Dana White’s Contender Series 23 Odds & Picks

• Dana White’s Contender Series returns on Tuesday, August 6, 2019
• Five fights are scheduled to take place at the UFC Apex gym, headlined by Harvey Park vs. Omar Morales
• See all the odds plus fight predictions below

Dana White’s Contender Series, which features top MMA prospects competing for a chance to secure a UFC contract in front of company president Dana White and matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard, resumes  in Week 7 with another five fights at the UFC Apex gym with the action starting at 8:00 pm EST.

Below, find odds, previews, and predictions for each bout on Tuesday’s card.

Harvey Park vs. Omar Morales Odds

*All odds as of 08/06/19

Harvey Park has been headlining shows in Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) which is the top regional show in the United States. He has fought some UFC-caliber fighters and beaten them while having a very solid all-around game.

Yet, Morales will pose challenges to Park that will be interesting to see how he adapts. Morales has knockout power, but he has very underrated jiu-jitsu that if this fight goes to the mat, it may be trouble for Park. But, I expect Park to be able to keep the fight standing, and as the more experienced fighter, use his jab effectively to piece up Morales and possibly put him away late in the fight.

Regardless, Park should be in the UFC and I think there is a good chance he gets signed tonight. However, lightweight is a stacked division, so a decision won’t cut it for Dana White and company to sign another 155-pounder.

Pick: Harvey Park (-300)

Marilla Santos vs. Lucrezia Ria Odds

A pivotal flyweight bout where the UFC always needs more women’s flyweights.

Santos has been fighting in the regional scenes of Brazil where she has really worked on her all around-game and becoming more than a jiu-jitsu fighter. She has a bevy of submissions, but her striking has gotten better.

However, against Ria, who is a jiu-jitsu ace, she will need to keep the fight on the feet, which I expect to happen. Santos has shown her own on the ground that if the fight goes down there she will be fine. On the feet, I expect her to piece up Ria en route to a decision win.

Pick: Marilla Santos (-225)

Herbert Burns vs. Darrick Minner Odds

UFC’s Gilbert Burns will see his younger brother try to join him in the Las Vegas-based promotion.

It is unusual someone with this much experience in Minner gets onto the Contender Series, but it is good to see him get a shot. He has been grinding on the regional scenes in LFA, where Burns has been fighting in ONE Championship and Titan FC.

For Burns to get the win he will need to take Minner down and use his jiu-jitsu to try and submit him, which I expect to happen. He has looked really good in Titan FC, and picked up a couple of wins in ONE, while Minner has been submitted a bevy of times before. I expect the Brazilian to get it done in the first and join his brother in the UFC.

Pick: Herbert Burns (-650)

Andre Muniz vs. Taylor Johnson Odds

This is a really interesting fight, where I think the odds should be closer to pick’em.

Andre Muniz was on the Contender Series last year where he picked up a win but did not get a contract. Johnson, meanwhile, is undefeated and has been fighting in LFA. For this fight, it is a clash of styles as Johnson likes to use his ground and pound as his main weapon, yet Muniz is solid off his back. It is a super close fight to call, but at +185 the value is on Muniz.

Pick: Andre Muniz (+185)

Dwight Joseph vs. Jay Perrin Odds

Another fight that is a tough one to call and should be pick’em odds.

Although Perrin is the favorite, I like the underdog in Joseph to get it done here. Both are very good at jiu-jitsu, but Perrin has been submitted before and I expect this fight to hit the mat where Joseph can sink in a rear-naked choke and win the fight. But, if it stays standing, both are similar on the feet so it will be an interesting fight no matter what.

Pick: Dwight Joseph (+140)