Will week three be another five-contract week? Read on for our DWCS breakdown and predictions!

Middleweight: Eli Aronov vs. Zachary Reese

Tale of the tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Reese
Speed: Reese
Output/Volume: Reese
Kickboxing: Reese
Striking defense: Reese
Footwork/movement: Reese
Wrestling: Aronov
Grappling: Aronov
Gas tank: Aronov

Prediction: This is an interesting fight between two guys that still have a lot of “what ifs” surrounding them. Aronov is coming off a huge win against Contender Series alum Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz. That was a solid win but the other wins not so much. He had to go to Canada to get a formidable opponent. The other fights he fought in Israel and he’s not fighting good opposition there.

Reese hasn’t fought much better competition. He beat TUF alum Aaron Phillips but that isn’t much of a challenge at this level. The biggest hurdle for Reese is he’s never fought past the first round as a pro.

I know Aronov’s cardio isn’t good but I don’t know if Reese has bad cardio or not. There may be some recency bias with Aronov due to his last fight. He did look good but he has a lot of stuff to work on. He’s a short middleweight and his striking defense lacks big time. His footwork and head movement isn’t where it should be with someone at a big height disadvantage. Reese is a big middleweight and his takedown defense seems pretty good. He hasn’t been tested against a wrestler like Aronov but Reese is at least good off his back.

This is a hard fight to pick but I like Reese for the upset. He’s bigger, has better stand-up, and has more tools to win. Aronov will probably be able to get the takedowns but the gap on the feet will be too wide on the feet. I can’t pick someone five inches shorter with poor striking defense.

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There were a whole lot of Pyfer’s so far this year, and the UFC roster was going to have to find room for them. Would that trend continue in the third instalment of the season? There were certainly some promising fights.

A pair of undefeated prospects faced off at middleweight, with Israel’s Eli Aronov taking on Zachary Reese. Both fighters had well under 10 pro bouts to their name, so this one might be a little too soon. But Isis Verbeek and Josefine Knutsson represented two decorated kickboxers looking to make it in MMA, while Luciano Pereira vs. Felipe dos Santos had the potential to be fight of the season.

Weigh-ins for Dana White’s  Contender Series Season 7, Week 3 take place Monday in Las Vegas — check below for results.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 7, Week 3 Weigh-In Results

Middleweight: Eli Aronov (185.5) vs. Zachary Reese (185.5)
Welterweight: Oban Elliott (170.5) Vs. Kaik Brito (169)
Women’s Strawweight: Isis Verbeek (114.5) vs. Josefine Knutsson (116)
Featherweight: Robbie Ring (145.5) vs. Luis Pajuelo (145.5)
Flyweight: Luciano Pereira vs. Felipe dos Santos (124.5)**

** Fight has been canceled.

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