Hey there! Good afternoon and welcome to the Cage Chronicle's Prospect Watch! This weekend, we've got a buffet of young talent from both UFC and Bellator cards. So, grab your popcorn, settle in, and let's jump into this weekend's Prospect Watch 🌟 

UFC Fight Night
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Christian Leroy Duncan vs Denis Tiuliulin🇷🇺 

Kicking off this weekend's Prospect Watch, we're heading to Las Vegas for a middleweight showdown that's got us buzzing! Former Cage Warriors middleweight champ, Christian Leroy Duncan (8-1), is stepping into the octagon against the Russian powerhouse, Denis Tiuliulin (11-8).

Now, CLD is no stranger to flashy, unpredictable striking that earned him the Cage Warriors title. But, in his recent bout against Armen Petrosyan, he seemed to misplace his range a bit. Enter Denis Tiuliulin, who jumped into the ring on short notice after CLD's original opponent, Caesar Almeida, hit the sidelines with a case of the medical blues 🤕 

Tiuliulin is a no-frills striker, throwing mostly 1,2 combos with the occasional kick for spice. The Russian loves a good scrap and is all about bringing the action 👊 

CLD's game plan? Keep Tiuliulin at bay with those dangerous kicks and maybe surprise him with some ground action if things get dicey. On the flip side, Tiuliulin might want to weather a kick or two to get in close, timing his strikes to catch CLD off guard. And let's not forget, the ground game could be a wild card for both.

Our prediction here at the Cage Chronicle? We're waving the magic wand for Christian Leroy Duncan, predicting his first solid win in the UFC. 🧙‍♂️

UFC Fight Night
🇺🇸Charles Johnson vs Rafael Estevam🇧🇷 

Switching gears to the UFC showdown in Las Vegas, we've got a flyweight bout featuring Charles Johnson (13-5) and the DWCS victor Rafael Estevam (11-0). Johnson, dealing with two recent losses, is standing at a crossroads in his UFC journey. Another setback this weekend might mean parting ways with the organization, a situation he probably wants to avoid.

Estevam, the wrestling maestro, is set for his full UFC debut after a couple of previously canceled bouts this year. Known for his effective takedown strategy showcased in DWCS, he brings a formidable skill set. However, finding the right balance with striking is crucial to navigate Johnson's powerful attacks, borrowing a page from Mokaev's strategy 🤼 

Johnson, known for his height in the flyweight division, is looking to spruce up his 2-3 UFC record. The challenge lies in unlocking the full potential of his versatile skills, including his impactful striking and underused offensive wrestling.

In this upcoming bout, Johnson aims to disrupt Estevam's wrestling focus. To turn the tide in his favor, he must efficiently initiate his offense, controlling the pace and distance of the fight. With an early aggressive approach, Johnson has the potential to secure victory.

As for the Cage Chronicle’s prediction, we're leaning toward Rafael Estevam 🧙 

Bellator 301
🇷🇺Timur Khizreiv vs Justin Gonzales🇺🇸 

Transitioning from the glamour of Las Vegas to the gusty city of Chicago, we set our sights on the Bellator 301 card a promising lineup of up and comers. First on the bill, a featherweight clash between Timur Khizreiv (13-0) and Justin Gonzales (14-2). Khizreiv, riding high after a win against Richie Smullen, is determined to safeguard his pristine record, like a meticulous gardener nurturing their prized blooms 🧑‍🌾 

Now, Gonzales has a Bellator track record, facing off against Aaron Pico and Mads Burnell, though victory slipped through his grasp. Since his tussle with Burnell in April, Gonzales is on the classic redemption trail.

This bout presents a conundrum for Khizreiv as Gonzales boasts formidable takedown defense. It may not be foolproof, but then again, fight plans are a bit like following a recipe the end result can be open to interpretation.

Khizreiv, with a wrestling style akin to a determined chess player, occasionally stumbles in the striking department. On the other side of the coin, Gonzales plays the defense card, steering clear of Khizreiv's grappling prowess and favoring a stand-up battle 👊 

In the realm of predictions, we foresee Khizreiv persisting with takedowns, The Cage Chronicle predicts a victory for Timur Khizreiv 🧙‍♂️

Bellator 301
🇺🇸Raufueon Stots vs Danny Sabatello🇺🇸 

Staying in Chicago, we've got a bantamweight clash between Raufeon Stots (19-2) and the Italian gangster Danny Sabatello (14-3)—a rematch that could easily snatch the fight of the night bonus. These two tangled at Bellator 289, with Stots narrowly clinching the win. They're running it back this Friday, promising another heated showdown 🔥 

Raufeon Stots is itching for redemption after a setback against Patchy Mix in April. With a stronger striking game, he'll be looking to avoid Sabatello's aggressive wrestling. Stots showed excellent takedown defense in their last encounter, particularly when he kept off the cage. Learning from that, he'll aim to dictate the fight on his terms.

Sabatello, known for his tenacious wrestling, has the potential to shine in a 3-round bout. However, in their previous match, his lazy takedown attempts left him vulnerable to Stots' punishing knees from the clinch. This time around, Sabatello needs a smarter approach, blending strikes with well-timed takedowns against the cage 🤼 

As for the Cage Chronicle's mystical prediction, we're foreseeing a win for Raufeon Stots 🧙‍♂️

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DISCLAIMER- This none of this is betting advice. This newsletter is strictly for information, Please be careful and do your own research