Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4 Week 5 Odds and Picks

• Dana White’s Contender Series is back for Week 5 on September 1st
• Last week’s episode saw four UFC contracts be handed out, how many will there be this week?
• See the odds and betting preview for Week 5 within the story below

Dana White’s Contender Series has been a must-watch series for MMA fans to see future UFC stars earn their way into the promotion.

The show has produced the likes of Ryan Spann, Sodiq Yusuff, Maycee Barber, and Alonzo Menifield among countless other top prospects.

In the main event of Week 5, Melsik Baghdasaryan takes on Dennis Buzukja at featherweight. The card airs live at 8:00 pm EST on September 1 on ESPN+ and TSN in Canada.

DWCS Week 5 Odds

Odds taken August 31

Will Buzukja be the Latest New Yorker in the UFC?

Melsik Baghdasaryan (4-1) is riding a four-fight winning streak after losing his debut in 2014. Although Baghdasaryan made his pro-MMA debut in 2014, he did not fight again in MMA until 2019 and has looked like a completely different fighter. During this four-fight run, he has finished all his opponents by knockout. His most notable opponent is Art Hernandez.

Dennis Buzukja (4-1) is currently on a three-fight winning streak. He earned a decision win over Tim Dooling in February of this year last time out, in what is the most notable opponent of his career. His last four fights have taken place in Ring of Combat with his debut actually being in Bellator.

It is quite strange that both Baghdasaryan and Buzukja are both 4-1 as oftentimes, the UFC likes to have Contender Series fighters have a bit more experience than that.

There is no question Baghdasaryan is the more powerful as all four of his wins have come by first-round knockout. In his four wins, three times are listed with them being seven, nine, and 14 seconds into the fight.

Although Baghdasaryan has the knockout power I just don’t see him being able to knock out Buzukja. The American has a solid chin and has proven he has the cardio to go late into the fight.

I expect Baghdasaryan to come out strong looking for the early knockout with Buzukja avoiding the power shot and most likely losing the first round. Once this fight hits the second round it is Buzukja’s for the taking as I expect him to up his volume and land the better shots to win the final two rounds and the fight by decision. Unfortunately, I don’t see Buzukja getting a UFC contract on Tuesday.

Pick: Dennis Buzukja (-125)

Baghdasaryan vs Buzukja Key Stats

Other DWCS Week 5 Picks:

• Jimmy Flick (+145): Although Smith is undefeated, I like the experience of Flick in this one. Smith’s best weapon is his jiu-jitsu but I think Flick’s is better. I expect him to get a decision and a UFC deal as the promotion needs flyweights.
• Jose Johnson (-200): Jose Johnson should already be in the UFC. Look for Johnson to score a first-round knockout and a UFC contract.
• William Knight (-125): Knight is on a UFC developmental deal but this is a tough fight. I still think Knight is the better striker and he will eventually score the knockout blow and get his development deal turned into a UFC deal.
• Tucker Lutz (-195): I’m not high on Gibson and I expect Lutz to end this one early whether it is by submission or knockout and get a UFC deal.