Time flies when you’re having fun, as the old adage goes. That’s especially true with every MMA fan’s favorite Tuesday night tradition, Contender Series. We’re already at the halfway point of the 2024 schedule as of the close of last week’s card, which included a late adjustment to the bout order.
During the show last Tuesday evening, the originally-planned co-main event of the evening was scrubbed due to Quemuel Ottoni (12-3 MMA) withdrew from the card backstage. UFC CEO Dana White rebooked Ottoni’s opponent, Kody Steele (6-0 MMA) for a later episode this season.
As far as the fights that took place a week ago, three fighters won UFC contracts from White at the end of the program, bringing the number of deals secured as a direct result of appearing on the show this season to 20. Live coverage of week six of season eight begins Tuesday night at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on ESPN+ inside the United States.
Lightweights Go to Battle Tuesday
As usual, DWCS 72 will feature five fights with competitors vying for a UFC deal. Included on the the bout order this Tuesday is a lightweight fixture.
Dylan Mantello (8-3 MMA, 0-1 DWCS) gets a second chance at a UFC contract when he takes on Ahmad Suhail Hassanzada (11-3 MMA, 0-1 DWCS), himself an alum of a prior season of the series. As with all fights on the show, this one will be a maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the fight on Tuesday night, both of these men stand 6-foot-1. Ahmad Suhail Hassanzada owns a one-inch reach advantage (74 inches to 73 inches) over Dylan Mantello.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Ahmad Suhail Hassanzada installed as a -180 betting favorite on the money line, while Dylan Mantello counters as a +140 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight in MMA and/or combat sports this week and weekend, please wager responsibly.
Mantello Looks to Secure UFC Deal One Year After Contender Series Defeat
Dylan Mantello enters Tuesday evening having gone 4-1 in his last five fights. In February, the alumnus of Eagle FC and Lou Neglia’s Ring of Combat returned to the win column thanks to a second-round knockout from a flying knee against Nate Williams (15-14 MMA) during CFFC 129 on UFC Fight Pass.
This was Mantello’s second appearance in the Atlantic City-based combat sports promotion and his first since coming away empty-handed roughly one year ago on Contender Series, having sustained a first-round technical submission via rear-naked choke at the hands of Kaynan Kruschewsky (15-3 MMA). Kruschewsky has since dropped his first two UFC promotional appearances after getting a contract at night’s end last Sept. 19.
Dylan Mantello has had close to a full calendar year to reflect on what went wrong and has earned his way back to the spotlight that Contender Series brings with it. Will the second chance result in a win and a UFC deal? Tune in Tuesday and see how it goes for him.
Hassanzada Also Looking to Make Good on Second Chance at Contender Series Tuesday Night
In the other corner, Ahmad Suhail Hassanzada has posted a mark of 3-2 in his last five fights. At the present moment, he’s on a two-fight winning streak.
Last time out, he scored a third-round TKO due to ground and pound shots against Aleko Sagliani (11-6 MMA) during Tuff-N-Uff 136 in March on UFC Fight Pass. Much like his adversary Dylan Mantello, this is Hassanzada’s second chance at securing a UFC promotional contract through an appearance on Contender Series.
Back in the 2022 season of Contender Series, he sustained a third-round knockout (right hook) against Nazim Sadykhov (9-1-1 MMA) at the UFC Apex. Sadykhov has gone unbeaten (2-0-1 ) in the UFC since securing his contract as a result of his appearance on the show, but hasn’t fought since November of last year.
This is a man who’s in the same boat as Mantello is going into this card. Can he run his winning streak to three?
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
With both fighters making a return visit to the show, the memory of their respective losses no doubt still sting. They’ve got all the motivation they need to approach this contest with the intensity of a championship fight.
Mantello Can Punch His Way to Victory
Dylan Mantello has been known throughout his MMA career to get the win by way of knockout. Counting amateur victories, he’s ended eight fights in that manner, including a fight versus Justin Walker in 2019.
During the opening round, Walker took Mantello down and landed a few ground and pound shots before the latter reversed position and started unloading strikes on him until the referee stepped into wave off the fight. So long as he’s able to secure top position on the ground, he’ll win the bout handily.
Hassanzada Slick with Submissions
In the other corner, Ahmad Suhail Hassanzada has finished 10 opponents inside the distance. When he gets an adversary on the ground, like he did last December in Cage Warriors against Chasen Blair, it could be a wrap. After Hassanzada scored with some knee strikes in the clinch, he landed an inside leg kick.
His movement was key in the opening moments of the fight, landing another knee to Blair’s rib. While the two traded shots, Blair dropped Hassanzada with a minute to go in the period, but the latter wrestled his way out of danger, landing a takedown of his own before applying the torque to lock up a kneebar.
If Hassanzada beats Mantello to the takedown, the fight is his on Tuesday night.
Final Thoughts
Two athletes who missed out on a contract in previous Contender Series episodes make a return. Don’t miss it.
Prediction: Ahmad Suhail Hassanzada by First-Round Submission.
