DWCS 2022 Week 7 Breakdown and Predictions

By
Shawn Bitter
-
Bonfim brothers, Dana White's Contender Series 53 (DWCS 53)
Bonfim brothers, Dana White's Contender Series 53 weigh-in Credit: Alex Behunin/Cageside Press

The story of week 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) Season 6 is no doubt the presence of Brazilian brothers Gabriel and Ismael Bonfim.

MMA loves fighting families. That goes right back to the start of the sport, at least in its modern form, with the Gracie family being the dominant name in mixed martial arts for years. Since then, siblings from Dan and Jim Miller to Nick and Nate Diaz have become fan favorites. PRIDE had Enson and Egan Inoue. Sisters got in on the act when Antonina Shevchenko joined women’s flyweight champ Valentina in the UFC; most recently, Mohammed Usman joined brother Kamaru in the UFC by way of The Ultimate Fighter 30.

Will the Bonfims be the latest pair to make it to the big show? We look at that and more ahead of DWCS 53.

Rodolfo Bellato vs. Vitor Petrino, Dana White’s Contender Series 53 weigh-in Credit: Alex Behunin/Cageside Press

Light heavyweight: Rodolfo Bellato Vs. Vitor Petrino

Tale of the tape

Rodolfo Bellato
26-years-old
6’3″
Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Team Nogueira
8-1
4 KO/TKOs, 4 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 23-11
Vitor Petrino
24-years-old
6’2″
Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
CM System
6-0
5 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent’s record: 26-31

Pros and Cons

Rodolfo Bellato

Pros

  • Excellent jiu-jitsu
  • Fight-ending ground and pound
  • Explosive
  • Submission threat
  • Dangerous off his back
  • Physically strong
  • Good jab
  • Good output

Cons

  • Questionable chin
  • Rushes in

Vitor Petrino

Pros

  • Athletic
  • Good output
  • Explosive
  • Good knees
  • Dangeors counter striker
  • Good elbows
  • Wrestles well
  • Competent grappling

Cons

  • TDD needs work

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Petrino
Speed: Petrino
Output/Volume: Bellato
Kickboxing: Petrino
Striking defense: Petrino
Footwork/movement: Petrino
Wrestling: Bellato
Grappling: Bellato
More likely to finish on the mat: Bellato
Gas tank: Petrino

Prediction: In a rather rare occurrence on DWCS, this bout is a rematch from their fight in 2019. In that meeting, Petrino won by knockout in only twenty-five seconds. A great win for Petrino but you can’t really determine who the better fighter is in such a short amount of fight time.

I think it only takes one time for the fight to hit the mat for Bellato to submit Petrino. The longer he stays on the feet he risks getting caught by Petrino. Petrino I think would benefit from starting fast and drawing Bellato into a brawl. I think as long as Bellato is composed he will find a takedown.

Petrino could very well catch Bellato but my pick is Bellato by submission.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR