Middleweights
Paulo Henrique Costa (9-0) vs. Oluwale Bamgbose (6-2)Every man he has ever beaten has been stopped within the first round, most in less than three minutes -- because Bamgbose is fast, aggressive and exceedingly powerful. Costa may exceed Bamgbose’s skill in several parameters, but past opponents have learned how surprising raw talent can be.
Of course, “Borrachinha” is not without talents of his own. He looks a little like Alistair Overeem, and he fights a lot like him -- not the new “Slickster Reem,” who hops around at long range to avoid being caught in a firefight but the classic version: “Ubereem.” Costa is a massive, powerful middleweight with a freight train’s enthusiasm for smashing things out of his way. Far from reckless, however, the Brazilian employs a snapping jab and clean footwork in order to pressure his opponents into the fence, where he keeps them on the end of his reach as he throws Dutch-style punch-kick combos. This approach has made “Borrachinha” a dangerous man in the opening moments of a fight: He has finished all nine of his opponents in the first frame.
Neither man cares much for grappling. Costa is more technical in his attempts to stand up, but Bamgbose has the power to scramble back to his feet with only a small opening.
THE ODDS: Costa (-340), Bamgbose (+270)
THE PICK: Bamgbose will likely surprise Costa in this fight. “Borrachinho” fights aggressively and has good reason to expect his opponents to respect that. Bamgbose likes to fight, however, and he will throw thunderbolts at Costa’s head as he closes the gap. In the end, Costa’s experience and superior craft will show. He has the weapons to attack Bamgbose at every level on the feet and the power to make it count. The pick is Costa by first-round TKO.
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