Week 9 of Dana White Contender Series: Analysis of Odds, Picks, and Predictions for October 8th

• Dana White’s Contender Series Week 9 takes place on Tuesday, October 8, from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Undefeated Islam Masraf battles Glory veteran Artem Vakhitov in the main event
• Explore the Dana White’s Contender Series Week 9 odds and best bets, below

A heavyweight tilt between Islam Masraf headlines Dana White’s Contender Series Week 9 card. Undefeated Frenchman Masraf (3-0) looks to continue his momentum against a game opponent in the Russian-born Vakhitov (2-1).

Look for all the Dana White’s Contender Series Week 9 odds and our best bets, below.

Dana White’s Contender Series Odds (Week 9)

The latest MMA DWCS Week 9 odds have Islam Dulatov as a massive -660 favorite over Vanilto Antunes, who comes back as a +420 underdog.

Odds as of October 7, 2024, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Claim a Draftkings Sportsbook promo code for all your MMA betting action.

Islem Masraf vs Artem Vakhitov Odds & Pick

Having started Glory kickboxing career way back in 2010, Artem Vakhitov is no spring chicken. However, the 33-year-old will bring far more fighting experience to the Dana White Contender Series Week 9 main event than his opponent. Islem Masraf has just five total fights throughout his amateur and pro career. While this will be Vakhitov’s 19th through kickboxing and MMA.

For those unfamiliar with Glory, its the kickboxing promotion where UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (who just defended his title for the third time) plied his trade for years. Impressively, Vakhitov went 1-1 against Pereira in the Glory ring, losing a split decision at Glory 77 before defeating Pereira by majority decision in the rematch back in 2021.

He went 12-2 in the Glory ring, defending the title five times before losing and later regaining it against Pereira. That is the level of striker Islem Masraf will face on Tuesday night.

Former GLORY Light Heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov is looking as smooth as ever. His versatile boxing and speed are too much to handle for Pascal Toure.#MuayThaiFactorypic.twitter.com/ueR1lnURri

— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) February 2, 2023

Now, Masraf is no slouch. His impressive ten-second victory over Mickael Groguhe at PFL Europe 1 shows just how dangerous the six-foot, 260-pound French fighter is. That being said, Vakhitov’s striking puts him on another level. Unfortunately, we don’t get knockout pricing here, but don’t expect this bout to hit the judges’ scorecards.

DWCS Masraf vs Vakhitov Pick: Artem Vakhitov (-560)

Kody Steele vs Chasen Blair Odds & Pick

Fighting out of Austin, Texas 29-year-old Kody Steele puts his undefeated record on the line at Dana White Contender Series Week 9. The Checkmat BJJ product has been active with five fights across the past two years. His pro career has been completely under the Fury banner, most recently knocking out Alejandro Martinez at Fury FC 89.

Steele is a man UFC executives will know well after he competed at their UFC Fight Pass grappling invitational in March.

Kody Steele (6-0) posted on his Instagram that he will be competing on the upcoming season of Dana White’s Contender Series.pic.twitter.com/hs6TluzehJ

— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) May 10, 2024

On the other side of the cage, Chasen Blair enters on a three-fight winning streak. Fighting out of MMA Fight Academy in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Blair has finished each of his six wins. With four knockouts and two submission victories, he’ll aim to entertain and earn a UFC contract.

Blair should enter this bout ready to get after it, as he’s competed three times already this year. His last fight was just three weeks ago at Cage Warriors 177 on September 20.

While Blair has some intriguing skills and a height and reach advantage, we’ll go with the stronger, quicker fighter in Steele. He’s far more well-rounded and will finish this fight if given the opportunity.

DWCS Steele vs Blair Pick: Kody Steele to win (-238)

The highly anticipated Week 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series is set to take place on October 8th, and fight fans are buzzing with excitement. With a lineup of talented fighters vying for a shot at a UFC contract, the stakes are high and the competition fierce.

As we approach fight night, let’s take a closer look at the odds, picks, and predictions for the upcoming event.

In the main event, 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 skilled striker with a solid ground game, and he will be looking to make a statement with a dominant performance. Swain, on the other hand, is a tough veteran who is known for his heart and determination. This fight has the potential to be a back-and-forth battle, but ultimately, I predict Laramie will come out on top with a unanimous decision victory.

In the co-main event, we have a bantamweight clash between Sherrard Blackledge and Cameron Church. Blackledge is the favorite in this matchup, with odds of -150, while Church is the underdog at +120. Blackledge is a well-rounded fighter with knockout power, while Church is a skilled grappler with slick submissions. This fight has all the makings of a barnburner, but I believe Blackledge will be able to use his striking to pick apart Church and secure a TKO victory in the second round.

Other notable matchups on the card include a lightweight bout between Michael Lombardo and Korey Kuppe, as well as a flyweight showdown between Carlos Vergara and Bruno Korea. Both fights are expected to be closely contested, with Lombardo and Vergara coming in as slight favorites.

Overall, Week 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series promises to deliver plenty of action and excitement for fight fans. With a lineup of talented fighters looking to make their mark and earn a UFC contract, anything can happen on fight night. Be sure to tune in on October 8th to see who will emerge victorious and take the next step towards MMA stardom.