Dana White’s Contender Series 44 is here as the promotion reaches its yearly end with three fight cards remaining in 2021. Tonight’s five-fight card will take place at the usual UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event kicks off live at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) available for ESPN+ subscribers.
The Fights
Ten fighters will make the octagon walk, all hungry and searching for their chance tonight at a potential contract with the UFC. Welterweights (170 lbs.) Solomon Renfro and Jonny Parsons take the main event spot in a three-round, fifteen minute contest.
Following a successful amateur run, Renfro made the switch to professional competition in 2017. Cage Fury Fighting Championships has been his primary home, having only one loss in his run thus far to Contender Series 42 contract winner Mike Malott last December. Renfro’s opponent, Parsons, hopes to score the upset coming in to tonight as a hefty underdog. The Syndicate MMA Muay Thai specialist has won four in-a-row including a first-round knockout over former Contender Series alum Tyler Hill.
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In the co-main event, Valesca Machado and Piera Rodriguez will meet in the strawweight division (115 lbs.).
Caio Borralho gets a second chance tonight at an organizational contract after missing out in his Week Five decision victory over Aaron Jeffrey. Borralho will fight two-time light heavyweight champion Jesse Murray.
Who are the MMASucka staff picking to win for the entire fight card of Dana White’s Contender Series 44? Find out further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from both UFC and Bellator events. Main card fights and selected preliminary fights will be selected for PFL MMA. Dana White’s Contender Series will be composed of the full fight card.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a chain from Championship Chains. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88.
See below for our Dana White’s Contender Series 44 staff picks.
Staff Records after Dana White’s Contender Series 43:
1. Nate Freeman: 191-104
2T. Wesley Riddle: 186-109
2T. Michael DeSantis: 186-109
4. Frazer Krohn: 173-122
5. Mike Lynch: 161-124
6. Ash Camyab: 160-111
7. Jeremy Brand: 158-133
8. Andrew Benjamin: 121-124
9. Tim Wheaton: 108-82
10. Chris Presnell: 66-29
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – UFC Vegas 40 & Bellator 268 picks will be added to the above records NEXT weekend*
James Barnes (14-4) vs. Pedro Falcao (14-3)
Jeremy Brand: Barnes via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Falcao via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Falcao via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Falcao via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Barnes via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Falcao via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Falcao via Round 1 TKO
Chris Presnell: Falcao via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Falcao via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Barnes: 2
Staff picking Falcao: 7
Armen Petrosyan (5-1) vs. Kaloyan Kolev (10-0)
Jeremy Brand: Kolev via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Kolev via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Kolev via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Petrosyan via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Petrosyan via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Petrosyan via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Kolev via Split Decision
Chris Presnell: Petrosyan via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Kolev via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Petrosyan: 4
Staff picking Kolev: 5
Caio Borralho (9-1, 1 NC) vs. Jesse Murray (8-3)
Jeremy Brand: Murray via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Borralho via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Borralho via Unanimous Decision
Ash Camyab: Borralho via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Borralho via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Borralho via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Borralho via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Borralho via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Murray UD
Staff picking Borralho: 7
Staff picking Murray: 2
Valesca Machado (8-2, 1 NC) vs. Piera Rodriguez (6-0)
Jeremy Brand: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Rodriguez via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Rodriguez via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Mike Lynch: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Chris Presnell: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Rodriguez R2 sub
Staff picking Machado: 0
Staff picking Rodriguez: 9
Solomon Renfro (8-1) vs. Jonny Parsons (7-2)
Jeremy Brand: Renfro via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Renfro via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Renfro via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Renfro via Round 3 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Renfro via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Parsons via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Renfro via Round 2 TKO
Chris Presnell: Renfro via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Renfro R1 TKO
Staff picking Renfro: 8
Staff picking Parsons: 1
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