Dana White’s Contender Series: Zaurbek Sabanov vs Adama Diop Preview & Prediction
by Gabriel Sheehan ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
The big boys are on deck for a heavyweight slobberknocker, as Zaurbek Sabanov takes on Adama Diop.
Zaurbek Sabanov vs Adama Diop facts
What time are Zaurbek Sabanov and Adama Diop expected to walk out?
Where is DWCS – Season 10, Week 8 taking place? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
What TV channel is DWCS – Season 10, Week 8 on? UK – Not televised / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream DWCS – Season 10, Week 8? UK – UFC Fight Pass / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
DWCS – Season 10, Week 8 card
George Staines vs Loai Abushaar (Lightweight)
Ilias Bulaid vs Erick Visconde (Featherweight)
Camila Reynoso vs Aieza Ramos Bertolso (Women's Strawweight)
Ian Escuza vs Luca Borando (Featherweight)
Zaurbek Sabanov vs Adama Diop (Heavyweight)
Zaurbek Sabanov: A dynamic Russian striker improving from fight to fight
Undefeated across four fights as a pro with three finishes, Zaurbek Sabanov (4-0) takes the stage as the latest Ares FC Contender Series export. Well built for the weight class at 6’4”, Sabanov is extremely agile for a man his size, throwing spinning back kicks and jumping switch knees in a manner more akin to a middleweight. He’s a powerful striker who mixes up his shots to the head and body well, a state of affairs complemented by solid takedowns and ferocious GNP when he has his opponents on wobbly legs.
Adama Diop: An aggression merchant with nuclear power in his hands
Senegal native, Adama Diop (6-1) gets his shot at the big leagues after an array of brutal stoppages on the French and South African circuits. A heavy handed striker with vicious GNP, “Blinde” is incredibly aggressive in his fights, a state of affairs underlined by an incident where he pushed and squared up to a referee in the aftermath of a finish because he deemed he hadn’t landed enough shots. However, the former EFC and Hexagon heavyweight champion isn’t invulnerable to counter shots himself, getting melted by a hellacious spinning elbow in his sole professional defeat to date.
Zaurbek Sabanov vs Adama Diop prediction
This one will not be going the distance.
While I’d probably give the edge in sheer one-hitter quitter power to Diop, I’m still leaning towards Sabanov in this one. With an extremely dynamic striking arsenal for a heavyweight, he looks to be much more technical and nuanced on the feet than “Blinde,” whose offence is largely comprised of charging forward and throwing sloppy haymakers until his opponent crumbles.
Diop hasn’t fought the best opposition throughout his career to date, and while the same could be largely said of Sabanov’s resume, he’s also coming off a first round finish over a considerably more experienced opponent with a decent record of 12-3. It’s not a game changer, but it’s arguably leagues ahead of Diop’s best win.
This is heavyweight and as such, there’s always the chance that a Diop bomb lands on Sabanov’s chin in the early goings and sends him astral traveling. However, the same could easily be said for Sabanov’s chances of melting him. Ultimately, I see the Russian evading Diop’s early blitzes and working the body, eventually corralling the Senegalese native up against the fence and teeing off until the referee steps in.
Prediction: Zaurbek Sabanov to win by TKO
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