DWCS 2023: Episode 8 Breakdown & Predictions (Patreon)

Alexander Soldatkin vs. Mario Piazzon

Tale of the Tape

Alexander Soldatkin
30-years-old
6'2″
Russia.Germany
Spitfire Gym Berlin
14-3
9 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
Combined opponents' record: 85-30

Mario Piazzon
25-years-old
6’0″
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Galpão da Luta
6-0
5 KO/TKOs
Combined opponents' record: 25-27

Pros and Cons

Alexander Soldatkin

Pros

• Athletic
• Diverse'Dynamic
• Heavy hands
• Physically strong
• Good ground and pound
• Submission threat
• Good output
• Explosive
• Mixes in punches and kicks together well

Cons

• Uncomfortable going backwards
• TDD needs work
• Questionable gas tank
• Not great off his back

Mario Piazzon

Pros

• N/A

Cons

• N/A

Prediction: There isn't footage on Piazzon because he fights for a low-budget promotion that doesn't know what a camera is. He's a short bloated heavyweight so I feel confident saying, don't expect much. Soldatkin is a big, muscular guy and someone that throw a lot of spinning attacks. I don't think Soldatkin is great as he has big holes. Someone with his power and athleticism alone is a threat. You can get away with a not-so-great gas tank at heavyweight since most of the time the bigger guys don’t go three rounds. But with that said having bad takedown defense and having trouble off your back foot means you won’t fare well against the better heavyweights.

It's a fight not just made for Soldatkin to win but to get a highlight-reel knockout. I feel confident picking Soldatkin here.

Flyweight: Carli Judice vs. Ernesta Kareckaite

Tale of the Tape

Carli Judice
24-years-old
?
Lafayette, Louisiana
Headkicks MMA
3-0
3 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent's record: 5-14

Ernesta Kareckaite
24-years-old
5'9″
Lithuania
Fighters Land MMA
4-0-1
2 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent’s record: 4-1-1

Pros and Cons

Carli Judice

Pros

• Good kickboxing
• Mixes it up well
• Good teep
• High pace
• Good Muay Thai knees
• Diverse
• Light footwork

Cons

• No head movement
• Throws naked kicks
• Doesn't wear damage well

Ernesta Kareckaite

Pros

• Uses feints well
• Well-conditioned

Cons

• Poor TDD
• Hands low
• Misses more than lands
• Lacks physical strength
• Low volume

Prediction: Kareckaite was a big disappointment when checking her out. Someone with her long frame should be better than she is. Having a kickboxing and boxing background I expected so much more. Judice is taking this fight on short notice and I don't understand it. Judice has potential but she is nowhere close to being ready for the UFC even with an impressive win.

Even though Kareckaite is the seasoned striker Judice should be able to roll with her pressure and volume. Judice is still very raw but I do think she is a much better fighter. She should be able to simply outstrike Kareckaite to a decision.

Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira vs. Victor Hugo Madrigal

Tale of the Tape

Vinicius de Oliveira
27-years-old
5'8″
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Sombra Team MMA
18-3
14 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 90-55

Victor Hugo Madrigal
32-years-old
5'7″
Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
Mad Dogs MMA
12-3
7 KO/TKO, 3 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 85-31-1

Pros and Cons

Vinicius de Oliveira

Pros

• Hard to read/Unorthodox
• Explosive
• Athletic
• Fast
• A lot of output
• Good wrestling
• Underrated ground game
• Hits hard

Cons

• Poor TDD
• Hands low
• Throws himself off balance
• Wild striking

Victor Hugo Madrigal

Pros

• Submission threat
• Good leg kicks

Cons

• TDD needs work
• Struggles off his back
• Doesn't deal well with pressure
• Questionable chin

Prediction: I'm really happy Oliveira is getting this shot because it's long overdue. He's also getting an opponent to showcase himself on. Madrigal is a fine prospect but Oliveira is levels above him. The fight isn't close on the feet as Oliviera is so much better. Even though Madrigal is labeled more of a grappler I'm more impressed with the wrestling and jiu-jitsu of Oliviera. Madrigal is more sub or bust as Oliveira can have a more thought-out process on the mat. A power puncher is what gives Oliveira problems and that's not Madrigal. Oliveira should roll.

Welterweight, Raheam Forest vs. Danny Barlow

Tale of the Tape

Raheam Forest
26-years-old
5'11"
Memphis, Tennessee, US
Memphis Judo and Jiu-Jitsu
7-1
4 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
Combined opponent's record: 26-10

Danny Barlow
28-years-old
6'2″
Memphis, Tennessee, US
Law School MMA
6-0
3 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission
Combined opponent’s record: 11-16

Pros and Cons

Raheam Forest

Pros

• Heavy hands
• Very explosive
• Heavy kicks
• Fast starter
• Nasty ground and pound
• Good wrestling
• Dangerous in exchanges
• Constant forward pressure
• Heavy top control
• Submission threat
• Physically strong
• Good gas tank

Cons

• Poor TDD
• Grappling defense lacks

Danny Barlow

Pros

• Heavy hands
• Fast starter
• Good kicks/Diverse
• Good counter striker
• Laser straight left-hand
• Hits hard
• Very athletic
• Explosive
• Good jab
• Uses feints well
• Well-conditioned

Cons

• TDD needs work
• Grappling defense lacks
• Throws single strikes

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Barlow
Speed: Forest
Output/Volume: Forest
Kickboxing: Barlow
Striking defense: Barlow
Footwork/movement: Barlow
Wrestling: Forest
Grappling: Forest
Gas tank: Even

Prediction: Forest is the former CFFC welterweight champion. He lost it to current UFC fighter Charles Radtke last April but did get back on the board in July. Forest has been fighting good competition for CFFC. Barlow isn't nearly as tested. He's been fighting low-level opponents. With that said he's treating those guys as expected with one-sided performances.

Both are strikers and this is where I see this fight taking place. Although both are strikers they are two different types of strikers. Forest is an aggressive explosive power puncher who puts everything into his punches and kicks. Barlow is more of a technical who is patient and uses feints to find openings.

I favor the guy that's gonna come out aggressive and look for the finish and that's Forest. I do think Barlow is fully capable of catching Forest. Forest is more proven and Barlow hasn't fought someone with this much power. I even think Forest could mix in a few takedowns as well. The pick is Forest by TKO.

Featherweight: Danny Silva vs. Angel Pacheco

Tale of the Tape

Danny Silva
26-years-old
5'11"
Santa Ana, California, US
UFC Gym Costa Mesa
7-1
5 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent's record: 15-12

Angel Pacheco
31-years-old
5'8″
St. Cloud, Minnesota, US
Start BJJ
7-1
4 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 38-39

Pros and Cons

Danny Silva

Pros

• Good bodywork
• Solid TDD
• Slips and counters well
• Hits hard
• Dangerous in the pocket
• A lot of forward pressure
• Durable

Cons

• Lacks footwork
• Wings hooks/No setups

Angel Pacheco

Pros

• Good elbows
• Explosive
• Good ground and pound
• Forward pressure

Cons

• Questionable chin

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Silva
Speed:  Silva
Output/Volume: Silva
Kickboxing: Silva
Striking defense: Even
Footwork/movement: Pacheco
Wrestling: Neither
Grappling: Pacheco
Gas tank: Silva

Prediction: There isn't a lot of fight time to get a good read on Pacheco. His last win was a good win. Before that, he beat the same guy twice and his loss is to a journeyman. Silva isn;t technically good but he's a fighters type of fighter. He's a mix of Trevor Peek and Hyder Amil in a way. Better than Peek but not as good as Amil.

Pacheco won't be able to put Silva away so he will have to deal with forward pressure and heavy hands from Silva. Silva has been in a lot of fights where he has to dig deep and Pacheco hasn't been in those spots. As I think the fight will be on the feet mostly I strongly favor Silva. Silva's forward pressure, strong chin, and power I believe will overcome Pacheco and eventually finish him.