This week’s installment of Dana White’s Contender Series sees Jamie Pickett return for his third shot at a UFC deal, after losing to both Charles Byrd and Punahele Soriano. Will the third time be the charm for Pickett? And will Canada’s Anthony Romero remain undefeated, and become the second Canadian to win their way into the UFC following TJ Laramie earlier this year? Let’s get down to business and break down week four of DWCS.
Middleweight: Jhonoven Pati vs. Jamie Pickett
Tale of the Tape
29-years-old
6’1″
Copperas Cove, Texas
StrKings
7-3
31-years-old
6’2″
80″ Reach
Greenville, North Carolina
PCSP/Rose Hill Kickboxing Academy
10-4
Pros and Cons
Jhonoven Pati
Pros
- Explosive
- Athletic
- Big knockout power
- Dangerous knees
- Heavy kicks
- Light on his feet
- Physically strong
Cons
- Does slow in the later rounds
- TDD needs some work
- Can be too wreckless
Jamie Pickett
Pros
- Good chain wrestling
- Good top position
- Active ground and pound
- Athletic
Cons
- TDD needs some work
- Cardio slows in the later rounds
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Pati
Speed: Pati
Output/Volume: Pati
Knockout Power: Pati
Chin: Even
Kickboxing: Pati
Footwork: Pati
Wrestling: Pickett
Grappling: Pickett
Submissions: Pickett
Cardio: Pickett
Prediction
This is a tough fight to pick as both cancel each other out well. On the feet, Pati is far more dangerous with his explosiveness alone. Pickett will want to stay at distance but Pati hardly ever isn’t pressing forward. Pickett has the wrestling advantage which is his clearest path to victory. The question is if he can hold Pati down, and the times Pati has been taken down he gets back up. Grappling and control I don’t even see Pickett taking advantage once on top like Puna Soriano did. The pick is Pati because I think he has a good size advantage on the feet and he can avoid being on his back for too long.