Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series 7 emanates from The Ultimate Fighter Gym this Tuesday (August 22, 2017) at 8 p.m. (ET) live on UFC Fight Pass. In the main event, TUF 19’s Anton Berzin takes on Kennedy Nzechukwu in a light heavyweight battle.
Berzin (5-1) lost to Pat Walsh on Season 19 of The Ultimate Fight but has since captured the vacant CFFC light heavyweight title in his last bout, knocking out Jamelle Jones at CFFC 65 in May. The 27-year-old hasn’t officially lost a fight since 2010 and heads into this matchup on a four-fight win streak. Nzechkwu (2-0) made his professional debut in November and has won back-to-back fights. The 25-year-old is coming off a unanimous-decision win over Thai Walwyn at XFO 34 in January.
In the co-main event, former LFA bantamweight title challenger Steven Peterson battles undefeated Benito Lopez. Peterson (15-5) is ranked 6th on the FloCombat Prospect Rankings and has won seven of his last eight fights. The lone blemish during that stretch was a unanimous-decision setback to former Bellator title challenger Leandro Higo at LFA 1 in January. Lopez (7-0) has won his last four fights by stoppage including a first round victory over Benny Vinson at KOTC: Flashback in June. The 23-year-old is ranked 11th on FloCombat’s Prospect Rankings.
UFC veteran Joby Sanchez gets another shot at redemption as he battles Team Alpha Male standout JP Buys. Sanchez (10-2) was not offered a contract from Dana White despite his unanimous-decision victory over Manny Vazquez at Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series 1 in July. The 26-year-old Jackson/Winklejohn product has gone 3-0 since he was released from the UFC in 2015. Buys (4-1) makes his North American debut and carries a three-fight win streak into the matchup. The current EFC flyweight champion has never gone the distance in his career.
Mike Santiago carries his 10-fight win streak into his featherweight matchup against Mark Cherico. Santiago (20-9) has turned things around in his career after amassing a 2-4 record from 2012 to 2013. The 28-year-old hasn’t gone the distance in a fight since 2015 and hasn’t lost a fight since 2014. Cherico (11-1) heads into this matchup on a four-fight win streak and the lone loss in his career came to UFC bantamweight Brian Kelleher in November 2014.
Rounding out the card is a Jackson/Winklejohn’s Nick Urso taking on Jordan Espinosa in a rematch from their February 2016 matchup which resulted in a No-Contest. Urso (10-3) last saw action in April where he took home a split-decision win over Factory X product Brandon Royval at LFA 10. The 31-year-old, who is a main training partner of UFC bantamweight John Dodson, will look for back-to-back wins for the first time since 2013. Espinosa (10-5) has won three of his last four fights, including a submission win over Bobby Escalante at Global Knockout 9 in March.
MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting odds for the following bouts on the Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series 7 card today at Several Bookmakers…
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Main Event | Light Heavyweight | 205 lbs
Kennedy Nzechukwu +235
Anton Berzin -315
Over 1.5 -130
Under 1.5 -110
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Co-Main Event | Bantamweight | 135 lbs
Benito Lopez -130
Steven Peterson -110
Over 2.5 -140
Under 2.5 +100
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Main Card | Flyweight | 125 lbs
J.P. Buys +190
Joby Sanchez -270
Over 2.5 -135
Under 2.5 -105
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Main Card | Featherweight | 145 lbs
Mike Santiago -130
Mark Cherico -110
Over 2.5 -130
Under 2.5 -110
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Main Card | Flyweight | 125 lbs
Jordan Espinosa +185
Nick Urso -265
Over 2.5 -140
Under 2.5 +100
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