 6-foot-1, in comparison with Islem Masraf’s body of six toes even. The previous owns a 74.4-inch attain, with no such info for the latter at press time.
At present, the oddsmakers have Artem Vakhitov put in as a -650 favourite on the cash line, whereas Islem Masraf counters as a +450 underdog. In case you plan on betting on this or some other combat this week or weekend in fight sports activities, please wager responsibly.
Former Kickboxing Champ Vakhitov Eyes UFC Deal Tuesday
Artem Vakhitov enters the DWCS 75 primary occasion on Tuesday having posted a report of 4-1 in his final 5 fights. Final trip, he scored a first-round TKO as a result of leg kicks towards Valisher Khambaev (1-1 MMA) in February throughout Naiza Preventing Championships’ NFC 57 in Kazakhstan.
Though that is solely his third skilled MMA combat, don’t let that quantity idiot you: This younger man is an skilled fighter. Previous to turning to MMA full-time in June of final yr, he spent 14 years competing in kickboxing and Muay-Thai, being a embellished champion within the former sport.
Eight years in the past, he captured the GLORY Kickboxing Gentle Heavyweight Championship with a unanimous determination victory over Saulo Calavari, going onto make 5 profitable title defenses between then and 2019, adopted by one other title combat victory in September of 2021 over three-time UFC Gentle Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.
Upon Russia invading Ukraine within the winter of 2022, GLORY reduce all Russian athletes from the promotion, this coming after the promotion eradicating Artem Vakhitov because the 209-lb. champion.
BREAKING! GLORY has terminated contracts of ALL Russian athletes, together with Gentle Heavyweight Champion Artem Vakhitov.
Full assertion beneath. pic.twitter.com/rgCs9haXrd
— Past Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) June 17, 2022
He’s already received a victory towards a present UFC champion on his resume. Can Artem Vakhitov rating a contract this week? Tune in and discover out.
Can Masraf Win UFC Deal in Fourth Skilled Struggle?
Within the different nook, Islem Masraf enters this week’s card having gone 3-0 to date in his younger skilled profession. Counting beginner bouts, he’s unbeaten at 5-0.
Most just lately, he bested Mickael Groguhe (5-2 MMA) with a first-round knockout by the use of head kick in solely 10 seconds throughout PFL Europe 1 on March 7. Extra impressively, Masraf has but to even a lot as get to the third spherical of a combat since starting his MMA life in April of 2023.
Timewise, his longest combat to-date in MMA noticed him go simply six minutes and 58 seconds in his skilled debut, ending the win by the use of guillotine choke in Ares FC 15 on Might 11 from final yr. What a distinction a yr makes for Masraf.
Right now a yr in the past, he had only one skilled win to his credit score and now, if every little thing goes nicely on Tuesday evening, he might discover himself on the precipice of a UFC contract. Solely time will inform if he’ll be capable to capitalize on the chance.
Evaluation, Movie Research, and Prediction
Don’t anticipate this combat to final the entire quarter-hour on Tuesday evening. Each of those guys know deliver the warmth.
Vakhitov’s Bought Energy
Provided that Artem Vakhitov is a former GLORY Kickboxing Gentle Heavyweight Champion, you’ll be able to anticipate him to ship highly effective strikes when it issues essentially the most. One want look no additional than his 2017 match towards Paulo Cavalari.
After already scoring two knockdowns, together with one from a proper cross, within the second spherical, Vakhitov simply unloaded with a barrage of unanswered strikes to drive the referee to intervene. Search for Vakhitov to return out firing on all cylinders this Tuesday.
Masraf Can Get It Carried out Shortly
Within the different nook, as beforehand talked about, Islem Masraf has but to even see a 3rd spherical to date in his MMA profession. It is a man who isn’t getting paid by the hour in in the least every time the cage door shuts.
Again in March towards Mickael Groguhe, proper after the command to combat was issued, Masraf uncorked a nasty kick to the top, knocking him down on contact. Though Masraf added some floor and pound as soon as Groguhe was on the canvas, the harm was performed all the identical.
The primary blow of the DWCS 75 primary occasion might be the one blow that lands.
Ultimate Ideas
Get your popcorn prepared early on Tuesday evening. You might not have sufficient time on the microwave as soon as the bout begins.
Prediction: Artem Vakhitov by Second-Spherical TKO.
