Dana White’s Contender Series Picks: Drago vs. Miller
Dana White's Contender Series is back for its ninth season. It has produced 287 graduates, all signing a contract to fight in the UFC. Forty-two fighters have also fought on the series and eventually fought in the UFC without being awarded a contract on the show. 196 of the 287 graduates are still on the active roster, which is a retention rate of 68.3%.
Only two fighters have gone on to hold a belt: Jamahal Hill and Sean O'Malley. Alex Perez and Mayra Bueno Silva fought for a title, but came up short as DWCS alums. This season has the same schedule as previous seasons. It will air every Tuesday night for the next 10 weeks at 8 p.m. EST. Here are our top Dana White's Contender Series picks for FIGHT.
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Dana White's Contender Series Week 1 Picks: Drago vs. Miller
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Welterweight: Jimmy Drago vs. Ty Miller
This matchup is a clash of styles. Ty Miller is 5-0 as a professional fighting in LFA. Miller is a tall fighter in the welterweight division at 6'2''. He is a boxer who sits behind his jab at range. He throws a lot of straight punches and keeps it simple. Miller is not the most polished wrestler, but he can recover quickly after getting taken down. His takedown defense is not fantastic, but he does a good job of working to his feet when on his back.
Jimmy Drago is 7-2 as a professional, with most of his experience coming in the Ring of Combat. Drago is a pressure fighter with an awkward striking style. He throws a lot of kicks to the body and is more of a well-rounded striker. Drago works in wrestling, especially against the cage. He is shorter than Miller and could have trouble against Miller, who is accurate and should find Drago's chin as he pressures forward.
Pick: Ty Miller (-166)