The wait is over. The hiatus is done. Dana White’s Contender Series returns this week, temporarily shifting from its usual Tuesday night slot to Wednesday. A four-fight card awaits, thanks to a positive COVID-19 test from Gloria de Paula. As a result, her fight against Pauline Macias has been postponed.
Who’s likely to earn themselves a UFC deal as the Contender Series gets back underway? As always, we’ve got a breakdown and predictions for each fight on the card. Let’s get to it!
Middleweight: Carlos Ulberg vs. Bruno Oliveira
Tale of the Tape
Carlos Ulberg
29-years-old
6’4″
Auckland, New Zealand
City Kickboxing
2-0
Bruno Oliveira
36-years-old
6’4″
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
American Top Team
8-1
Pros and Cons
Carlos Ulberg
Pros
- Excellent kickboxing
- Heavy kicks
- Good movement
- Super athletic
- Good gas tank
- Good jab
Cons
- Untested
Bruno Oliveira
Pros
- Good right hand
- Fast starter
- Solid muay thai
- Good elbows
- Good knees
Cons
- Hands low/Chin high
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Oliveira
Speed: Ulberg
Output/Volume: Oliveira
Knockout Power: Oliveira
Chin: ?
Kickboxing: Ulberg
Footwork: Ulberg
Wrestling: Oliveira
Grappling: Oliveira
Submissions: Oliveira
Cardio: ?
Prediction
Ulberg is a product out of the red hot City Kickboxing and is a very good talent. You still can’t get too much out of him in only two fights. One fight was in 2011 and the other in 2018. Both of those opponents were bottom of the barrel competition. Oliveira by far has shown more over better fighters. That said, going against a high-caliber kickboxer in Ulberg, the way Oliveira tends to keep his chin up and his hands low is asking for trouble. I’m siding with the hype of Ulberg as I think he’s not a guy Oliveira can just walk through. I’m predicting Ulberg to piece Oliveira up on the outside and catch him coming in.
