{"id":39590,"date":"2026-08-12T00:01:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T19:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=39590"},"modified":"2026-08-12T00:01:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T19:01:37","slug":"week-1-ufc-full-card-picks-best-bets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=39590","title":{"rendered":"Week 1 UFC full card picks, best bets"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<aside class=\"commerce-disclosure\">\n\t\t<i>Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/betting-editorial-standards\/\">editorial standards<\/a> for more information.<\/i><br \/>\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>The best sporting event on Tuesdays returns tonight with Dana White\u2019s Contender Series.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s lower-level <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/article\/best-ufc-betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-nyp-affiliate=\"true\">MMA<\/a> talent, but live fights are happening nonetheless and can be wagered on a weekday.<\/p>\n<p>For those unfamiliar, UFC President Dana White selects an unknown number of fighters each night and signs them to a UFC contract. <\/p>\n<p>His call is clear: the fights must be entertaining, and violence is encouraged. <\/p>\n<p>The entire card begins at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Paramount+, with a short five-card bout list for tonight.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dana White\u2019s Contender Series Week 1 predictions<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Matt Adams vs. Anthony Wint<\/h3>\n<p>At heavyweight, the big boys are going to go at it, with Matt Adams not winning any modeling competitions when he\u2019s in the octagon. <\/p>\n<p>Adams\u2019 fights aren\u2019t pretty. He\u2019s 5-foot-11, 235.5 pounds and really needs to wrestle to score a victory. As an underdog (+400), it will look that way when these two stand in the octagon on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Anthony Wint is a more serious athlete and will look a lot better in the octagon.<\/p>\n<p>Oddly enough, Adams will probably have better cardio, but Wint is the far superior athlete and I suspect he wins this fight early. <\/p>\n<p><strong>THE PLAY: Wint wins by KO\/TKO (-286, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/betting\/betrivers-bonus-code\/\">BetRivers<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Video\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed?version=3&amp;rel=1&amp;showsearch=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;iv_load_policy=1&amp;fs=1&amp;hl=en-US&amp;autohide=2&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;listType=playlist&amp;list=PL21wVx89S3lxibTVVPuy7a567BZxz_pVV\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fabrizio Escarrega vs. Abe Alsaghir<\/h3>\n<p>Hailing from Mexico, Fabrizio Escarrega isn\u2019t the most athletic guy in the world, but he has your prototypical toughness that we\u2019ve seen from fighters before him. <\/p>\n<p>Escarrega (9-1) only has one loss, and it came from an injury to his arm while fighting in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Abe Alsaghir (8-0) is only a slight underdog coming in at +125, though his opponent will be tough to finish.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll take the fight to go the distance coming in at +255. <\/p>\n<p><strong>THE PLAY: Fight goes the distance (+255, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/betting\/fanduel-sign-up-offer\/\">FanDuel<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40289573\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40289573\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Bilal Hasan poses aggressively during a face-off with Mridul Saikia at the Dana White's Contender Series weigh-in.\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?resize=662,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 662w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/bilal-hasan-mridul-saikia-india-137005744.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Bilal Hasan (left) is the top prospect to watch on Tuesday night. <span class=\"credit\">Zuffa LLC<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bilal Hasan vs. Mridul Saikia<\/h3>\n<p>Bilal Hasan is a massive prospect and is a -3500 favorite in this fight.<\/p>\n<p>The expectation is that he rolls over his opponent, and I think that\u2019s about right; he\u2019s going to be an interesting fighter to watch on the UFC roster.<\/p>\n<p>Target Hasan to win here by knockout (-450) \u2013 his opponent\u2019s only loss has come by knockout while Hasan has a really impressive spinning wheel kick KO on the regional scene with CFFC. <\/p>\n<p><strong>THE PLAY: Hasan by KO\/TKO (-450, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/betting\/thescore-bet-promo-code\/\">theScore Bet<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tom Pagliarulo vs. Ananias Mulumba<\/h3>\n<p>Ananias Mulumba actually appeared previously on DWCS and is being brought back for a chance at a win to seal himself into a contract.<\/p>\n<p>Tom Pagliarulo previously fought at Cage Titans and most recently fought and won on the PFL. <\/p>\n<p>Mulumba snagged a win at UAE Warriors after a loss on the DWCS. <\/p>\n<p>Pagliarulo has a solid background, having won on a PFL card. <\/p>\n<p>That makes me think that the fight goes a bit longer, with the over .5 rounds coming in at -350. That\u2019s a good parlay piece. <\/p>\n<p><strong>THE PLAY: Over .5 round (-350, theScore Bet)<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps<\/h3>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jon Kunneman  vs. Joe Kropschot <\/h3>\n<p>Money has come in on the underdog here despite Kunneman being undefeated with a 10-0 record. Kropschot is your usual tall, lanky middleweight who will need to really utilize his size if he wants to make a dent in the UFC and earn a contract. <\/p>\n<p>Kunneman appears to be a grappler first, but I\u2019m interested to see if White\u2019s calls for finishes and violence change his style at all with overhand right hands. <\/p>\n<p>Kunneman has 10 wins, with seven coming by submission, while Kropschot already has three losses, with one coming by submission and the other two by knockout.<\/p>\n<p>Kropschot has been fighting at LFA, which is noteworthy, but Kunneman looks like a solid prospect that can get his opponent to fold with enough pressure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE PLAY: Kunneman by submission (+280, BetRivers)<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Trust New York Post Betting<\/h2>\n<p>Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he\u2019s showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The best sporting event on Tuesdays returns tonight with Dana White\u2019s Contender Series. It\u2019s lower-level MMA talent, but live fights are happening nonetheless and can be wagered on a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/crop-40289554_f7942a.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39590","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39590"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39590\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39591"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39590"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39590"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39590"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}