Dana White’s Contender Series: Rafael Pergentino vs Luke Fernandez Preview & Prediction
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Light heavyweights serve as the midway bout of Week 9, with Rafael Pergentino dropping down in weight to take on Luke Fernandez.
Rafael Pergentino vs Luke Fernandez facts
What time are Rafael Pergentino and Luke Fernandez expected to walk out?
Where is DWCS – Season 9, Week 9 taking place? UFC Apex, Las Vegas, USA
What TV channel is DWCS – Season 9, Week 9 on? UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream DWCS – Season 9, Week 9? UK – UFC Fight Pass / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
DWCS – Season 9, Week 9 card
Magomed Zaynukov vs Lucas Caldas (Lightweight)
Adrian Luna Martinetti vs Mark Vologdin (Bantamweight)
Rafael Pergentino vs Luke Hernandez (Light Heavyweight)
Donavon Hedrick vs Luis Felipe Dias (Middleweight)
Imanol Rodriguez vs Roque Conceicao Moreira Jr. (Flyweight)
Rafael Pergentino: Will the Brazilian maintain his 100% finishing rate and score the upset?
Having fought out the entirety of his young career at 265 pounds prior to receiving the call for the Contender Series, Rafael Pergentino (5-0) makes the drop to light heavyweight for the first time. On paper, a 5-0 record with a 100% finishing rate sounds pretty impressive, but there's very limited footage of the Brazilian available. One of the bouts on his record seemingly wasn't fought in a traditional style MMA cage, with another fight taking place in a boxing ring. As such, it's anybody's guess as to how he does under the bright lights of the Apex.
Luke Fernandez: The light heavyweight prospect looking to make a splash in the 205 pound shark tank
Winning and defending the CFFC light heavyweight championship multiple times in the space of his first five fights, Luke Fernandez (5-0) looks to be a legitimate prospect at 205 pounds. A former collegiate wrestler with four finishes in five fights to date, the American also has grappling competition victories over UFC level competition in Eryk Anders and Phil Hawes to underline his credentials on the mat. A well-rounded competitor who threatens wherever the fight takes place, he's seemingly added solid boxing to complement his wrestling base.
Rafael Pergentino vs Luke Fernandez prediction
There's always a chance of a monstrous upset knockout in the upper weight classes in MMA, but to say that this looks like Hernandez's fight to lose would be the understatement of the week.
While the wins may have come in grappling competitions, the American already has victories over fighters who have fought in the UFC. At the very least, his grappling credentials are clearly good enough to cut it in the UFC. At 30, he's in his athletic prime, and he's produced respectable victories in a solid regional promotion at this young stage in his career.
While Pergentino's 100% finishing rate indicates that he's still dangerous, this is also his first fight at 205 pounds. He looks to have fought competition a cut below Fernandez's strength of schedule and is entirely unproven in the grappling department, the area where the American figures to have a sizable advantage.
Prediction: Luke Fernandez to win by stoppage
