Week four of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6 arrives on Tuesday, and with DWCS 50 comes some familiar names.
Among them, Jack Cartwright and Jose Johnson, fighting each other, and Hailey Cowan.
We’re one week removed from the Bo Nickal show. While he didn’t get a UFC deal, he did earn a second fight on the Contender Series later this year. Who will win big this week? Read on for our predictions.
Lightweight: Thomas Paull Vs. Esteban Ribovics
Tale of the tape
27-years-old
5’7″
Welling, Bexley, United Kingdom
Team Underground
11-3
11 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent’s record: 38-33
26-years-old
5’10”
Salta, Argentina
Alfa Team
10-0
5 KO/TKOs, 5 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 63-34
Pros and Cons
Thomas Paull
Pros
- Fast starter
- Heavy hands
- Explosive
- Heavy leg kicks
- Dangerous in exchanges
Cons
- Gives up his back
- Awful TDD
- Lost off his back
- Questionable chin
- Sits in the pocket too long
- Head sits on the centerline
Esteban Ribovics
Pros
- Fast starter
- Knockout power
- Uses angles well
- Good kimura lock
- Submission threat
- Scrambles well
- Good feints
Cons
- TDD needs some work
- Will crash the pocket carelessly
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Ribovics
Speed: Ribovics
Output/Volume: Ribovics
Kickboxing: Paull
Striking defense: Ribovics
Footwork/movement: Ribovics
Wrestling: Even
Grappling: Ribovics
More likely to finish on the mat: Ribovics
Gas tank: Even
Prediction: This fight is going to be a banger for as long as it lasts.
There is a chance in this fight that we see some ground work, but both fighters are primarily knockout artists. Neither don’t care about taking one to give one. That’s worked out for Ribovics but for Paull, he’s been cracked and knocked out before.
Ribovics could easily crack Paull, especially as I expect them to trade in the pocket. I only see Paull winning this if he gets the knockout early. Ribovics is better on the mat easily and even on the feet is the much better striker. The pick is Ribovics because he has more ways to win. Even where Paull is most dangerous, with his knockout power, I think Ribovics beats him in that area as well.
