Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7 continues rolling right along with Week 8 arriving Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Last week, DWCS had a historic first, as a UFC contract was awarded to a fighter whose bout went to a draw.
This time around, the show has more heavyweight action, New England Cartel alum Angel Pacheco, and former UAE Warriors champ Vinicius de Oliveira in action, among others.
Here’s a look closer look at DWCS 2023 Episode 8.
Welterweight, Raheam Forest vs. Danny Barlow
Tale of the Tape
26-years-old
5’11”
Memphis, Tennessee, US
Memphis Judo and Jiu-Jitsu
7-1
4 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
Combined opponent’s record: 26-10
28-years-old
6’2″
Memphis, Tennessee, US
Law School MMA
6-0
3 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
Combined opponent’s record: 11-16
Pros and Cons
Raheam Forest
Pros
- Heavy hands
- Very explosive
- Heavy kicks
- Fast starter
- Nasty ground and pound
- Good wrestling
- Dangerous in exchanges
- Constant forward pressure
- Heavy top control
- Submission threat
- Physically strong
- Good gas tank
Cons
- Poor TDD
- Grappling defense lacks
Danny Barlow
Pros
- Heavy hands
- Fast starter
- Good kicks/Diverse
- Good counter striker
- Laser straight left-hand
- Hits hard
- Very athletic
- Explosive
- Good jab
- Uses feints well
- Well-conditioned
Cons
- TDD needs work
- Grappling defense lacks
- Throws single strikes
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Barlow
Speed: Forest
Output/Volume: Forest
Kickboxing: Barlow
Striking defense: Barlow
Footwork/movement: Barlow
Wrestling: Forest
Grappling: Forest
Gas tank: Even
Prediction: Forest is a former CFFC welterweight champion. He lost that title to current UFC fighter Charles Radtke last April but did get back on the board in July. Forest has been fighting good competition for CFFC.
Barlow isn’t nearly as tested. He’s been fighting low-level opponents. With that said he’s treating those guys as expected with one-sided performances.
Both are strikers and this is where I see this fight taking place. Although both are strikers they are two different types of strikers. Forest is an aggressive explosive power puncher who puts everything into his punches and kicks. Barlow is more of a technical fighter who is patient and uses feints to find openings.
I favor the guy that’s going to come out aggressive and look for the finish and that’s Forest. I do think Barlow is fully capable of catching Forest. Forest is more proven and Barlow hasn’t fought someone with this much power however. I even think Forest could mix in a few takedowns as well. The pick is Forest by TKO.
