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Dana White’s Contender Series Season 4 Week 10, Odds & Picks

Cole Shelton

by Cole Shelton in Mixed Martial Arts News

Updated Mar 3, 2021 · 12:20 PM PST

Dana White Contender Series
UFC president Dana White speaks at a news conference in New York. The first of three straight fight nights at Etihad Arena on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island kicks off Saturday, Jan. 16, when Max Holloway fights Calvin Kattar in a 145-pound bout in the main event of the first combat sports card aired on ABC since 2000. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
  • The final episode of Season 4 goes down on Tuesday, November 17, 2020
  • Who will earn contracts this week?
  • See the odds and betting preview for Week 10 of Dana White’s Contender Series, below

Dana White’s Contender Series has been must-watch TV for MMA fans. They’ve had the chance to see future UFC stars earn their way into the promotion. The show has produced the likes of Geoff Neal, Sean O’Malley, and Alex Perez, among others.

In the main event of Week 10, Nick Maximov takes on Oscar Cota at heavyweight. The card airs live on ESPN+ and TSN at 8:00 PM EST on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 10 Odds

Fighter Odds
Nick Maximov -350
Oscar Cota +275
Fighter Odds
JP Buys -300
Jacob Silva +240
Fighter Odds
Pauline Macias +140
Gloria de Paula -170
Fighter Odds
Sherrard Blackledge -175
Tucker Lutz +145
Fighter Odds
Chelsea Hackett -245
Victoria Leonardo +195

Odds taken Nov. 16

Will The Diaz Brothers’ Protégé Earn a UFC Deal?

Nick Maximov (5-0) is moving up to heavyweight in order to fight in front of Dana White. The 22-year-old is close training partners with Nick and Nate Diaz and has even fought as low at middleweight. In his career, all five of his wins have come by stoppage.

Oscar Cota (11-2) returned to the win column last time out with a TKO win back in September of 2019. He has primarily been fighting in Mexican promotions, but he did compete on the Golden Boy MMA card that featured Tito Ortiz vs Chuck Liddell 3 as the main event.

Maximov vs Cota Key Stats

Maximov
VS
Cota
22 Age 36
5’11” Height 6’2″
N/A Reach 73″
5 Career finishes 5

There is no question this appears to be a setup fight for Maximov to get a win and do so by stoppage. However, a major concern will be the weight difference. Maximov is a light heavyweight, and weighed in at 209-pounds, while Cota weighed 263.5 pounds, leaving a 54.5-pound weight difference between the two.

YouTube video

Given the size difference, I do have some worry about whether or not Maximov will be able to get Cota down. However, on the feet, the American has shown his striking is getting much better and will be a lot faster than the Mexican.

Ultimately, I expect Maximov to use his speed to piece up Cota. Maximov will eventually get him down to the ground and submit him in the first or second round to earn a UFC deal.

Pick: Nick Maximov (-350)

Other DWCS Week 10 Picks:

  1. JP Buys (-300): Buys should already be in the UFC at this point, but in this fight, I like him to outstrike Silva on the feet and either get a clear decision or late TKO. Regardless, I expect him to get a UFC deal.
  2. Pauline Macias (+140): Macias has a very underrated striking game, but I like her to get this fight to the ground and control de Paulo for a decision win.
  3. Sherrard Blackledge (-175): Both Blackledge and Lutz were on the Contender Series earlier this summer and won. This time around, Blackledge should be able to outpoint Lutz on the feet for a decision win and a UFC deal.
  4. Chelsea Hackett (-245): Hackett is a phenom out in Australia and is a training partner of UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski. Hackett should be able to keep it standing and eventually get a TKO win and a UFC contract.
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