Dana White’s Contender Series: Week 1 Predictions, Picks and Betting Odds August 12

Dana White’s Contender Series Betting Preview

UFC WagerTalk handicapper Andy Lang gives his Week 1 Dana White’s Contender Series picks and predictions for August 12, 2025 with the main event headlined by Ilian Bouafia vs Neemias Santana in a middleweight fight. The main card starts up at 7:00pm ET from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV.

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Ilian Bouafia vs Neemias Santana: Dana White’s Contender Series Main Event

Tuesday, August 12	Dana White’s Contender Series Week 1 (Courtesy of Caesars)
Moneyline:	Ilian Bouafia -195 vs Neemias Santana +155
Rounds:	N/A
Fight Time:	Main Card Starts at 7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT
Arena:	UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV
TV:	ESPN+

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 1 Predictions

Baysangur Susurkaev -395 vs Murtaza Talha +310

– Baysangur fighting on short notice 

– Talha lost on Contender Series 2 years ago, fought someone after that that was so bad, they deemed the fight illegal cause he wasn’t a real fighter 

– Talha has bad cardio, good striking, but eats a lot of leg kicks, can’t defend him 

– has a couple of submission wins, but really tough to trust him if it gets out of the first round

-Baysangur not fought good competition, but good striking, decent ground game 

– I’ve seen Baysangur go the distance, and still have gas left in the tank late so big advantage there

– A lot of unknowns on Talha, but I don’t trust his bad striking defense. Fight probably ends before the third round starts so unders are a good like, it’s favorite or nothing in this one

Chris Ewert -148 vs Yuri Panferov +124 

– Panferov has fought some questionable opponents including a couple of guys over 40, but he’ll stand and strike with anyone 

– Striking defense hasn’t really been tested too much. Lost to Finney on Contender Series in 2023, won 2 more fights after that 

– Ewert fought better competition, has looked a bit tentative at times on the feet, especially in his last fight earlier this year, that won’t fly on Contender Series 

– Panferov won’t play it safe, I think it’s dog or pass in this one, but it’s going to be a fun fight

Ty Miller -148 v Jimmy Drago +124 

– This should be a great fight on the feet. Miller really crisp boxing, good power, is not comfortable on the ground

-Drago solid as well on the feet, not great on the ground, but I think clinch work advantage goes to Drago. Drago much more experienced, I think Miller may not be quite ready at 25 years old facing by far the best opponent he’s faced. Play on the underdog or pass in this fight.

George Mangos -142 v Radley Da Silva +120 

– Both of these fighters are really good, Da Silva 30 years old, Mangos only 21, but comes out of HEX fighting league, a great league with great competition, probably has faced better opposition than Da Silva

-Da Silva is really good, but Mangos checks all the boxes. Huge power, is young, but 7 pro fights, and 6 amateur fights has experience 

– Da Silva’s path to victory is probably clinch and ground game, but Mangos has a great submission and ground game 

– I’ve done well betting these big time Australian prospects coming on Contender Series, I’ll take Mangos in this one

Dana White’s Contender Series Event: Ilian Bouafia vs Neemias Santana

– Neither guy throws a lot of volume, but Santana can be really inactive for long periods of time

-Bouafia can get fights to the ground, but he’s really tall with a long reach, with finishing power

–Santana has finishing power, but he’s just beat some guys who gave up after the first

-Bouafia should have bigger moments, probably get a takedown and get some control time, but -245 is a steep price when both fighters aren’t impressive.

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