Middleweight: Torrez Finney Vs. Yuri Panferov
Tale of the Tape
24-years-old
5’7″
Chattanooga, Tennessee, US
Agoge Combatives
6-0
5 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent’s record: 20-28-1
26-years-old
6’0″
Russin/Connecticut, US
Ultimate MMA
6-0
1 KO/TKO, 5 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 14-21
Pros and Cons
Torrez Finney
Pros
- Insanely strong
- Strong wrestling
- Heavy ground and pound
- Aggressive
- Fast starter
- Heavy top position
- Positional ground and pound
- Smooth guard passes
- Solid cardio
- Strikes to wrestle well
Cons
- Nothing on the feet
- Loose in dominant positions
Yuri Panferov
Pros
- Good ground and pound
- Submission threat
- Good jiu-jitsu
- Utilizes trips well
Cons
- Nothing on the feet
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Even
Speed: Finney
Output/Volume: Finney
Kickboxing: Panferov
Striking defense: Even
Footwork/movement: Even
Wrestling: Finney
Grappling: Panferov
Gas tank: Finney
Prediction: I didn’t expect to see both of these guys on the Contender Series just yet. Both have fought terrible competition. Finney has at least fought someone with a winning record. Panferov has fought beyond terrible competition as nobody he’s beaten has a winning record.
Both are wrestlers/grapplers and that’s where I see the fight taking place. Finney isn’t the most technical wrestling but it’s not needed but when you’re a tank. Finney doesn’t even need his hands clasped to lift guys and slam them down like they’re in a WWE ring. Panferov isn’t a great wrestler but does have better technique. Finney relies on heavy pressure and ground and pound. Panferov has much better jiu-jistu.
I feel pretty confident in Finney. I don’t see Panferov being able to control Finney in the grappling. He’s got those big trap muscles so I don’t see Panferson submitting Finney with a choke. Panferov hasn’t ever left round one as a pro and Finney has. Usually, fighters with so much muscle tend to have a low gas tank but Finney has fought three rounds with the same pace throughout. I have Finney hitting the takedowns and if he’s taken down I see him getting right back up. I predict a late TKO stoppage from Finney.
