Ramon Taveras vs. Serhiy Sidey Prediction: Will Sidey Make a Statement in Week 5 of the Contender Series?

Ramon Taveras vs. Serhiy Sidey Prediction: Will Sidey Make a Statement in Week 5 of the Contender Series?

Canadian fighter Serhiy Sidey takes on the American Ramon Taveras in the co-main bout of season 7, week 5 of Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series. With both fighters entering with one loss each on their records, this is sure to be a great matchup. Sidey is expected to win this matchup, as he is a -180 favorite to win tonight, although the lines vary widely based on your book for smaller fight cards like this one, so make sure to shop around because Sidey is -160 at some books.

Ramon Taveras vs. Serhiy Sidey Date, Time, and Where to Watch

• Date: September 5, 2023
• Time: 8:00 pm ET
• Where to Watch: ESPN+

Ramon Taveras vs. Serhiy Sidey Prediction

Serhiy Sidey brings an impressive 9-1 professional record into the octagon tonight. His journey in the fight game includes claiming a pair of regional titles in Canada. Sidey leverages his above-average height and reach for the bantamweight division to full effect. He's a fighter who isn't confined to a single stance, seamlessly transitioning between orthodox and southpaw. This adaptability keeps his opponents guessing and allows him to unleash powerful kicks from various angles. Sidey's grappling skills are still a work in progress, but he has improved quickly, as he effectively defends against takedowns and often emerges victorious in grappling exchanges.

On the other side of the octagon stands Ramon Taveras, with an 8-1 record. However, a closer look at his competition is cause for concern. Taveras' recent victories have predominantly come from a lower-level Florida promotion, raising doubts about the quality of his opponents. His last two fights were against a 5-5 fighter and a 43-year-old with a 30-41 record at the time. Additionally, Taveras missing weight for this matchup is hardly an encouraging sign. He can already be assured he will not get a contract if he wins because Dana White has almost never given a contract to someone who misses weight. The mental impact of knowing he is going into this fight without the chance of a contract may knock him off his game.

Serhiy Sidey holds the upper hand in this fight and is the rightful favorite. He's a technically sound striker with excellent footwork, favoring precise boxing combinations and maintaining an unrelenting pace. Sidey's striking, though not overly powerful, compensates with volume and accuracy. He's also proven his ability to maintain a grueling pace over five rounds, a testament to his conditioning.

Contender Series fights can sometimes be difficult to predict when you have not seen either fighter in many fights against decent competition, but Sidey is clearly the better fighter here. He has better cardio, volume, accuracy, footwork, and grappling. Taveras has better kicks and maybe more power early in the fight, but that is about it. Sidey will be the bigger man who can use his range advantage to frustrate Taveras and touch him up on the feet. Outside of a knockout in the first few minutes, this is a fight Sidey should easily win. Given that Sidey is more of a volume/pace fighter, I'm not sure he will knock Taveras out, so I like taking a shot on him to win by decision as well.

Ramon Taveras vs. Serhiy Sidey Picks

• Pick: Serhiy Sidey ML -160 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
• .5 Unit Pick: Sidey by Decision +280 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick