UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov · Feb 01, 2025 · Heavyweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov
Age 33
Height 6' 2"
Reach 72.0"
Weight 264 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 30
Height 6' 3"
Reach 77.0"
Weight 205 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Hamdy Abdelwahab
4.27 SLpM
55.0% Str. Acc.
3.67 SApM
51.0% Str. Def.
3.25 TD Avg
65.0% TD Acc.
100.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Jamal Pogues
3.57 SLpM
46.0% Str. Acc.
3.97 SApM
49.0% Str. Def.
2.0 TD Avg
46.0% TD Acc.
70.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Hamdy Abdelwahab
Moneyline
BetWay -120
KO/TKO
BetWay +500
Submission
BetWay +1600
Decision
FanDuel +195
Jamal Pogues
Moneyline
FanDuel +126
KO/TKO
FanDuel +700
Submission
FanDuel +2000
Decision
BetRivers +230
Hamdy Abdelwahab - Fight History
WIN vs Chris Barnett
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 321 · Oct 25, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 99 of 139 71% 170 of 221 9 of 14 64% 0 0 10:48
Chris Barnett 0 18 of 35 51% 28 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 41 of 58 70% 47 of 64 4 of 6 66% 0 0 3:03
Chris Barnett 0 8 of 16 50% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 27 of 44 61% 60 of 87 2 of 4 50% 0 0 4:13
Chris Barnett 0 5 of 7 71% 9 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 31 of 37 83% 63 of 70 3 of 4 75% 0 0 3:32
Chris Barnett 0 5 of 12 41% 11 of 18 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Hamdy Abdelwahab 99 of 139 71% 88 of 125 8 of 10 3 of 4 16 of 25 13 of 14 70 of 100
Chris Barnett 18 of 35 51% 7 of 21 4 of 4 7 of 10 14 of 30 3 of 4 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 41 of 58 70% 35 of 51 5 of 6 1 of 1 10 of 16 6 of 6 25 of 36
Chris Barnett 8 of 16 50% 3 of 11 4 of 4 1 of 1 5 of 12 3 of 4 0 of 0
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 27 of 44 61% 27 of 43 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 4 of 5 22 of 37
Chris Barnett 5 of 7 71% 1 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 5 5 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 31 of 37 83% 26 of 31 3 of 3 2 of 3 5 of 7 3 of 3 23 of 27
Chris Barnett 5 of 12 41% 3 of 8 0 of 0 2 of 4 4 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 19, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Chris Barnett

Angelo picks Chris Barnett despite acknowledging his own bias (he knows Barnett personally). He criticizes Hamdy Abdelwahab for being a boring, steroid-using fighter who doesn't wrestle enough despite being an Olympic wrestler. Angelo believes Barnett will at least move forward and throw punches, while Hamdy coasts. He advises not betting on this sloppy fight.

Do not bet on this fight. Just leave it alone. This is going to be a sloppy mess.
"I'm going to pick Chris, and while I fully recognize he's also a little fat and he's kind of old, he's not afraid to actually fight. This guy will go for it. I'll pick the guy who will move forward …"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Big Brady picks Hamdy Abdelwahab, calling Chris Barnett the worst heavyweight on the roster due to age, injuries, and size. He notes Barnett is 39, 5'9", and has taken significant damage. Brady expects Hamdy to finally get his first UFC finish, using his power to hurt and stop Barnett early. He calls it a 'nut up or shut up' fight for Hamdy and predicts a first-round KO.

Hamdy by first round KO
"I think Hamdy goes out there and gets his first finish in the UFC. Hamdy, he hits hard. I think he goes out there and hurts Barnett and puts him away. So, yeah, give me Hamdy Abdel Wahab. I think …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Cody picks Hamdy Abdelwahab, noting that Barnett is undersized at 5'9" and has poor takedown defense. He believes Hamdy's wrestling and power will be too much, and Barnett's only chance is a flashy KO. Cody expects Hamdy to win by boring decision or TKO.

"I think Hamdy makes this look real easy."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Oct 24, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Chris Barnett

Connor picks Barnett based on vibes, noting that Abdelwahab is undercooked and has poor fundamentals. He believes Barnett's unorthodox style and experience could confuse Abdelwahab, who has only five pro fights. Connor acknowledges Barnett's lack of fundamentals but thinks he can outmaneuver Abdelwahab, especially if Abdelwahab fades. He also notes that Barnett is a character and he wants him to win.

Abdelwahab is a huge favorite at -400; Barnett is +300. Connor finds the odds surprising.
"I think I'm gonna pick Chris Barnett. ... He will confuse and frustrate them."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Daniel Vreeland is confident in Abdelwahab's athleticism and power, calling this a significant step down in competition. He criticizes Barnett's age, obesity, and gimmicky style, and believes Abdelwahab will win easily, possibly by knockout. He notes that Barnett has already overachieved with two UFC wins and doesn't expect a third.

wins by KO
"I'm going to take the Egyptian Olympian Hamdi Abdel Wahhab to come out here and get back on track and possibly get a knockout."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Oct 20, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Lucrative James picks Hamdy Abdelwahab confidently, calling Chris Barnett one of the worst fighters on the roster. He notes Barnett's massive size disadvantage (5'9" at heavyweight) and reliance on flashy moves like spinning wheel kicks, which have caused injuries. He believes Abdelwahab can out-jab him, take him down at will, and win by dominant decision or late finish when Barnett tires.

decision or late finish
"I'm definitely picked picking Hamdi Abdel Wahab here. ... Chris Barnett at this point, man, I mean, yeah, I just I can't pick him."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

The host acknowledges Barnett's return from an Achilles injury but believes Abdelwahab's grappling, which he hasn't leaned on much, will be used to shut down Barnett's striking. He predicts Abdelwahab wins on the scorecards.

decision
"I think the grappling of Abdel Wahab... we'll see him lean on it this time to really shut Barnett's striking game down."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 22, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Paul agrees, calling Barnett a shell of himself after injuries and inactivity. He notes that Hamdy is an Olympic-level wrestler and will likely take Barnett down and control him. Paul believes Barnett's only win condition is a spinning kick KO, which is unlikely.

"Hamdy by boring, boring, you know, the tactics which are basically his only tactics."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Oct 21, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

The MMA Guru picks Hamdy Abdelwahab by decision, but is hesitant. He notes that Chris Barnett is old, injury-prone, and has had knee and foot surgeries, but also sees value in Barnett as an underdog. He believes Abdelwahab can pressure Barnett, take him down, and knee him against the cage. However, he admits Barnett could win by TKO. He expects a 29-28 decision for Abdelwahab.

Chris Barnett is good value as an underdog; Abdelwahab by 29-28 decision
"I'm going to go with Hamdy Abdel Wahab. I just can't seriously go with Chris Barnett. He is good value, though."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Oct 24, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Chris Barnett

Zane also picks Barnett, noting that Abdelwahab has better fundamentals but is inexperienced and gasses easily. He believes Barnett's weirdness could be too much for Abdelwahab to handle, especially if Abdelwahab can't connect his game together. Zane also points out that Abdelwahab's only win is a split decision over Jamal Pogues and that he lost to Mohammed Usman.

"I don't see a reason not to pick Chris Barnett. Honestly, like I'm Abdel Wahab is he clearly has better fundamentals. Yeah, but he's had five pro fights."
LOSS vs Mohammed Usman
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. · Jun 21, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 55 of 123 44% 55 of 124 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Mohammed Usman 0 86 of 179 48% 86 of 179 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 16 of 32 50% 16 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Mohammed Usman 0 9 of 46 19% 9 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 21 of 39 53% 21 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Mohammed Usman 0 29 of 54 53% 29 of 54 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 18 of 52 34% 18 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Mohammed Usman 0 48 of 79 60% 48 of 79 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Hamdy Abdelwahab 55 of 123 44% 34 of 97 10 of 13 11 of 13 55 of 123 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mohammed Usman 86 of 179 48% 44 of 123 41 of 54 1 of 2 86 of 179 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 16 of 32 50% 9 of 22 1 of 2 6 of 8 16 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mohammed Usman 9 of 46 19% 8 of 42 1 of 3 0 of 1 9 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 21 of 39 53% 13 of 31 5 of 5 3 of 3 21 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mohammed Usman 29 of 54 53% 16 of 34 12 of 19 1 of 1 29 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 18 of 52 34% 12 of 44 4 of 6 2 of 2 18 of 52 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mohammed Usman 48 of 79 60% 20 of 47 28 of 32 0 of 0 48 of 79 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 20, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Angelo picks Hamdy Abdelwahab but with significant reservations. He notes that Hamdy is an Olympic wrestler but has looked sloppy, gasses easily, and hasn't shown good cardio. He mentions that Mohammed Usman is big and athletic but may not be fully committed, citing an interview where his brother said he's on the fence about continuing. Angelo ultimately fades both for fantasy but picks Hamdy due to the potential for takedowns if Usman is not prepared.

Fading both for fantasy; mentions Hamdy's potential for high scoring if he uses wrestling but doubts it.
"I'm picked Hamdi because while Muhammad Usman is big and he's athletic and he does have some raw power, we've seen it and he doesn't gas nearly as quickly as Hamdi does."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 18, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Big Brady picks Hamdy Abdelwahab but is not excited about the fight. He expects Abdelwahab to get a takedown in the first round, gas out, and then the fight becomes a low-volume affair going to decision. He thinks Abdelwahab clearly lost his last fight but will get the nod from judges. He predicts Abdelwahab by decision and says he will look to fade him in the future.

decision, fade in the future
"Give me Hamdy. Hamdy to win by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Jun 19, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

The host is not a big believer in Abdelwahab but thinks Usman is not good either. He expects Abdelwahab's aggressiveness and wrestling threat to keep Usman moving backward, allowing Abdelwahab to grind out a decision win.

"I'm not a big Abdul Wahab believer, but Usman is not that good either. I think the aggressiveness and a possible wrestling threat of Abdul Wahab will keep Usman moving back backward and eating some big shots allowing Abdaw Wahhab …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Mohammed Usman

The MMA Guru picks Mohammed Usman as an underdog, calling Hamdy Abdelwahab 'absolute garbage' and a 'fat sack of garbage'. He believes the odds are skewed because Abdelwahab is undefeated, but sees the fight as 50/50. He expects Usman's reach advantage and better conditioning to allow him to outpoint Abdelwahab in the later rounds, predicting a 29-28 decision.

Fight goes to decision, Usman wins by decision 29-28
"I'm going to go with the underdog to start the card of Muhammad Usman here. I'm picking Muhammad Usman to win."
WIN vs Jamal Pogues
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov · Feb 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 44 of 87 50% 52 of 103 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:57
Jamal Pogues 0 69 of 123 56% 69 of 123 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 11 of 23 47% 19 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:57
Jamal Pogues 0 22 of 40 55% 22 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 12 of 25 48% 12 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jamal Pogues 0 22 of 44 50% 22 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 21 of 39 53% 21 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jamal Pogues 0 25 of 39 64% 25 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Hamdy Abdelwahab 44 of 87 50% 25 of 65 3 of 4 16 of 18 40 of 81 0 of 0 4 of 6
Jamal Pogues 69 of 123 56% 43 of 94 0 of 0 26 of 29 68 of 122 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 11 of 23 47% 8 of 19 0 of 0 3 of 4 7 of 17 0 of 0 4 of 6
Jamal Pogues 22 of 40 55% 14 of 30 0 of 0 8 of 10 22 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 12 of 25 48% 6 of 18 0 of 0 6 of 7 12 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jamal Pogues 22 of 44 50% 12 of 33 0 of 0 10 of 11 22 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 21 of 39 53% 11 of 28 3 of 4 7 of 7 21 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jamal Pogues 25 of 39 64% 17 of 31 0 of 0 8 of 8 24 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jan 26, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Angelo picks Hamdy Abdelwahab despite concerns about his two-year suspension and lack of recent fights. He believes Abdelwahab's Olympic-level wrestling will allow him to get takedowns, and notes that Jamal Pogues looked poor off his back in his last fight. He expects the line to flip and plans to monitor line movement before betting.

Plans to use line movement tracker; expects Hamdy to flip to favorite.
"I am going HDI here I'm going to keep an eye on the line I'm going to eat my own dog food drink my own champagne"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jan 27, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Big Brady is not sold on either fighter. He notes Hamdy Abdelwahab has a long layoff due to a suspension and wasn't impressed with his performance against Dantel Ma. Jamal Pogues is a light heavyweight moving up, but he showed up heavy and with a weird haircut. Brady thinks Pogues has better cardio and striking down the stretch, and predicts a split decision win for Pogues. He calls the fight 'sloppy greasy gassy' and expects it to be terrible.

split decision
"I'm going to take Jamal poges to win a split here maybe get taken down early but have the better cardio down the stretch have the better striking down the stretch"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Pogues is the better striker and will use his jab from distance to outpoint Abdelwahab, who is returning from a long layoff after a USADA suspension. The pick is based on Pogues' striking advantage and Abdelwahab's potential ring rust.

"I believe the striking of Pogues will pose too much for the returning Abdelwahab... I think we'll see Pogues stick him from distance stay on that jab and win this fight on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 28, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

The MMA Guru picks Hamdy Abdelwahab, noting he is a physical specimen with good wrestling skills and more experience than his record suggests due to fights in Gamebred MMA. He acknowledges Abdelwahab's suspension for PEDs but believes he is more talented than Jamal Pogues and will likely win via takedowns. He mentions Abdelwahab's close fight with Don'Tale May but still favors him.

"I'm going to go with Hamdi Abdul wahab... he's a monster he's a physical specimen of a guy... he'll probably be able to take him down with his wrestling skill"
LOSS vs Don'Tale Mayes
No Contest (overturned) R3 5:00 · UFC 277: Pena vs. Nunes 2 · Jul 30, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 47 of 116 40% 54 of 123 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 1 58 of 110 52% 106 of 164 3 of 4 75% 0 0 6:36
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 11 of 40 27% 11 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 1 21 of 40 52% 44 of 67 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:00
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 24 of 56 42% 27 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 0 19 of 41 46% 20 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:45
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 12 of 20 60% 16 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Don'Tale Mayes 0 18 of 29 62% 42 of 55 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:51
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Hamdy Abdelwahab 47 of 116 40% 28 of 90 12 of 17 7 of 9 45 of 111 2 of 5 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 58 of 110 52% 51 of 102 5 of 6 2 of 2 30 of 74 2 of 3 26 of 33
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 11 of 40 27% 6 of 31 2 of 4 3 of 5 11 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 21 of 40 52% 19 of 37 1 of 2 1 of 1 13 of 30 2 of 2 6 of 8
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 24 of 56 42% 14 of 44 6 of 8 4 of 4 22 of 51 2 of 5 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 19 of 41 46% 14 of 36 4 of 4 1 of 1 13 of 32 0 of 0 6 of 9
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 12 of 20 60% 8 of 15 4 of 5 0 of 0 12 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Don'Tale Mayes 18 of 29 62% 18 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 12 0 of 1 14 of 16
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jul 25, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Big Brady picks Don'Tale Mayes to win by knockout in the second or third round. He is very critical of Abdelwahab's level of competition, cardio, and ground game, calling him not UFC caliber. He expects Mayes to use his size advantage and eventually finish Abdelwahab as he slows down.

"i like dantel mace here i like dantel mace to finish him d abdul wahab and i like him to do in that second or third round by knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Cody picks Mayes, noting that Abdelwahab is a short-notice replacement who didn't earn his way to the UFC. He describes Abdelwahab as an Egyptian wrestling champion but with a small wrestling program, and his striking is very rudimentary. Mayes has a huge size advantage (6'6" with 81" reach) and has been improving his grappling. He thinks Mayes will feast on Abdelwahab, staying on the outside and chopping away. He also mentions he got Mayes at -125 earlier.

"i think dante manages feasts on him there's going to be a huge size advantage... he's going to be able to just stay to the outside and chop away at this guy"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jul 27, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Daniel picks Mayes on principle, citing his experience and dues paid. He notes Mayes has fought tougher competition, including Ciryl Gane, and has a two-fight win streak. He heavily criticizes Abdelwahab's resume, calling his opponents 'ice cream vendors' and noting he has only 3 pro fights, all mismatches. He also questions the level of Egyptian Greco-Roman wrestling, citing a friend who said it's not comparable to US or Russian wrestling. He acknowledges Mayes isn't elite but believes experience will prevail.

"I gotta go Don'Tale Mayes on principle."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2022 (fight day)
Don'Tale Mayes

Preet bet Mayes at -132, noting Hamdi's sketchy competition and poor cardio. He expects Mayes to keep distance with his jab and footwork, survive the first round, and take over as Hamdi slows down. He references Mayes' wrestling-heavy win over Josh Parisian as evidence of his late-round finishing ability.

"i'm on the maze side too here i got it at -132"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 26, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Don'Tale Mayes

Paul also picks Mayes, agreeing that Abdelwahab is a short-notice replacement who is not a legitimate prospect. He notes that Mayes has been improving, with good wins over Josh Parisian and Roque Martinez. He thinks Mayes' size and reach advantage will be key, and that Abdelwahab's wrestling won't be enough. He also mentions that Mayes has been working on his grappling and shouldn't be mistaken for the same guy from a few fights back.

"i got to go maze for sure for sure for sure... he's taking the fun and short notice and he's probably going to get the ass beat pretty good"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2022 (fight day)
Don'Tale Mayes

The MMA Guru picks Don'Tale Mayes by TKO in the second round. He expects Hamdy Abdelwahab to come out fast with takedowns and pressure, but will gas out in round two. Mayes will then take over with body work, jabs, and a counter shot that rocks Hamdy, leading to ground-and-pound elbows.

TKO in round 2
"dantel maze gets this one done by tko late in the second"
Jamal Pogues - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov · Feb 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 44 of 87 50% 52 of 103 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:57
Jamal Pogues 0 69 of 123 56% 69 of 123 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 11 of 23 47% 19 of 39 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:57
Jamal Pogues 0 22 of 40 55% 22 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 12 of 25 48% 12 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jamal Pogues 0 22 of 44 50% 22 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 0 21 of 39 53% 21 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jamal Pogues 0 25 of 39 64% 25 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Hamdy Abdelwahab 44 of 87 50% 25 of 65 3 of 4 16 of 18 40 of 81 0 of 0 4 of 6
Jamal Pogues 69 of 123 56% 43 of 94 0 of 0 26 of 29 68 of 122 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Hamdy Abdelwahab 11 of 23 47% 8 of 19 0 of 0 3 of 4 7 of 17 0 of 0 4 of 6
Jamal Pogues 22 of 40 55% 14 of 30 0 of 0 8 of 10 22 of 40 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Hamdy Abdelwahab 12 of 25 48% 6 of 18 0 of 0 6 of 7 12 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jamal Pogues 22 of 44 50% 12 of 33 0 of 0 10 of 11 22 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Hamdy Abdelwahab 21 of 39 53% 11 of 28 3 of 4 7 of 7 21 of 39 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jamal Pogues 25 of 39 64% 17 of 31 0 of 0 8 of 8 24 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jan 26, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Angelo picks Hamdy Abdelwahab despite concerns about his two-year suspension and lack of recent fights. He believes Abdelwahab's Olympic-level wrestling will allow him to get takedowns, and notes that Jamal Pogues looked poor off his back in his last fight. He expects the line to flip and plans to monitor line movement before betting.

Plans to use line movement tracker; expects Hamdy to flip to favorite.
"I am going HDI here I'm going to keep an eye on the line I'm going to eat my own dog food drink my own champagne"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jan 27, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Big Brady is not sold on either fighter. He notes Hamdy Abdelwahab has a long layoff due to a suspension and wasn't impressed with his performance against Dantel Ma. Jamal Pogues is a light heavyweight moving up, but he showed up heavy and with a weird haircut. Brady thinks Pogues has better cardio and striking down the stretch, and predicts a split decision win for Pogues. He calls the fight 'sloppy greasy gassy' and expects it to be terrible.

split decision
"I'm going to take Jamal poges to win a split here maybe get taken down early but have the better cardio down the stretch have the better striking down the stretch"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Pogues is the better striker and will use his jab from distance to outpoint Abdelwahab, who is returning from a long layoff after a USADA suspension. The pick is based on Pogues' striking advantage and Abdelwahab's potential ring rust.

"I believe the striking of Pogues will pose too much for the returning Abdelwahab... I think we'll see Pogues stick him from distance stay on that jab and win this fight on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 28, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

The MMA Guru picks Hamdy Abdelwahab, noting he is a physical specimen with good wrestling skills and more experience than his record suggests due to fights in Gamebred MMA. He acknowledges Abdelwahab's suspension for PEDs but believes he is more talented than Jamal Pogues and will likely win via takedowns. He mentions Abdelwahab's close fight with Don'Tale May but still favors him.

"I'm going to go with Hamdi Abdul wahab... he's a monster he's a physical specimen of a guy... he'll probably be able to take him down with his wrestling skill"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov · Feb 03, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jamal Pogues 0 58 of 86 67% 116 of 153 1 of 6 16% 0 0 2:47
Thomas Petersen 0 65 of 124 52% 66 of 125 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jamal Pogues 0 9 of 17 52% 46 of 57 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:41
Thomas Petersen 0 24 of 43 55% 24 of 43 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Jamal Pogues 0 22 of 32 68% 40 of 56 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:06
Thomas Petersen 0 22 of 35 62% 22 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Jamal Pogues 0 27 of 37 72% 30 of 40 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Thomas Petersen 0 19 of 46 41% 20 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jamal Pogues 58 of 86 67% 26 of 50 30 of 34 2 of 2 54 of 81 4 of 5 0 of 0
Thomas Petersen 65 of 124 52% 43 of 94 15 of 23 7 of 7 56 of 111 9 of 13 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jamal Pogues 9 of 17 52% 5 of 13 4 of 4 0 of 0 9 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
Thomas Petersen 24 of 43 55% 16 of 30 5 of 10 3 of 3 23 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Jamal Pogues 22 of 32 68% 15 of 23 7 of 9 0 of 0 19 of 29 3 of 3 0 of 0
Thomas Petersen 22 of 35 62% 15 of 27 6 of 7 1 of 1 14 of 26 8 of 9 0 of 0
3 Jamal Pogues 27 of 37 72% 6 of 14 19 of 21 2 of 2 26 of 35 1 of 2 0 of 0
Thomas Petersen 19 of 46 41% 12 of 37 4 of 6 3 of 3 19 of 43 0 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 28, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Thomas Petersen

Angelo picks Thomas Petersen, the prospect, over Jamal Pogues. He notes that the UFC often sets up fights to test prospects, and Petersen's wrestling should be good enough to get Pogues to the ground. He acknowledges Petersen's striking is poor but believes his wrestling will carry him. He also mentions that Pogues lacks one-punch knockout power to turn the fight around.

Petersen included in a parlay
"Thomas Peterson is the pick and I do have a parlay with him"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 29, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Thomas Petersen

Big Brady picks Thomas Petersen to win by TKO ground and pound within the first two rounds. He notes Petersen is the bigger, stronger fighter with a wrestling background and vicious ground and pound, while Jamal Pogues has looked lackluster at heavyweight and has been taken down by smaller fighters. The main concern is Petersen's cardio, as he was knocked out in the third round in his only fight that went that far, but Brady expects an early finish.

TKO ground and pound, first two rounds
"give me Peterson here I think Peterson stops Jamal poges within the first two rounds I'll call it a TKO ground and pound"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jan 31, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Thomas Petersen

Cody leans to Petersen, but is wary of Pogues' potential if he makes weight. He notes Pogues' weight issues and poor performance against Parkin. He thinks Petersen's wrestling and cardio could be decisive, but he's not confident.

"I gotta go with Thomas Peterson to want it more"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jan 29, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Thomas Petersen

Petersen has good forward pressure and wrestling, but his gas tank is a concern after gassing in his only loss. Pogues has been to four straight decisions and may struggle to implement his striking or grappling. The host leans slightly to Petersen, expecting him to grind out a decision win if he avoids big shots and manages his cardio.

Over 1.5 rounds is mentioned at -220, and the host expects the fight to go to a decision.
"I lean ever so slightly with the Thomas Peterson side although minus 170 is a little bit wide considering the experienced disadvantage."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jan 31, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Thomas Petersen

Paul picks Petersen by submission, taking a small sprinkle at +750. He notes Petersen's wrestling and submission win last time, and Pogues' weight and cardio issues. He thinks the prop is overpriced.

Petersen by submission +750
"Peterson sub plus 750"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

The MMA Guru picks Jamal Pogues over Thomas Petersen, calling both fighters 'fat middleweights' and an 'embarrassment to the sport.' He believes Pogues has the takedown defense to avoid being taken down by Petersen, and if it stays standing, Pogues has better boxing. He dismisses Petersen's win on the Contender Series as beating a 'gelatinous blob.'

"I'm going to have to go with Jamal poges funnily enough... I think Jamal poges has the takedown defense... and I think if he doesn't get taken down he has better boxing."
LOSS vs Mick Parkin
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura · Jul 22, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Mick Parkin 0 95 of 156 60% 98 of 159 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jamal Pogues 0 36 of 135 26% 37 of 136 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:17
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Mick Parkin 0 32 of 50 64% 32 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jamal Pogues 0 21 of 79 26% 22 of 80 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:16
2 Mick Parkin 0 19 of 34 55% 22 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jamal Pogues 0 7 of 30 23% 7 of 30 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:56
3 Mick Parkin 0 44 of 72 61% 44 of 72 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jamal Pogues 0 8 of 26 30% 8 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Mick Parkin 95 of 156 60% 37 of 94 16 of 20 42 of 42 92 of 151 3 of 5 0 of 0
Jamal Pogues 36 of 135 26% 22 of 119 4 of 6 10 of 10 34 of 132 2 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Mick Parkin 32 of 50 64% 12 of 30 2 of 2 18 of 18 32 of 48 0 of 2 0 of 0
Jamal Pogues 21 of 79 26% 13 of 71 1 of 1 7 of 7 20 of 78 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Mick Parkin 19 of 34 55% 5 of 17 3 of 6 11 of 11 17 of 32 2 of 2 0 of 0
Jamal Pogues 7 of 30 23% 5 of 27 1 of 2 1 of 1 6 of 28 1 of 2 0 of 0
3 Mick Parkin 44 of 72 61% 20 of 47 11 of 12 13 of 13 43 of 71 1 of 1 0 of 0
Jamal Pogues 8 of 26 30% 4 of 21 2 of 3 2 of 2 8 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jul 16, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Angelo picks Jamal Pogues because he is faster and busier, and his offensive wrestling should be effective. However, he is concerned about Pogues' takedown defense and Mick Parkin's ability to get on top. He fades betting on this fight due to the uncertainty.

"I am going to pick Jamal here but I'm gonna fade this with bets because I don't trust the takedown defense of Jamal Pogues"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jul 18, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Mick Parkin

Big Brady picks Mick Parkin to finish Jamal Pogues, but admits it's a shot in the dark. He notes Parkin is untested but looks good against weak competition and trains with high-level guys like Tom Aspinall. He is not high on Pogues, who he thinks looked out of shape in his last fight. He says Parkin could be the real deal or a fraud.

by knockout
"give me parking to win this fight I'm gonna say he finishes Pogues at some point whether it's a knockout whether it's a submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Cody picks Pogues, citing his experience and better competition. He notes Parkin has fought low-level opponents and his cardio is unknown. He thinks Pogues's wrestling and top control will be enough to win a decision.

"it's Pogues pretty clearly here"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jul 20, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Daniel picks Jamal Pogues, citing his athleticism and takedown ability, which he showed in his UFC debut against Josh Parisian. He acknowledges Mick Parkin has handled lower-level competition but thinks Pogues' experience and wrestling will be the difference. He admits he has been waiting to fade Pogues but was impressed by his debut. He is not confident enough to bet it, saying 'no conviction here'.

Daniel says he is not betting this fight. He mentions the line: Pogues -160, Parkin +140.
"I'm gonna pick him for that reason but I'm not betting it so you know no no conviction here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Mick Parkin

The host picks Mick Parkin as a dog, citing his athleticism, scrambling, striking speed, and overall grappling. He believes Parkin's cardio and ability to reverse positions will be key as the fight goes longer. He predicts Parkin wins inside the distance and calls him one of the better underdogs on the card.

inside the distance
"give me parking and park into an inside the distance and probably one of the better underdogs on the card in my opinion"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 19, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Paul initially considered Parkin as a dog but settled on Pogues due to experience. He thinks Pogues's wrestling and top control will wear down Parkin, who has never fought past the first round. He notes Pogues's low volume but expects him to win.

"I ended up just going towards Jamal Pogues who I think he's got a lot more experience is the better fighter"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Mick Parkin

The MMA Guru picks Mick Parkin as an underdog, initially unsure but swayed by Jamal Pogues' unimpressive performance against Josh Parisian. He notes Parkin's training with Tom Aspinall and good get-ups, and believes Parkin's youth and strength will allow him to get back up from takedowns. The Guru expects Parkin to be tougher in the pocket and win a decision.

"I'm actually going to go with Mick Parkin as an underdog here"
WIN vs Josh Parisian
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield · Feb 18, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Jamal Pogues 0 37 of 113 32% 51 of 137 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:12
Josh Parisian 0 33 of 60 55% 49 of 79 5 of 11 45% 0 0 5:49
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Jamal Pogues 0 12 of 28 42% 15 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Josh Parisian 0 7 of 18 38% 13 of 25 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:54
2 Jamal Pogues 0 13 of 39 33% 17 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:29
Josh Parisian 0 8 of 14 57% 17 of 24 2 of 5 40% 0 0 1:20
3 Jamal Pogues 0 12 of 46 26% 19 of 56 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:43
Josh Parisian 0 18 of 28 64% 19 of 30 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:35
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Jamal Pogues 37 of 113 32% 19 of 85 14 of 23 4 of 5 35 of 110 2 of 3 0 of 0
Josh Parisian 33 of 60 55% 29 of 56 3 of 3 1 of 1 20 of 47 9 of 9 4 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Jamal Pogues 12 of 28 42% 7 of 20 3 of 6 2 of 2 11 of 27 1 of 1 0 of 0
Josh Parisian 7 of 18 38% 6 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 14 0 of 0 4 of 4
2 Jamal Pogues 13 of 39 33% 6 of 26 5 of 10 2 of 3 12 of 37 1 of 2 0 of 0
Josh Parisian 8 of 14 57% 8 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 10 4 of 4 0 of 0
3 Jamal Pogues 12 of 46 26% 6 of 39 6 of 7 0 of 0 12 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
Josh Parisian 18 of 28 64% 15 of 25 3 of 3 0 of 0 13 of 23 5 of 5 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Josh Parisian

Angelo picks Parisian, citing his volume striking and UFC experience. He notes Parisian set heavyweight significant strike records and has a grappling win over Alan Baudot. Angelo thinks Pogues is a decent but not powerful heavyweight who doesn't move his head. He believes Parisian's higher-level experience will be the difference, and the line movement favoring Pogues is surprising. He considers a Parisian by decision bet at plus odds.

Angelo mentions Parisian plus 3.5 at -110 and Parisian by decision at plus money as potential bets.
"I like Josh Parisian this matchup... I think parisian's gonna win this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 13, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Big Brady sees a clear path for Pogues via wrestling, as Parisian has terrible takedown defense and get-up game, as shown in the Dontale Mayes fight. He notes that Pogues didn't wrestle in his last fight, which is a concern, but if he does, he should dominate. He predicts a decision win, but warns against betting the -250 line.

Pogues by decision
"Jamal poke should win this fight I mean he has a clear path to Victory with the wrestling"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Cody picks Pogues but doesn't like the -240 line for an unproven UFC debutant. He notes Pogues is young (27), has good cardio for a heavyweight, and has a wrestling advantage. However, he warns that Pogues' striking is mechanical and he's there to get countered. He also mentions Parisian's only good characteristic is being a bona fide heavyweight, and if Parisian gets top position, it's a big body to move off. He says it's a greasy heavyweight spot and he's not confident.

Cody mentions Pogues came in at 248 on Contender Series. He says he'll pick Pogues but won't lay -240.
"I don't like laying you know low level heavyweights I don't like Lane minus two four I probably won't lay minus 240 here I will be picking Pogues."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Josh Parisian

Connor picks Parisian because he is bigger and can make the fight brutal. He thinks Pogues' gas tank may not hold up against Parisian's pressure, and Parisian's toughness and aggression could wear Pogues down. Connor notes that Pogues has not faced a fighter like Parisian who will crash into him repeatedly.

"I'll take Parisian. I think that this is a fight where the fact, you know, we talked about pogues looking decent in on the Contender series... Parisian is bigger. He's just bigger."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lean picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Jacob picks Pogues but is not confident enough to bet. He thinks Pogues has a wrestling advantage and will be more active with his jab, outworking Parisian. However, he notes Pogues isn't a finisher and Parisian has a dog in him. Jacob expects a sloppy, close fight and might consider a live bet on Parisian if the fight is close in the third round.

"I'm gonna go with Jamal um just because I think he has a wrestling advantage."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Pogues has a strong grappling base and good cardio, which should overwhelm Parisian, who fades in deep waters. Parisian's striking is flashy but his gas tank is poor. Pogues can take him down and grind out a decision, or even finish late.

Pogues wins by decision
"I like Pogues here... I think he wins this fight via decision."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Feb 15, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Paul also picks Pogues but is hesitant. He notes Parisian's wrestling narrative is overblown, as he was taken down by Parker Porter and Dantale Maze. He says Pogues should have speed, technical striking, and cardio advantages. However, he acknowledges Parisian has a size advantage (20-25 pounds) and could use it against the cage. He says he loves betting underdogs but cannot get on board with Parisian.

Paul mentions Parisian's takedown defense is poor. He says he won't lay -240 but will pick Pogues.
"I will be picking Pogues because really outside of yeah holding him up against the cage using a little bit of size Advantage... I cannot cannot get on board playing Josh Parisian."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked Feb 14, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

The MMA Guru picks Jamal Pogues, though he wasn't impressed by his Contender Series performance. He notes Pogues has a long reach and somewhat crisp boxing, and is young enough to take his career seriously now. He criticizes Josh Parisian as a bottom-feeder heavyweight, but acknowledges Parisian is not complete garbage. He predicts a decision win in a great scrap.

"I think I'm going to take him here his boxing looked somewhat crisp and he's young and he reminds me the type of guy where if you give him the opportunity in the UFC starts really taking his career seriously"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 16, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Zane picks Pogues because he has faster, sharper hands and a good jab, and he showed the ability to increase his intensity late in fights. Parisian is a brawler who relies on toughness and chaos, but Pogues has a reach advantage and better technique. Zane notes that Parisian's only wins come when opponents fade, and Pogues has shown he can go the distance.

Pogues opened -170, now -246; Parisian opened +145, now +199. Zane says he doesn't understand the spread and thinks it should be a dead-even fight.
"I'll take pokes. He's got something resembling a prospects game. I mean, it's not good yet, but it's enough."
Expert Picks (4)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Jan 26, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

Angelo picks Hamdy Abdelwahab despite concerns about his two-year suspension and lack of recent fights. He believes Abdelwahab's Olympic-level wrestling will allow him to get takedowns, and notes that Jamal Pogues looked poor off his back in his last fight. He expects the line to flip and plans to monitor line movement before betting.

Plans to use line movement tracker; expects Hamdy to flip to favorite.
"I am going HDI here I'm going to keep an eye on the line I'm going to eat my own dog food drink my own champagne"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jan 27, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Big Brady is not sold on either fighter. He notes Hamdy Abdelwahab has a long layoff due to a suspension and wasn't impressed with his performance against Dantel Ma. Jamal Pogues is a light heavyweight moving up, but he showed up heavy and with a weird haircut. Brady thinks Pogues has better cardio and striking down the stretch, and predicts a split decision win for Pogues. He calls the fight 'sloppy greasy gassy' and expects it to be terrible.

split decision
"I'm going to take Jamal poges to win a split here maybe get taken down early but have the better cardio down the stretch have the better striking down the stretch"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Jamal Pogues

Pogues is the better striker and will use his jab from distance to outpoint Abdelwahab, who is returning from a long layoff after a USADA suspension. The pick is based on Pogues' striking advantage and Abdelwahab's potential ring rust.

"I believe the striking of Pogues will pose too much for the returning Abdelwahab... I think we'll see Pogues stick him from distance stay on that jab and win this fight on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 28, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Hamdy Abdelwahab

The MMA Guru picks Hamdy Abdelwahab, noting he is a physical specimen with good wrestling skills and more experience than his record suggests due to fights in Gamebred MMA. He acknowledges Abdelwahab's suspension for PEDs but believes he is more talented than Jamal Pogues and will likely win via takedowns. He mentions Abdelwahab's close fight with Don'Tale May but still favors him.

"I'm going to go with Hamdi Abdul wahab... he's a monster he's a physical specimen of a guy... he'll probably be able to take him down with his wrestling skill"