Week one of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6 saw just one contract awarded, to Joseph Pyfer. At the end of the episode, a clearly annoyed Dana White proclaimed that he did no advance research into the fighters on the show, and it was all about proving something to him on one night only — not about career history.
“Next week, when you roll in here, show me who you are Tuesday night,” White exclaimed in a message to upcoming fighters on the show. “That’s the only thing I’m concerned with.”
“If you want to get into the UFC and this is where you want to be, act like Joe Pyfer. Be Joe Pyfer.”
Never before has White been so blunt about his expectations for fighters on DWCS. Now, it’s time to see who was listening as week two goes down Tuesday, August 2. Here’s our look at what to expect.
Lightweight: Charlie Campbell Vs. Chris Duncan
Tale of the tape
26-years-old
6’0″
East Rockaway, New York, US
LAW MMA
6-1
4 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent’s record: 19-8
29-years-old
5’10”
Alloa, Scotland
American Top Team
8-1
6 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
Combined opponent’s record: 43-22
Pros and Cons
Charlie Campbell
Pros
- Frequent heavy leg kicks
- Good ground and pound
- High work rate
- Excellent shot-selection
- Good bodywork
- Cuts angles well
- Good knees
- Deceptive power
Cons
- Loads up at times
- TDD needs some work
- Will reach with his strikes
- Hands drop at times
Chris Duncan
Pros
- Heavy leg kicks
- Power right hand
- Puts punches together
- Good straight right
- Aggressive
- Hits hard
- Good pocket striker
- Good body kick
- Underrated ground game
Cons
- Gets hit a lot
- Questionable TDD
- Stands squared
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Duncan
Speed: Duncan
Output/Volume: Campbell
Kickboxing: Campbell
Striking defense: Campbell
Footwork/movement: Campbell
Wrestling: Duncan
Grappling: Duncan
More likely to finish on the mat: Duncan
Gas tank: Even
Prediction: Duncan is coming back after getting beat last season on the Contender Series. He lost to Slava Borshchev but was doing well up until the finish.
Campbell isn’t as talked about as Duncan but these guys, if they fought in a best of seven series, they’d go to fight seven.
The biggest edge might be the wrestling of Duncan. I feel that if he couldn’t keep Slava grounded he won’t be able to with Campbell either. It’s close on the feet where both are kind of similar. Both are really kick-heavy but I like the leg kicks of Campbell a lot more.
Defensively, well, neither are that good defensively. The flatter Duncan, being the smaller guy, gives me the confidence to think Campbell can chip away. Duncan could clip Campbell but going strike for strike I like the chin of Campbell to hold up more. I came into this fight expecting to pick Duncan but I’m taking Campbell. I feel he stays away from being held down and he starts to wear on Duncan as the fight goes.
