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Dana White’s Contender Series Week 5 Odds and Picks – Sudolski vs Poterya

Cole Shelton

by Cole Shelton in Mixed Martial Arts News

Updated Sep 26, 2021 · 12:36 PM PDT

DWCS Week 5
Week 5 of the Contender Series goes down on Sept. 28
  • Four contracts each were handed out last week on the Contender Series
  • A light heavyweight bout headlines the card
  • See the odds and betting preview for Week 5 below

Dana White’s Contender Series has been must-watch TV for MMA fans who have had the chance to see future UFC stars earn their way into the promotion. The show has produced the likes of Sean O’Malley, Maycee Barber, Geoff Neal, and Thiago Moises among countless others.

After four episodes where 19 contracts have been handed out, five more fights happen as top regional fighters look to impress Dana White and become a UFC fighter. Week 5 takes place on Tuesday, September 28 live at the UFC Apex at 8 p.m. ET. In the main event, Lukasz Sudolski battles Ihor Potieria at light heavyweight.

DWCS Week 5 Odds

Fighter Odds
Lukasz Sudolski -225
Ihor Potieria +180
Fighter Odds
Manuel Gaxhja +270
Chris Duncan -350
Fighter Odds
Aaron Jeffery -165
Caio Borralho +135
Fighter Odds
Lucas Almeida +145
Daniel Zellhuber -175
Fighter Odds
Rizvan Kuniev -275
Edvian Santos +210

All odds as of September 26th at BetMGM.

Does Sudolski Remain Undefeated?

Lukasz Sudolski (8-0) is one of, if not the best prospect coming out of Poland. The 28-year-old hasn’t fought since November of last where he scored a 13-second knockout over Mladen Kujundzic. He has finished five of his wins in the first round and finished one more in the second. He doesn’t have any notable wins but has fought some fighters with winning records.

Ihor Potieria (19-2) has a ton of experience for only being 25-years-old as he has already fought twice in 2021. Unfortunately, most of his wins as of late are against 0-0 fighters or fighters with losing records so it’s hard to really tell how good he is because he hasn’t been tested. In his last 15 fights, he has only fought three fighters with a winning record and fought three people making their debuts and two fighters who were 0-2 and 0-3.

Sudolski & Potieria Stats

Sudolski
VS
Potieria
28 Age 25
6’4″ Height 6’3
77.5″ Reach N/A
6 Career Finishes 14

This is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup as Potieria will need to get this fight to the ground in order to win. On the feet, his striking leaves a lot to be desired as he does get hit a lot. Yet, on the ground, he has a very good shot of sinking in a choke as he is a wizard on the ground.

However, I don’t think Potieria will have a chance to even get it to the ground. Sudolski has good takedowns defense and he’ll come out aggressive and look for the early KO. Once he starts piecing up the 25-year-old, Sudolski stuff a takedown and then lands another big shot that rocks his opponent and gets a first-round TKO and a UFC deal.

Pick: Lukasz Sudolski (-225)

Other DWCS Week 5 Picks:

  • Chris Duncan (-350): Duncan is a Bellator veteran and is legit as they come as he’ll land big shots and TKO Gaxhja in the first or second and win a UFC deal.
  • Aaron Jeffery (-165): Jeffery should already be in the UFC as he should be able to piece up Borralho en route to a third-round TKO and a UFC contract.
  • Lucas Almeida (+145): This is probably the most competitive fight on the card but I like Almeida’s experience against quality opponents to be able to get past the first round and take over in the second and third to win a decision but not a UFC deal.
  • Rizvan Kuniev (-275): Santos hasn’t fought anyone good as he fights 0-8 opponents and that will catch up to him as Kuniev will be too much for him and he gets a submission win and a UFC deal.
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