Week 4 of Dana White Contender Series: Analysis of Odds, Picks, and Predictions for September 3rd

Mar 25, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; UFC president Dana White at a press conference after UFC Fight Night at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Meullion-USA TODAY Sports

• Dana White’s Contender Series Week 4 emanates from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas this Tuesday (September 3)
• Igor Cavalcanti vs Seokhyeon Ko headlines an action-packed five-fight card
• Read on for DWCS Week 4 odds, picks, predictions and best bets for every fight

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The hunt for the next UFC superstar continues as Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) enters Week 4 of the 2024 season.

On Tuesday night, fighters will step into the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with dreams of impressing UFC President Dana White and earning a coveted UFC contract. The action kicks off at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT exclusively on ESPN+.

The Week 4 headliner features an intriguing welterweight matchup between unbeaten Brazilian prospect Igor Cavalcanti (9-0) and South Korea’s knockout artist Seokhyeon Ko (10-2). Before that, four other bouts showcase hungry prospects eager to prove they belong in MMA’s major leagues.

Let’s break down the odds, matchups, and best bets for DWCS Week 4. All odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Here is the table with the latest odds for Dana White’s Contender Series Week 4:

Dana White Contender Odds

Odds as of September 3rd, 2024, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Sign-up with the DraftKings promo code to bet on the Dana White Contender Series odds.

Quillan Salkilld vs Gauge Young Prediction

Eternal MMA standout Quillan Salkilld (6-1) brings a versatile, aggressive style as he looks to extend his six-fight win streak. The 6-foot Aussie has a rangy striking arsenal, a strong clinch game, and slick submissions. His lone loss came in his 2021 pro debut.

On weight and ready for tomorrow night ⚔️

Let’s have some fun 🇦🇺🏴‍☠️

📷: Ken Hathaway for @MMAJunkie pic.twitter.com/v1gbhf9cBY

— Quillan Salkilld (@quillansalkilld) September 2, 2024

Gauge Young (8-1) is a powerful American wrestler training out of Ignite Jiu-Jitsu & MMA. Seven of his eight wins have come by stoppage. His forward pressure and ability to dominate from top position pose intriguing challenges for Salkilld.

While Young’s wrestling could neutralize Salkilld early, the Australian’s more well-rounded game gives him more paths to victory the longer the fight goes. He’ll punish Young at range before dragging him into deep waters.

• Pick: Quillan Salkilld def. Gauge Young by submission (+310)

Shannon Clark vs Yuneisy Duben Picks

Canada’s Shannon Clark (5-0) looks like a can’t-miss prospect at flyweight. The newly-crowned LFA champ is a ferocious pressure fighter with dynamite in her hands and a smothering grappling attack. All five of her wins have come inside the distance.

Venezuela’s Yuneisy Duben (4-0) is a mystery. Her four wins have all come against 0-0 opponents, and she’s been out of action since 2019 before returning earlier this year. Her striking looked powerful in her comeback win, but Clark is a massive step up.

Unless Duben is a hidden gem, Clark should steamroll through her. “The Irish Storm” is bigger, stronger, more experienced, and more skilled everywhere. Bank on a dominant Clark victory.

• Pick: Shannon Clark by TKO (-250)

Austin Bashi vs Dorian Ramos Prediction

At just 22 years old, Austin Bashi (12-0) might be the best prospect on this season of DWCS. The Michigan native is a BJJ prodigy who just won No-Gi Worlds at brown belt. He couples that with high school wrestling credentials and rapidly evolving striking.

Journeyman Dorian Ramos (8-2) steps in on less than a week’s notice to face Bashi after Tommy McMillen withdrew due to injury. He’s a solid grappler himself, but taking this fight on short notice against a phenom like Bashi seems like a thankless task.

Bashi is going to be a problem at 145 pounds with his combination of silky-smooth jiu-jitsu and power wrestling. Look for him to make quick work of Ramos and secure his spot on the UFC roster.

• Pick: Austin Bashi by submission (-125)

Will Currie vs Djorden Santos Best Bet

England’s Will Currie (12-3) is a proven finisher training out of the venerable Combat Base UK gym. The lanky southpaw has an unorthodox karate-based striking attack and serious grappling chops. Eight of his 12 wins have come by stoppage.

Brazil’s Djorden Santos (9-1) is a bit of a wild card. He’s finished seven of his nine wins, but his level of competition pales in comparison to what Currie’s faced in Cage Warriors. He has legit size for the weight class, though.

While Santos’ reach advantage could make things tricky for Currie on the feet, the Englishman is the far superior athlete and technician. He’ll drag this to the mat and dominate positionally if Santos gives him any trouble standing.

• Pick: Will Currie by submission (+140)

Igor Cavalcanti vs Seokhyeon Ko Prediction

Brazil’s Igor Cavalcanti (9-0) has been an absolute wrecking machine on the regional scene, with all nine wins coming by first-round stoppage. His striking is explosive, and he’s an IBJJF medalist on the mats. However, he’s also extremely untested, as none of his opponents have had a record better than two fights over .500.

#DWCS weigh-in results: Igor Cavalcanti 169.5 pic.twitter.com/gyVbzS8Kht

— Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) September 2, 2024

South Korea’s Seokhyeon Ko (10-2) has a more proven body of work, albeit against slightly higher-level competition. He won a sanda world title in 2021 before embarking on his current three-fight knockout streak. However, Ko’s two losses have both come inside two minutes.

Neither man has seen the second round as a pro, and there’s a good chance that continues. Cavalcanti is the more hyped prospect, but there are still big questions surrounding his ceiling. Don’t be surprised if Ko can crack the Brazilian’s chin early.

• Pick: Seokhyeon Ko by KO/TKO (+450)

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