Dana White's Contender Series: Week 5 Predictions, Picks and Betting Odds September 9

Dana White’s Contender Series Betting Preview

UFC WagerTalk handicapper Andy Lang gives his Week 5 Dana White’s Contender Series picks and predictions for September 9, 2025 with the main event headlined by Anthony Guarascio vs Steven Asplund in a heavyweight fight. The main card starts up at 8:00pm ET from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV.

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Anthony Guarascio vs Steven Asplund: Dana White’s Contender Series Main Event

Tuesday, September 9	Dana White’s Contender Series Week 5 (Courtesy of Caesars)
Moneyline:	Anthony Guarascio -175 vs Steven Asplund +135
Rounds:	N/A
Fight Time:	Main Card Starts at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT
Arena:	UFC APEX in Las Vegas, NV
TV:	ESPN+

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 5 Predictions

Felipe Franco -315 vs Freddy Vidal +265

This fight is full of unknowns since neither Franco nor Vidal has faced any real competition yet, but from what’s been shown, Franco looks to be the more athletic and complete fighter.

His ground game is clearly ahead, and he’s shown the ability to finish once he gets dominant positions. Vidal, on the other hand, hasn’t impressed—his striking is sloppy, and he mostly leans on pushing opponents against the fence without much effectiveness.

With Franco having the clear edge in experience, skill, and athleticism, this looks like a spot where he should control the fight and eventually get the finish. Franco by finish is the pick here.

Chasen Blair -115 vs Samuel Sanches -105

Chasen Blair returns to the Contender Series after a solid showing in his last appearance, where he fought well but ultimately got stopped late in the second round with a body shot.

Since then, he bounced back with a submission victory, showing that he’s capable of winning both on the feet and on the ground. His striking is decent, and he’s an all-around solid fighter with good athleticism.

Samuel Sanches enters with an impressive record and the advantage of height and length, using his long legs effectively, but his resume doesn’t show wins against fighters with the same level of skill or versatility that Blair brings.

While both are talented and athletic, Blair seems to have the more well-rounded game. That said, the best angle might not be picking a side but rather targeting the total.

With both fighters fairly equal on the feet and durable, this fight has all the makings of going past the midway point. The OVER 1.5 rounds is my favorite play, with Blair as the slight lean to get the decision win.

Lerryan Douglas -500 v Cam Teague +375

Lerryan Douglas comes into this matchup as a heavy favorite for good reason. He’s strong, well rounded, and highly skilled in every area of MMA.

His striking is sharp and powerful, and while he doesn’t throw a ton of volume, when he lands, it’s impactful. His defense is solid, and overall, he has very few weaknesses outside of being a bit conservative with his output.

Cam Teague, on the other hand, is far less polished. His footwork and stance are sloppy, his defense on the feet is porous, and he doesn’t strike with the crispness needed at this level.

The only time he faced quality opposition was against Vallejos, where he was knocked out, and this matchup doesn’t do him any favors.

Given Douglas’ skills and Teague’s defensive flaws, this looks like another short night for Teague. Expect Douglas to land something clean and powerful that ends the fight early. The pick is Douglas by knockout on the Contender Series.

Shanelle Dyer -180 vs Carol Foro +155

Shanelle Dyer enters this matchup as the favorite thanks to her length, striking skills, and kicking arsenal. She’s tall and rangy, and she uses her reach well with powerful kicks from the outside.

Dyer also has strong forward pressure and a killer instinct when she senses her opponent is hurt. While she didn’t look her best against Scatizzi in her last fight—where she was hesitant and tentative—that’s not something we’ve seen consistently from her in her career.

Carol Foro, on the other hand, brings heavy hands and real knockout power. She’s short, compact, and can end a fight with one big shot, but her striking is far from technical.

She doesn’t do much to set up her punches, and against a taller, longer opponent like Dyer, that lack of refinement could be costly.

This fight is a clash of styles: Foro is KO or nothing, while Dyer has more paths to victory with her range, variety of kicks, and overall skillset.

Unless Foro lands something clean early, it’s hard to see her overcoming the height and technical gap. The pick is Dyer to win, likely by using her kicks and length to control the fight.

Dana White’s Contender Series Event: Anthony Guarascio -175 vs Steven Asplund +135

This heavyweight clash is unlikely to go the distance, as both Anthony Guarascio and Steven Asplund bring knockout power and aggressive styles.

Guarascio in particular thrives in fast paced exchanges, pressing forward and forcing striking battles where someone usually gets clipped early.

His ability to push the action makes him dangerous from the opening bell, and it’s easy to see him finding the finishing blow in the first round.

Asplund has shown some willingness to clinch in past fights, and he does have the experience of going past the opening round several times, suggesting he may carry a slight cardio edge if this turns into a longer fight.

However, that advantage only comes into play if he survives the early storm from Guarascio. With both fighters expected to throw heavy leather from the start, the most likely outcome is an early stoppage.

The play here is Guarascio by KO, as his pace and finishing ability should overwhelm Asplund before conditioning becomes a factor.

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