The undefeated heavyweights in question were Shmil Ghaziev (10-0) and Greg Velasco (6-0), the latter a Cage Fury FC champion. The only downside to the match-up was that one of them would have to lose and be denied a UFC deal — given how desperate the promotion is for heavyweights, it might have been a better idea to just sign the pair of them outright.

Talita Alencar, meanwhile, brought some serious jiu-jitsu credentials with her to this week’s DWCS outing. But whether she had the wrestling to get Stephanie Luciano down in order to use her BJJ was another question entirely.

Igor Da Silva, a 20-year old flyweight out of Brazil, was a hot prospect at 7-0, but would be getting a solid opponent in Jhonata Silva.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 7 gets underway at 8PM ET on ESPN+ in the U.S., and UFC Fight Pass elsewhere. Full results can be found below.

To kick off Tuesday nights action, Igor Da Silva put away Jhonata Silva on the feet after storming out of the gate in the second round. One fight later, it was Kaynan Kruschewsky enduring a bit of early adversity before submitting Dylan Mantello inside of a round.

In the lone women’s fight of the night, Talita Alencar found some success with her takedowns but struggled to impose her will with her highly touted jiu-jitsu game, thanks in part to Stephanie Luciano’s length and flexibility. Then, in the third, with Alencar tiring, Luciano came on strong, lighting Alencar up at times but making the questionable decision to engage on the ground repeatedly. Some Fight IQ issues there to be sure, but Luciano came close to finishing and did enough to earn a 10-8 round, making the fight a draw.

Daniel James would go on to win a unanimous decision over JaCobi Jones, pulling off the upset, while Shamil Gaziev didn’t take long to submit CFFC champ Greg Velasco. Velasco didn’t seem able to fight the hands and quickly tapped when the big man took his back.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 7 Results

Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev def. Greg Velasco by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:38
Lightweight: Daniel James Allen def. JaCobi Jones by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Women’s Strawweight: Talita Alencar vs. Stephanie Luciano ends in a unanimous draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28)
Lightweight: Kaynan Kruschewsky def. Dylan Mantello by technical submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:52
Flyweight: Igor da Silva def. Jhonata Silva by TKO (strikes), Round 2, 2:37

Contract Winners: Igor da Silva, Kaynan Kruschewsky, Stephanie Luciano, Shamil Gaziev

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Our breakdown and predictions are set for DWCS 2023 Episode 7! Read on!

Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev Vs. Greg Velasco

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Gaziev
Speed:  Gaziev
Output/Volume: Gaziev
Kickboxing: Velasco
Striking defense: Velasco
Footwork/movement: Gaziev
Wrestling: Gaziev
Grappling: Velasco
Gas tank: Velasco

Prediction: The UFC needs to sign all the heavyweights they can so matching two of the best prospects against each other here is confusing.

Both men have accomplished a lot in their MMA careers thus far. Gaziev was an IMMAF world champion as an amateur. Even though he hasn’t won any titles as a pro he’s beat good competition. Wins over Kirill Kornilov and Darko Stosic are solid wins. Velasco hasn’t fought quite as good competition but at heavyweight, it could definitely be worse. He is the current CFFC heavyweight champion with one title defense.

There is a lot of hype behind Gaziev and rightfully so. He has some major holes being his gas tank and his striking defense. For striking defense to be a concern at heavyweight isn’t a good match. He doesn’t have to worry about that here because Velasco isn’t a power puncher. Gaziev does have to worry about the cardio because Velasco has very good heavyweight cardio. Most think Gaziev dominates this fight but I think it’s closer than that.

I am ultimately picking Gaziev because I think he’s a bad match-up for Velasco. Gaziev is the bigger and stronger man with the better wrestling technique. I do favor the jiu-jitsu of Velasco but the top position of Gaziev will be good enough. If Velasco had better striking I would pick him in this fight. In fact, I think Gaziev could chin-check Velasco, especially with how his hands have looked lately. I either think Gaziev finishes early with a blitz of strikes or he wins by decision by takedowns and top position.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJWXDgZ3qeQ&pp=ygUNU2hhbWlsIEdhemlldg%3D%3D

The post DWCS 2023: Episode 7 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

What does Week 7 have in store for fight fans? Well, if the name Talita Alencar rings a bell, then you’ve probably got your eye on the grappling scene. The 32-year old might be just 4-0 since making her pro MMA debut in 2021, a bit of a late start, but she holds a treasure chest of gold medals in BJJ, with a laundry list of accolades saying ultimately one thing: do not go to the ground with this woman!

We’ll see if fellow strawweight Stephanie Luciano can manage that come Tuesday night.

At heavyweight, a pair of undefeated talents collide when 10-0 Shamil Ghaziev meets the 6-0 Greg Velaso, meanwhile.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 7 does down Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at the UFC Apex, with weigh-ins coming a day earlier and getting underway at noon PT on Monday. Full weigh-in results can be found below.

No misses at the scale on Monday — all fighters made weight for Week 7.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 7 Weigh-In Results

Women’s Strawweight: Talita Alencar (115) vs. Stephanie Luciano (115.5)
Lightweight: Kaynan Kruschewsky (154) vs. Dylan Mantello (155)
Flyweight: Jhonata Silva (125.5) vs. Igor da Silva (125.5)
Heavyweight: Shamil Ghaziev (259.5) vs. Greg Velasco (263.5)
Lightweight: JaCobi Jones (156) vs. Daniel James Allen (156)

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