As we mentioned a week ago at this time, understanding the assignment when it comes to appearing on Contender Series is key toward getting a contract and hoping for better luck next time. Last Tuesday, four prospects were officially awarded UFC deals by Dana White at the end of the show.
Your #DWCS WEEK ONE contract winners 🎉
Welcome to the UFC! 👏
Tune in Tuesdays to see who's next! pic.twitter.com/wvAXiXt5HN
— UFC (@ufc) August 14, 2024
This week is shaping up to be a momentous occasion for the program. If just one of this week’s 10 prospects scores a UFC contract from White, it’ll make 250 contracts handed out as a direct result from an appearance on the show in its lifetime.
Live coverage of week two of Contender Series begins at the earlier time of 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on ESPN+ inside the United States. Contender Series will return to its usual start time of 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT next Tuesday, Aug. 27, and will remain there for the balance of the 10-week season.
Welterweights Vie for Contract in Main Event Tuesday
As usual, the bout order for DWCS 68 features five contests. Highlighting the event’s itinerary is a welterweight bout in the DWCS 68 main event. Pat Pytlik (9-1 MMA), a veteran of Unified MMA in Canada, faces off against Andreas Gustafsson (10-2 MMA.)
This bout, along with all Contender Series fights throughout the season, is an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round to close out the night’s activities.
DWCS 68 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the DWCS 68 main event on Tuesday night, Pat Pytlik stands as the taller man at 6-foot-1, compared to Andreas Gustafsson’s frame of six feet even. Gustafsson owns a 74-inch reach, with no such information for Pytlik at press time.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Andreas Gustafsson installed as a -278 favorite on the money line, while Pat Pytlik counters as a +225 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening throughout the week in MMA and/or combat sports, please wager responsibly.
Pytlik Staying Focused Ahead of DWCS 68 Main Event
Pat Pytlik enters the DWCS 68 main event on Tuesday night having posted a record of 4-1 in his last five fights. Currently, he’s on a two-fight winning streak. Back at the start of this year, he finished Ryan Leninger (10-5 MMA), an alumnus of the LFA, in Unified MMA 55 on Jan. 19 on UFC Fight Pass.
This won’t be the first time that Pytlik will be fighting in front of Dana White, since Unified MMA 55 this past winter served as the focus of an episode of the UFC’s ongoing Web series Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight. Last month, he talked to Luke Kelly of the MMA Unhinged YouTube channel, where he mentioned a marathon training camp has been taking place ahead of this fight.
“After that last fight that I won, I got the contract [to appear on Contender Series],” Pytlik said. “For me, it wasn’t enough. I thought I’d get signed [to the UFC] right there because I did Dana White: Lookin’ For a Fight. He picked two of us, and it was like, ‘Okay, I’m grateful for the opportunity, but my job’s not done. The guys [were] asking me, ‘Why aren’t you celebrating? Why aren’t you out there having beers in the crowd with all the guys?'”
Pytlik returned to training camp the following Monday to ensure that he stays focused on his goal: Reaching the UFC. Will he be able to?
Gustafsson Ready for First Fight of 2024 on Tuesday in DWCS 68 Main Event
In the other corner, Andreas Gustafsson enters the DWCS 68 main event having posted a mark of 4-1 himself over the last five contests. Much like his adversary on Tuesday night, he’s also on a two-fight winning streak.
Last year, he finished Dominic Schober (13-12 MMA) in FCR 18 with a first-round knockout in only 10 seconds. He had been booked to make his 2024 debut this past February in a mixed-rules bout against Konrad Rusinski before he was forced out of the contest amid a broken nose.
A June booking versus Jakyp Tuganbaev was discarded to allow Gustafsson to turn his attention to this upcoming contest. He mentioned that he isn’t planning to leave anything on the table in an interview with FightWave.
“I never watch my opponent’s fights and what they’re good or bad [at], I just know what my own plan is: Kill or be killed,” Gustafsson said. “I’m doing my thing. If it’s not working, that’s on me. I don’t even care what his gameplan is and what he’s thinking about. I’m only focusing on what I’m going to do. It seems like he’s a guy who wants a good fight. That’s exactly what I want. I don’t want a quick fight, I don’t want a boring fight, I don’t want a wrestling fight, I just want a fight when both of the fighters [are] trying to rip each other’s head off. I hope it’s going to be a lot of blood.”
Will there be a bloodbath on Tuesday night? Only time will tell.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Expect an entertaining fight in the DWCS 68 main event Tuesday. Both men can bring the pain.
Look for Pytlik to Land the Big Shot
Pat Pytlik is a knockout specialist, carrying a perfect finish rate by that method into this fight. Just look at the video of his Unified MMA 55 fight vs. Leninger for a prime example.
While Pytlik stalked Leninger in the early going of round one, the latter scored with a right-handed punch. Upon moving in on Leninger, he wobbled his opponent with a right-hand of his own before landing a barrage of shots to crumple him like a piece of paper.
If Pat Pytlik gains the momentum of the DWCS 68 main event, look out.
Gustafsson Can End the Fight Quickly
In the other corner, Andreas Gustafsson has been known to end the fight with one single blow, like he did last fall against Dominic Schober. Right after the command to fight was given, Gustafsson wobbled and dropped Schober with a fierce punch.
A flurry of ground and pound from back mount ended the fight in just 10 seconds. Gustafsson just needs to land the first punch of the contest in the DWCS 68 main event. If that happens to come to fruition, the sky is the limit.
Final Thoughts
With no other live MMA in action on Tuesday night, DWCS 68 is your one-stop shop for competitive violence. Tune in and enjoy the main event.
Prediction: Pat Pytlik by First-Round Knockout.
