Dana White’s Contender Series Week 3 Odds & Picks (Season 8)
The UFC is back on Tuesday nights with contracts on the line. The popular Dana White's Contender Series is returning for its eighth season. If you are unfamiliar with the series, Dana White will give out contracts based on the action between fresh faces looking to break into the UFC. He has given out 245 contracts in the first seven seasons and as well as plenty of opportunities to up-and-coming fighters. The coverage begins at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN+ from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Dana White's Contender Series Week 3 Picks
Bantamweight: Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Adam Bramhald
The second fight on Tuesday night will be in the bantamweight division. Malcolm Wellmaker will be taking on Adam Bramhald in an exciting matchup. Wellmaker is 7-0 as a professional and has fought with four organizations. He has three wins by knockout, two by submission, and two by decision. He also has an extensive amateur record at 9-1, dating back to 2018. Adam Bramhald is 13-2 as a professional and 3-1 as an amateur. He fights in Caged Steel, which is a regional promotion in England. In his last three fights, he had a decision victory, knockout, and submission win.
Wellmaker is a boxer with some grappling upside in this matchup; he does not throw a lot of volume, he he’s a sniper with the few strikes he throws. He also has lots of power, especially with his right hand. He will need to be defensive against Bramhald, who throws a lot of kicks. Bramhald has a Muay Thai background and throws more volume than Wellmaker, but the problem Bramhald may face is that his defense is not up to par with his offense. He holds a high guard but tends to lower his hands as he tires.
Wellmaker has the grappling advantage and actively seeks submissions when on the ground. However, I do not think that will come into play in this fight because Wellmaker will be looking for the knockout on the feet, which he should be able to find. Wellmaker is -210 on DraftKings and -175 on BetRivers, which is the play.
Bet: Malcolm Wellmaker (-175 on BetRivers)
Featherweight: Michael Aswell vs. Bogdan Grad
The fourth fight of the night is in the featherweight division between Michael Aswell and Bogdan Grad. Aswell is from Texas and lists his head coach as Daniel Pineda, who fights in the featherweight division in the UFC. He is 9-1 professionally, with five knockouts and four decision victories. Grad fights out of Austria and is 13-2 as a professional. He has won eight times by knockout, three by submission, and twice by decision.
Michael Aswell is a boxer that does not have a lot of power. He pressures forward a lot and is unafraid to stay in the pocket. The problem is that he stays in the pocket too long, which could be a problem against Grad. Bogdan Grad is an explosive kickboxer with a lot of aggressiveness; he is likely the better grappler and can finish the fight on the mat if it comes to that.
Bogdan Grad has fought in the Contender Series before, with a loss to Tom Nolan in the lightweight division. There is no shame in losing to Tom Nolan, who is a tall lightweight with lots of power. Grad has since moved down a division, which is probably smart because it seems like a natural weight class for him. He should redeem himself in this fight because he can be aggressive against a guy like Aswell, who does not possess much power.
Bet: Bogdan Grad (-125 on DraftKings)