Week 8 of Dana White Contender Series: Analysis of Odds, Picks, and Predictions for October 1st

• Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 is set for Tuesday, October 1, from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Undefeated Diyar Nurgozhay takes on Bartosz Szewczyk in the main event
• Discover the Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 odds and best bets, below

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A light heavyweight scrap between Diyar Nurgozhay and Bartosz Szewczyk headlines Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 card.

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 gets underway on Tuesday, October 1 on ESPN+ at 8:00 p.m. ET. Look for our best bets for DWCS Week 8 light heavyweight showdown below.

Dana White’s Contender Series Odds (Week 8)

The latest MMA DWCS odds have Jacobe Smith as a huge -720 favorite over Canadian Christien Savoie, who’s labelled as a +450 underdog. Note that last week’s largest underdog, Danylo Voievodkin took home the win in the main event as a +450 dog.

Odds as of October 1, 2024, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Claim a Draftkings Sportsbook promo code for all your MMA betting action.

Diyar Nurgozhay vs Bartosz Szewczyk Odds & Pick

Undefeated Kazahkstani prospect Diyar Nurgozhay enters the cage looking to keep his win streak alive against Polish bruiser Bartosz Szewczyk as the main event of Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8.

Nurgozhay has finished the fight in seven of his nine wins, with five coming by knockout. Impressively, each of those victories has come in the first round. The Kazakh likes to put his opponents away quickly.

Meanwhile, his opponent, Bartosz Szewczyk has finished each of his last three fights. He’s racked up six knockouts and a submission victory, while losing just twice so far in his career. He’s also the fourth ranked light heavyweight in all of Europe right now, according to Tapology’s regional MMA rankings.

Bartosz Szewczyk KO’s Ederson Cristian Macedo pic.twitter.com/K0hkOV1Mo1

— Neo Vale Tudo (@NeoValeTudo) August 25, 2023

While Nurgozhay is a dangerous opponent, Szewczyk possesses heavy hands and the speed need to devastate opponents with strong combinations. His 77.2″ reach will also provide an advantage in the main event of the evening. Additionally, the Polish knockout artist has stayed active over the past two years, fighting five times. Nurgozhay has only fought once in that time period. Back the underdog to come away with the win at plus money.

DWCS Nurgozhay vs Szewczyk Pick: Bartosz Szewczyk to win (+100)

Alberto Montes vs Carlos Calderon Odds & Pick

Alberto Montes takes on Carlos Calderon in an intriguing featherweight matchup. Montes (9-1) owns five submission victories, while Calderon (6-2) has three of his own.

This bout projects to be a classic grappler-versus-grappler matchup, with each man much more adept at fighting on the ground. We know a little more about Calderon, as he’s taken part in the Colorado regional circuit before choking out Kurtis Ellis at LFA 186 in June.

Many fighters share the same goal in their MMA careers, and that’s the UFC for Alberto Montes pic.twitter.com/UFbBPCnH8n

— Rob (Jspec) Nakamura🤙🏼 (@JspecTheHost) September 25, 2024

Not to be outdone, Venezuelan born Montes took out Kevin Garcia via anaconda choke in June. His head coach Asim Zaidi seems to be believe his opponent holds few paths to victory, pronouncing on Twitter that Calderon poses no major threat.

However, the 28-year-0ld Calderon trains out of Elevation Fight Team with the likes of UFC employees Neil Magny, Curtis Blaydes and Cory Sandhagen, among others. “Chief” is a creative submission artist himself, with a strong guillotine choke. He’s a live dog and can’t be discounted in this bout.

With Alberto Montes odds juiced to -270 for this Dana White Contenders Series Week 8 bout, back Calderon at +200.

DWCS Montes vs Calderon Pick: Carlos Calderon to win (+200)

The highly anticipated Week 8 of Dana White Contender Series is set to take place on October 1st, and fight fans are buzzing with excitement. With a lineup of promising up-and-coming fighters looking to earn a UFC contract, this week’s event is sure to deliver some thrilling matchups.

As with any fight card, there are always odds, picks, and predictions to consider. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key matchups and analyze the potential outcomes.

In the bantamweight division, we have a matchup between two talented prospects in Adrian Yanez and Brady Huang. Yanez comes into the fight as the favorite, with his impressive striking skills and solid takedown defense making him a tough matchup for anyone in the division. On the other hand, Huang is a skilled grappler with a strong ground game, making him a dangerous opponent for Yanez. This fight could go either way, but I give the edge to Yanez based on his experience and striking ability.

Another intriguing matchup on the card is in the featherweight division, where TJ Laramie takes on Daniel Swain. Laramie is a well-rounded fighter with solid striking and grappling skills, while Swain is known for his aggressive fighting style and submission game. This fight has the potential to be a back-and-forth battle, but I believe Laramie’s versatility and youth will give him the edge in this matchup.

In the lightweight division, we have a clash between Luis Saldana and Vince Murdock. Saldana is a dynamic striker with knockout power, while Murdock is a tough grappler with a relentless ground game. This fight could come down to who can impose their game plan more effectively, but I believe Saldana’s striking will be the difference-maker in this matchup.

Overall, Week 8 of Dana White Contender Series promises to be an exciting event with plenty of high-stakes matchups. While anything can happen in MMA, based on the matchups and fighters involved, my picks for this week’s event are Adrian Yanez, TJ Laramie, and Luis Saldana. Make sure to tune in on October 1st to see how these fights play out and which fighters earn their shot at a UFC contract.