DWCS 2021 Week 1 Breakdown and Predictions

Flyweight: Victor Altamirano vs Carlos Candelario

Tale of the Tape

Victor Altamirano
30-years-old
5’8″
Watauga, Texas, US
Peak Performance
9-1
Carlos Candelario
30-years-old
5’7″
New Britain, Connecticut, US
The Cage Jiu-Jitsu Strength Academy
8-0

Pros and Cons

Victor Altamirano

Pros

  • Good active leg kicks
  • Good kickboxing/Fluid
  • Strikes well off his back
  • Good left hand
  • Decent output
  • Credible grappling
  • Good cardio

Cons

  • TDD is poor
  • Too comfortable off his back
  • Will extend on his punches

Carlos Candelario

Pros

  • Solid grappling
  • Quick hands
  • Accurate striker
  • Knockout power
  • Solid wrestling
  • Excellent ground and pound
  • Submission threat

Cons

  • TDD needs some work
  • Suspect gas tank

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Candelario
Speed: Candelario
Output/Volume: Altamirano
Knockout Power: Candelario
Chin: Candelario
Footwork: Altamirano
Wrestling: Candelario
Grappling: Candelario
Submissions: Altamirano
Cardio: Altamirano

Prediction

Candelario returned to the cage earlier this month after a four-year absence. One fight (and four years) before that, he had decided to retire after winning on the Contender Series 2017. He did win, but didn’t get a contract that night; worse, he tore his ACL. It all culminated in walking away from active competition.

Back when he was active Candelario was one of the best prospects at 125. His opponent in his second fight back, Altamirano, is a patient fighter that fights in spurts and relies on his cardio and the small opportunities he gets. In the last few years, Altamirano has fought good competition while Candelario has been away.

It’s a second-degree black belt in taekwondo for Altamirano, but Candelario has better stand-up. If this was the Candelario of four years ago, I’d think he cruises to victory. But although he did win comfortably in his last fight, he didn’t look as good as he has in the past. I’m taking Candelario because he is slightly better everywhere, but I’m not as confident as I should be.