Dana White’s Contender Series: Mantas Kondratavicius vs Dani Barbir Preview & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Middleweight strikers collide in the featured bout as Mantas Kondratavičius faces Dani Barbir.
Mantas Kondratavicius vs Dani Barbir facts
What time are Mantas Kondratavicius and Dani Barbir expected to walk out?
Where is DWCS – Season 9, Week 7 taking place? UFC Apex, Las Vegas, USA
What TV channel is DWCS – Season 9, Week 7 on? UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream DWCS – Season 9, Week 7? UK – UFC Fight Pass / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
DWCS – Season 9, Week 7 card
Mantas Kondratavicius vs Dani Barbir (Middleweight)
Murtazali Magomedov vs Brahyan Zurcher (Featherweight)
Justice Torres vs Javier Reyes (Featherweight)
Rafael Tobias vs Jair De Oliveira (Light Heavyweight)
Jeisla Santos Chaves vs Sofia Montenegro (Women’s Flyweight)
Mantas Kondratavičius: Lithuania’s aggressive kickboxer
Mantas Kondratavičius (7-1) enters the Contender Series with a 100% finish rate and a background in high-level kickboxing. At just 25 years old, the Lithuanian prospect has already notched five knockout wins and one appearance in Cage Warriors under his belt — a respected proving ground in European MMA.
Kondratavičius is an athletic striker who thrives on forward pressure and violence in the clinch. He lands knees and elbows with bad intentions and relies on his physical strength to fend off takedowns. However, his sole career loss came via submission to 8-0 French grappler Virgil Augen, who exposed gaps in Kondratavičius’s cardio and defensive grappling.
Dani Barbir: Croatia’s unbeaten finisher
Dani Barbir (7-0) is a powerful middleweight from Croatia with a spotless record and a 100% finish rate — four by knockout and three by submission. Despite turning pro in 2016, he’s had long spells of inactivity, making his current run all the more intriguing.
Primarily a boxing-based striker, Barbir likes to throw heavy hands, mixing in front kicks and spinning attacks. He’s shown an interest in offensive wrestling and opportunistic submissions, but there are concerns over his cardio, especially when dragged into the second round, as seen in his only fight to go that far.
Mantas Kondratavičius vs Dani Barbir prediction
This looks to be a stand-up showdown with minimal grappling likely involved. Both men carry finishing power and aggressive mindsets, but Kondratavičius has the edge in striking variety and pedigree thanks to his kickboxing background.
Kondratavičius’s work in the clinch could be a key difference-maker, especially with Barbir’s tendency to absorb damage at close range. That lone loss to Augen might serve as a valuable lesson for the Lithuanian, while Barbir’s untested chin and cardio remain question marks.
Prediction: Mantas Kondratavičius to win by KO/TKO
