Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; UFC CEO and president Dana White during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
- Dana White’s Contender Series Week 2 goes down Tuesday night at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas
- Andreas Gustafsson vs Pat Pytlik headlines an action-packed card featuring top prospects
- Read on for Dana White’s Contender Series Week 2 odds, picks, and predictions
Dana White’s Contender Series returns for its second week of action on Tuesday night (Aug 20) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. This popular series gives up-and-coming MMA fighters a chance to earn a coveted UFC contract by impressing Dana White with their performances.
Headlining the card is a welterweight clash between Sweden’s Andreas Gustafsson and Canada’s Pat Pytlik. With four other compelling matchups featuring hungry prospects, DWCS Week 2 promises high-stakes drama and potential UFC stars in the making.
Let’s break down the odds for each fight, as we provide analysis and betting predictions to help you make informed wagers
Dana White’s Contender Series Week 2 Odds
| Fighter | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Brand | +3.5 (-135) | +142 | O 2.5 -120 |
| Cody Haddon | -3.5 (+100) | -170 | U 2.5 -110 |
| Fighter | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under Rounds |
| Cam Rowston | +3.5 (+180) | +285 | O 1.5 -135 |
| Torrez Finney | -3.5 (-250) | -360 | U 1.5 +105 |
| Fighter | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under Rounds |
| Cortavious Romious | -3.5 (-265) | -375 | O 1.5 +140 |
| Michael Imperato | +3.5 +190 | +295 | U 1.5 -180 |
| Fighter | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under Rounds |
| Rizvan Kuniev | -3.5 -285 | -675 | O 2.5 -120 |
| Hugo Cunha | +3.5 +200 | +490 | U 2.5 -110 |
| Fighter | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under Rounds |
| Pat Pytlik | +3.5 +125 | +200 | O 1.5 -110 |
| Andreas Gustafsson | -3.5 -175 | -245 | U 1.5 -120 |
In the Season 8 Dana White Contender Series odds for Week 2, Cortavious Romious comes in as the heaviest favorite on the card at -375. That is an implied win probability of 86.5%.
Fans can catch all the fight live on ESPN+, with the broadcasting getting underway at 8:00 pm ET.
Odds as of August 20, 2024, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Register with the DraftKings promo code to wager on the Dana White Contender Series odds.
Andreas Gustafsson vs Pat Pytlik Prediction
The main event between welterweights Andreas Gustafsson and Pat Pytlik has all the ingredients for a barnburner. These two guys have a combined 19 finishes in 21 wins, so you know it will be pure violence.
Gustafsson, the -245 favorite, has a knack for putting guys away early or ragdolling them against the fence. He’s faced way tougher competition than Pytlik, including an amateur win over current UFC fighter Christian Leroy Duncan.
Andreas Gustafsson (170.5)#DWCS pic.twitter.com/YrgcIKnRPG
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) August 19, 2024
Pytlik’s technical muay Thai and crushing leg kicks could be a factor if he can maintain distance. But at 35, with just two fights since 2019, the Canadian vet might have a tough time dealing with Gustafsson’s constant forward pressure.
Look for the Swede to lean on his dirty boxing in close quarters, wearing down Pytlik before putting him away late. I think there’s solid value in betting Gustafsson to win by KO/TKO at +150.
- Pick: Gustafsson via TKO (+150)
Torrez Finney vs Cam Rowston Prediction
Wrestling powerhouse Torrez Finney makes his second DWCS appearance against New Zealand’s Cam Rowston. Finney is the second-heaviest favorite in the Dana White Contender Season 2 odds for a good reason.
It’s surprising that Finney didn’t get a contract last season despite moving to 8-0 with a dominant submission win. Since then, he’s notched two more finishes and shown improved striking to go with his suffocating grappling.
The undefeated Torrez Finney fights once again for a UFC contract tonight. Hopefully this time he gets it. pic.twitter.com/I61VaFsBhJ
— Cerebral Vigilante (@Delisketo) August 20, 2024
Rowston trains at the renowned City Kickboxing gym, but his strength of schedule pales in comparison to Finney’s. The Kiwi will have a size advantage at 6’2″ against the 5’8″ Finney, but I don’t see him having the skills to keep the compact wrestling machine at bay.
Instead of laying the hefty -360 moneyline on Finney, I prefer playing him to win inside the distance at a more reasonable -155. Expect “The Finisher” to drag Rowston to the mat and pound him out.
- Pick: Finney wins inside the distance (-155)
Rizvan Kuniev vs Hugo Cunha Best Bet
Russian heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev is back on DWCS after a failed drug test overturned his PFL win over current champ Renan Ferreira. The Sanda specialist excels at ragdolling opponents to the mat, but his ground game isn’t the most refined.
Brazil’s Hugo Cunha looks like a live unerdog at +490. The LFA champ has legit wrestling and BJJ chops, though his striking is a bit wild. If Kuniev gasses without the PEDs, Cunha could steal this one late.
I’m not in love with either side of the moneyline, but I’ll be keeping an eye on the live odds for a potential play on Cunha if he weathers the early storm.
- Pick: Live underdog bet on Cunha
Billy Brand vs Cody Haddon Pick
The opening bout pits California’s Billy Brand against Australian prospect Billy Brand. Alpha Male product Brand brings elite striking to the cage, but I’m backing Haddon at -170 in the DWCS odds.
The former amateur boxer has a complete game, flawlessly mixing in wrestling and submissions with his hands. Plus, fighters from Down Under have been killing it on DWCS lately.
Brand’s power gives him a fighting chance, but Haddon’s durability and grappling edge should see him through. The over 2.5 rounds prop at -120 is also my pick, as Haddon may opt to grind this one out and showcase his complete skill set.
- Haddon by decision (-120)
- Over 2.5 rounds (-120)
Cortavious Romious vs Michael Imperato Picks
Fan favorite Cortavious Romious looks to bounce back from last season’s quick DWCS loss. At just 5’4″, he’ll always be at a height disadvantage, but the athletic grappler has a nasty submission game.
Cortavious Romious lands an INSANE 20 SECOND spinning back kick KO 🥶
Romious looks for redemption tonight as he gets a second chance on the Contender Series. pic.twitter.com/IWusCvxiZE
— BluBets (@BluBets_) August 20, 2024
Canada’s Michael Imperato is actually the much more experienced pro at 12-6. But at 34, he’s been alternating wins and losses lately and looked pretty rough at weigh-ins. If Romious can get inside and make this a grappling match, his pace and arsenal of chokes could be too much.
I think there’s some value in Imperato as a +295 underdog given Romious’ one-dimensional approach. I’m making a smaller play on the Canadian in this spot, predicting he’ll be able to keep distance enough to pull an upset.
- Romious by submission (+150)
Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.
The Dana White Contender Series is back for its second week of action on August 20th, and fight fans are eagerly anticipating another exciting night of matchups. With a mix of up-and-coming prospects and seasoned veterans looking to make a statement, the stakes are high for all the fighters involved.
As with any fight card, there are plenty of odds, picks, and predictions to consider when it comes to betting on the outcomes of the fights. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key matchups and analyze the odds for each fight.
In the main event of the evening, we have a featherweight bout between TJ Laramie and Daniel Swain. Laramie comes into the fight as the favorite with odds of -200, while Swain is the underdog at +150. Laramie is a highly touted prospect with a 12-3 record and is looking to make a statement in front of Dana White and secure a UFC contract. Swain, on the other hand, is a seasoned veteran with a 20-10-1 record and will be looking to play spoiler and pull off the upset.
In the co-main event, we have a bantamweight matchup between Brady Hiestand and Victor Altamirano. Hiestand is the favorite with odds of -150, while Altamirano is the underdog at +120. Hiestand is a former collegiate wrestler with a 5-1 record and is looking to showcase his skills and earn a UFC contract. Altamirano is a tough competitor with a 8-1 record and will be looking to prove that he belongs in the UFC.
Other notable matchups on the card include a lightweight bout between Danyelle Wolf and Taneisha Tennant, with Wolf coming in as the favorite at -175 and Tennant as the underdog at +135. There is also a middleweight matchup between Phil Rowe and Leon Shahbazyan, with Rowe as the favorite at -160 and Shahbazyan as the underdog at +130.
When it comes to making picks and predictions for these fights, it’s important to consider factors such as fighting styles, experience, and recent performances. While odds can give us an idea of who the favorites are, anything can happen in MMA, and upsets are always a possibility.
Overall, Dana White Contender Series Week 2 promises to be an exciting night of fights with plenty of potential for fireworks. Whether you’re a fan looking to enjoy some high-level MMA action or a bettor looking to make some money, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on August 20th. Stay tuned for all the action and see which fighters will earn their shot at a UFC contract.