This Tuesday evening, the candidates for the Presidency of the United States of America will debate for the second head-to-head confrontation of this election cycle in Philadelphia. However, if you’ve already made up your mind as to which candidate you’re voting for on the first Tuesday in November, the UFC Apex in Las Vegas has the best debate alternative possible: Live MMA.
Week 5 of Dana White’s Contender Series‘ eighth season takes place from the facility on ESPN+ inside the United States. As usual, live coverage begins at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT and the card will feature five fights inside the famed UFC Octagon.
If the previous Contender Series events to have occurred earlier this season are any indication, UFC CEO Dana White has laid down the gauntlet once again, particularly a week ago, when all five winners scored promotional contracts.
After Yuneisy Duben (6-0 MMA) knocked out Shannon Clark (5-1 MMA) during last Tuesday’s show, White told Duben that she had secured her contract to compete in MMA’s top promotion right on the spot. Could anything of the sort happen this week?
Light Heavyweights Go to Battle Tuesday to Cap DWCS Week 5
Highlighting this week’s activities is a battle at 205 lbs. in the DWCS 71 main event. New Zealand’s Navajo Stirling (4-0 MMA), a veteran of both Hex Fight Series and Shuriken Fight Series, where he scored the light heavyweight and heavyweight championships, respectively, heads to Enterprise, NV to square off against Phillip Latu (6-1 MMA), an alumnus of Cage Fury Fighting Championships and Fury FC.
As is the case with all Contender Series fights throughout the 10-week season, the DWCS 71 main event is an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close out the show.
DWCS 71 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the DWCS 71 main event on Tuesday night, Navajo Stirling stands as the taller man at 6-foot-4, compared to the 6-foot-3 frame of Phillip Latu. Stirling owns a 3.7-inch reach advantage (82.7 inches to 79 inches even) over Latu.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Navajo Stirling installed as a -275 favorite on the money line, while Phillip Latu counters as a +195 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight this week or weekend in MMA and/or combat sports, please wager responsibly.
Stirling Preps for Biggest Fight of Young Career in Only Fifth Fight
Navajo Stirling enters the DWCS 71 main event on Tuesday having yet to lose thus far in his MMA career. Dating back to a Muay-Thai fight on Halloween in 2020, he’s won five fights in succession. Last time out, he scored a third-round knockout (unanswered strikes) of Sam Kei (8-9 MMA), a veteran of the 2023 PFL season, on June 14 in Hex Fight Series 31.
In so doing, he captured the Hex Fight Series Light Heavyweight Championship. During a recent interview, Stirling talked about how “The Notorious” Conor McGregor inspired him to pursue MMA as a livelihood.
“I was working at Foodstuffs (grocery store) as a picker packer,” Stirling said. “Everyone would talk about UFC at work on a Sunday. All the boys would watch it at someone’s house, and this was probably prime McGregor time. I saw this guy and I was like, ‘Whoa, I’ve never heard anyone speak like that before.’
From there, the wheels were in motion and the train hasn’t stopped rolling. It’s only taken two years and two championship wins for Stirling to get to this point. Will his meteoric rise continue this Tuesday?
Latu Dealing With Late Opponent Change for DWCS 71 Main Event
In the other corner, Phillip Latu, nicknamed “The Doctor,” has posted a mark of 4-1 in his last five fights. At present, he’s on a four-fight winning streak. Back in March of this year, Latu scored a second-round knockout (punches) of Dylan Potter (10-7, 1 NC MMA, 0-0, 1 NC DWCS) in CFFC 130 on UFC Fight Pass.
Potter was himself a Contender Series alum in its 2021 season, but his fight against Lukasz Breski (9-5-1, 1 NC) was retroactively reversed to a no-contest due to a positive drug test by the latter. Getting back to Phillip Latu, Navajo Stirling was not supposed to have been his adversary for this Tuesday night’s card.
Initially, Latu was booked to fight Francesco Mazzeo (4-0 MMA) before the latter withdrew from the show a few weeks ago amid visa issues. While Stirling and Mazzeo have matching 4-0 records. how has he been able to adjust on roughly two weeks’ notice? Tune in and find out.
Per sources Francesco Mazzeo is out of his fight against Phillip Latu due to visa issues #MMATwitter #UFC #DWCS pic.twitter.com/hC0IMMQSHR
— Scott (@ScottishProbl) August 29, 2024
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Expect a slobberknocker in the DWCS 71 main event. Both of these guys are kickboxers by trade and thus know how to bring the pain.
Look for Stirling to Seize Control of DWCS 71 Main Event
Navajo Stirling is an exciting prospect. It shows up on tape in his fight against Stu Dare. Throughout the fight, for as long as it lasted, Stirling picked Dare apart like a Thanksgiving turkey with carefully-selected shots.
A right-handed punch dropped Dare before Stirling finished him with ground and pound shots. Navajo Stirling has to take control of the headlining fight early. If he chooses his strikes with meticulous intent on Tuesday, he’ll be in the winner’s circle afterward.
Phillip Latu’s Mission: Domination
In the other corner, Phillip Latu has been a force to be reckoned with throughout his MMA career. He’s scored all six of his career wins by way of knockout, including his March win vs. Dylan Potter. During the second round of the fight, Latu absorbed a combination and some straight shots.
Upon dropping Potter with a left-handed shot, he scored with ground and pound, only for Potter to get back up. This proved inconsequential thanks to another left dropping Potter for good.
If Phillip Latu can beat Navajo Stirling to the big shot, he’ll be walking away with a deal.
Final Thoughts
We’re at the halfway point of the season. While the candidates debate, these fighters will settle the score with good, old-fashioned competitive violence.
Prediction: Navajo Stirling by First-Round Knockout.
