Hamdy Abdelwahab

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.