DWCS 2025: Episode 6 Breakdown and Predictions

Lightweight, Thomas Gantt (10-0) Vs. Adam Livingston (6-0)

Notable Notes

• Livingston is eight years younger
• Gantt has found fourteen times in one year
• Livingston has fought four guys with a losing record. Three without a win
• Gantt has fought eight guys with a losing record
• Gantt is 15-0 and 1 NC as a pro and amateur
• Both have wins via KO/TKO, submission, and decision
• Gantt has fought at 185 and 170. This is his debut at 155

Thomas Gantt

In wrestling, Gantt was a Division 1 All-American wrestler at NC State. He was an ACC champion and won a few international tournaments on the Olympic wrestling scene. He ranked as high as fourth on the Team USA ladder.

The standout welterweight from Raleigh, North Carolina, has been a menace as a mixed martial arts. Yeah, he’s fought lesser guys, but treating them as such, never having lost even a round thus far. His winning ways do come because of his wrestling, but a lot of other variables come with it.

We’ve seen over and over in MMA that just because somebody was a good college wrestler, it doesn’t translate to MMA wrestling. It’s worked out pretty well for Gantt. The only thing negative I can say is that he reaches too much at times when closing the distance. It’s not been an issue because it’s been about putting who he’s fighting against the cage and working from there. As a wrestler in MMA, it’s super important to cage wrestler and that’s where Gantt has been a force. He’s a brilliant tactical wrestler who knows how to use a lot of tricks. That could be to isolate a leg into a single and ankle pick the planted foot. He does a great job of getting the hands clasped high and using knee taps to get the fight down. Gantt chain wrestler so well, going from the upper body down to the legs.

For a wrestler, it’s what you can do when you get the takedown. For Gantt, it’s been smashing who he’s fighting. I think the biggest issue with his entire game is his lack of jiu-jitsu control. He’s good at the wrist rides and controlling the upper body. In terms of taking the back and putting your hooks in it seems like he’s not there yet. It hasn’t become an issue yet because even if who he’s fighting gets to their feet, they go right back down. Gantt has been getting better and better at attacking the neck, but his ground and pound is nasty. The entire time, it’s been about inflicting damage. Not usually, you will see someone attack the body in the ground and pound. Gantt will, and he’ll do it with knees and elbows as well. Gantt loves to use his elbows and will do so from in side control, mount, knee-on-belly, and full guard. He’s just relentless with those, and it’s played a massive part in his undefeated record.

Gantt hasn’t spent a lot of time on his feet in MMA, but has looked comfortable. Gantt throws a good jab and a straight right. I’d say his best work comes from the clinch, where he uses those elbows and knees. In fact, his clinch work altogether is damn good.

No glaring holes, but not enough evidence to really see, especially on the feet. No reason, though, with the level of wrestler Gantt is at. In his fight with Montrel James, he went a hard three rounds fighting at the same pace, never slowing down. He has yet to get truly tested, but Gantt looks a special talent to me.

Adam Livingston

Livingston is clearly a talented prospect, but this opportunity feels too soon. His record is built on very weak competition, and the two times he faced solid opposition as an amateur, he came up short. The raw ability is obvious on tape, but so is how unrefined he still is.

He’s a striker first and foremost, though he does pose a threat with front-choke submissions. His takedown defense in open space looks serviceable—he sprawls well and can escape clean—but his cage wrestling is a concern. He’s made costly mistakes in those situations, the kind that a strong wrestler would easily exploit.

On the feet, Livingston is much more at home. His striking is fluid and combination-heavy, built on tempo changes—he touches with light shots before exploding with power. He mixes his offense well, throwing punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and the occasional spin. The spinning backfist is sharp, but the spinning kicks are ineffective and waste energy. His high-paced, high-output style leans heavily on cardio, and while he does keep the offense flowing, he slows down as fights go on. When tired, his already low guard drops further, and his defense begins to unravel, leaving him hittable.

Livingston has real potential as a striker, but at this stage, he’s still green and too reliant on raw talent rather than polished execution.

Prediction: Classic wrestler vs. striker matchup, though both are competent everywhere. If Livingston’s cage wrestling really is a weakness, Gantt is the type to exploit it. While Gantt’s striking is still developing, Livingston’s volume and variety could overwhelm him if he’s able to stay at range.

For Livingston, the key is to stick and move—working behind his output and keeping Gantt at the end of his strikes. Gantt, meanwhile, will look to smother him in the clinch, mix in takedowns, and grind from top position, landing heavy GnP. Over time, Gantt’s forward pressure and physicality seem more reliable than Livingston’s takedown defense.

I lean Gantt here. His pressure and wrestling should wear on Livingston as the fight goes on, leading to control time, damage, and eventually a decision win.