The latest episode of Dana White’s Contender Series has a redemption arc for a couple of fighters, under very different circumstances.
DWCS has always been open to giving second chances, and even thirds, but in this case, it’s a TUF cast member, and a would-be Ultimate Fighter cast member, who are getting another crack at the UFC. Heavyweight Chandler Cole appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 30, where things did not go his way — but he’s won a couple of fights since.
Mitch Ramirez was supposed to appear on The Ultimate Fighter 31, only to be yanked from the show to make room for one of Conor McGregor’s guys. The snub did not go over well with fight fans, who saw it as a particularly egregious form of nepotism, but Ramirez finally gets his shot on Tuesday.
The full card made weight on Monday, so here’s a took at Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7 Episode 4!
Lightweight: Dylan Salvador vs. Bolaji Oki
Tale of the Tape
30-years-old
5’9″
Lyon, France/Atlanta, US
Nasser-K
5-1
1 KO/TKO, 4 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 30-17
27-years-old
5’10″
Belgium
Da Vinci Fighting
7-1
4 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
Combined opponent’s record: 48-49-1
Pros and Cons
Dylan Salvador
Pros
- Athletic
- Explosive
- Submission threat
- Good get-up ability
- Utilizes trips well
- Aggressive
- Durable
- Chopping leg kicks
- Good jiu-jitsu
- Excellent clinch work
Cons
- TDD needs a little work
Bolaji Oki
Pros
- Good jab
- Explosive
- Nice bodywork
- Heavy leg kicks
- Dangerous knees
- Good counter striker
- Good head movement
- Patient/Picks his shots
- Good shot-selection
- Athletic
Cons
- TDD needs some work
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Salvador
Speed: Salvador
Output/Volume: Salvador
Kickboxing: Salvador
Striking defense: Oki
Footwork/movement: Oki
Wrestling: Oki
Grappling: Salvador
Gas tank: Even
Prediction: Up to this week this is my favorite fight booked thus far for DWCS 2023. Salvador is more known to the larger audience and Oki should have more eyes on him than he has. On paper, you see Salvador has four submissions so you would think he’s a grappler. That is not the case.
Salvador competed in muay thai and kickboxing for years before transitioning into MMA. He’s 4-1 in MMA and 64-16-2 in kickboxing/muay thai. Salvador is a former two-weight WAKO World champion and fought five times for Glory. He won the Glory lightweight contender tournament in 2016. Salvador has a kickboxing win over UFC contender Giga Chikadze.
Oki is currently the best fighter out of Belgium. The UFC has only had two fighters from the county fight in the UFC and neither won a fight. If Oki was to get to the UFC he definitely would be the first one to get a win for his home country. Oki’s only loss came in his debut so he’s won his seven fights consecutively. He has a key win over Nair Melikyan who was supposed to fight on the Contender Series last season.
This is a fantastic fight between two serious strikers. Oki is more powerful and precise whereas Salvador is more volume-based and aggressive. It could come down to who can mix in a few takedowns but I like the takedown defense enough from both to believe this will come down to who has the better striking. I’m slightly leaning toward Salvador. Melikyan gave Oki some issues with his pressure so Salvador should have even more success. I’m picking Salvador because he’s more pressure-heavy in-your-face that I think can wear on Oki. Love the fight though and I believe we see both in the UFC regardless.
