We hit the midway point of Dana White’s Contender Series Season 8 this week, and there are some interesting names on this latest DWCS installment. Those include Yousri Belgaroui, a former GLORY kickboxing champ, and if you want to know why he might be of interest to the UFC, look no further than Alex Pereira and the sort of success he has had crossing over from kickboxing.
Speaking of Pereira, the man who beat him early on in his MMA career arrives on the Contender Series this week, as Quemuel Ottoni takes on the undefeated Kody Steele. And Corinne Laframboise, who was to have appeared on the Contender Series last year before learning she was pregnant, finally gets her shot at the UFC.
We’ve got you covered as always on this week’s action – read on for our predictions!
Light-heavyweight, Navajo Stirling (4-0) vs. Phillip Latu (6-1)
Notable Notes
- This fight was originally scheduled four different ways.
- Latu previously fought at heavyweight.
- Stirling won titles at both light-heavyweight and heavyweight.
- Both have kickboxing backgrounds.
- Both have six combined wins by KO/TKO.
- Latu has never gone the distance. Stirling has and won unanimously.
Navajo Stirling
Pros
- Solid kickboxing
- Uses feints well
- Good bodywork
- Good shot-selection
- Solid vision
- Accurate
Cons
- Can be low volume
Phillip Latu
Pros
- Good kicks
- Uses feints well
- Fast hands
Cons
- Keeps hands low
- Sits in the pocket for too long
- Questionable TDD
Prediction: I was underwhelmed when I first started tape on Latu. When you look at his loss and compare it to his last few fights he looks like a different fighter however. In a good way, as I can see him as a UFC fighter. With Stirling, he doesn’t have a lot of tape out there but of what’s available you can see the potential. He’s two-time King in the Cage champion (kickboxing). Stirling is based out of Auckland, New Zealand, and trains out of City Kickboxing.
Both are strikers but Stirling will actually attempt takedowns and at least looks competent. Stirling has some questions like his cardio, chin, and how he faces adversity. He may of went through all that but we don’t know because there is no tape on him that shows it. Still, in a pure striking/kickboxing fight Stirling is on a level above Latu.
Latu is dangerous with his hands but with Stirling it’s multiple layers. Stirling can go to the body, pick apart opponents from range, and land knees and elbows in the clinch. He does all that while creating traps. He’s a very high IQ fighter and that means so much more with the higher weight classes. I feel Stirling will pick apart Latu at range and land a knockout blow as Latu comes forward. I’ve got Stirling by TKO in round two and I’m 90% confident.
