Believe it or not, we’re already at the halfway point of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 6. DWCS Week 5 arrives on Tuesday, and brings with it action in the women’s strawweight, heavyweight, flyweight, bantamweight, and welterweight divisions.
On last week’s DWCS, for the second time this season, UFC President Dana White handed out contracts to all five winning fighters. Who’s in the running to earn a UFC deal this time out? Read on.
Heavyweight: Eduardo Neves Vs. Michael Parkin
Tale of the tape
22-years-old
6’1″
Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil
Eduardo Machado Team
5-0
5 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent’s record: 12-5
26-years-old
6’3″
London, England
TFT MMA ‘Team Fish Tank
5-0
5 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent’s record: 18-46
Pros and Cons
Eduardo Neves
Pros
- Nasty elbows
- Dangerous in exchanges
- Solid head movement
- Good ground and pound
- Good output
- Heavy hands/Knockout power
- Fast starter
Cons
- Questionable grappling defense
- Too willing to brawl
Michael Parkin
Pros
- Competent wrestling
- Heavy top position
- Good ground and pound
- Good jab
Cons
- Hands too wide
- Questionable chin
- Gas tank slows over time
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Neves
Speed: Neves
Output/Volume: Neves
Kickboxing: Even
Striking defense: Neves
Footwork/movement: Neves
Wrestling: Parkin
Grappling: Parkin
More likely to finish on the mat: Parkin
Gas tank: Neves
Prediction: Heavyweight picks are often tough to predict, but not this one.
The biggest thing surrounding this fight is the level of competition. The best guy Parkin beat was 7-7 and for Neves, it’s 5-0. Neves has beaten three undefeated fighters and Parkin hasn’t fought anyone with a winning record as a pro.
This fight has a real good chance of Neves going in and out in under a minute. I don’t see Parkin being competitive anywhere. Parkin may be better on the mat but that’s on paper. I see Neves drawing out a brawl and knocking out Parkin early.
