Contender Series 2026 Episode 7 Breakdown and Predictions

Shawn Bitter-  Guaylupo and Connor are both strikers but vastly different stylistically. Connor is more of a touch-and-move fighter, while Guaylupo is a compact power striker. With how wide Guaylupo throws, Connor should have success sticking him with the jab. Guaylupo is also heavily planted on his feet, making Connor’s leg kicks another potential weapon.

The problem is Connor doesn’t have much power and can be pushed backward. His defense also isn’t great off the back foot, which gives Guaylupo a clear path to success if he applies pressure. I ultimately think Guaylupo has the power to hurt Connor, while Connor doesn’t have the defense to avoid the big shots or the power to earn Guaylupo’s respect.

Prediction: Guaylupo by Round 2 KO/TKO.

Cedric Dumas- The battle of the record-padded can crushers. Both guys have built perfect records against questionable competition, and neither has done much to convince me that they’re particularly good. I don’t expect either fighter to make a major impact, especially in a division where the level gets considerably tougher.

Both are kickboxers, but Connor is the faster and more technically polished of the two. Guaylupo brings the typical Peruvian style: aggressive, powerful, and dangerous, but not exactly refined.

On paper, I think Connor has the advantage almost everywhere. The wildcard is whether this turns into a kickboxing match at range, with both fighters struggling to land clean and the fight becoming more about volume than power. If that happens, it could be considerably closer than the records suggest.

Pick: Connor by Decision

Nicholas Holt- I know there are a lot of Callum Connor believers, but I think this is a horrible matchup for the Englishman. By no means do I believe that Piero Guaylupo is the next big thing – he’s not technically sound, and he may even be less talented than Callum Connor – but one thing he will do is bring the fight to his opponent.

Guaylupo is going to be aggressive from the opening bell, and frankly, when Connor isn’t dictating where the fight goes, he’s looked extremely vulnerable on the feet. Callum Connor will have to start fast and get his straight punches going to combat Guaylupo’s forward pressure – his length advantage could prove troublesome for the Peruvian. Though, at the end of the day, I think Piero Guaylupo is going to overwhelm Connor, deal out serious damage, and eventually catch him on the feet.

Pick: Guaylupo by Round 2 KO/TKO 

Xavi Ryder- Just after the two big men go at it, we have the battle of undefeated lightweights. While both are undefeated, neither man has faced any real competition. Guaylupo will want to walk Conner down and get in his face immediately. He is an aggressive, powerful puncher, but the longer the fight goes, the more it plays into Conner’s hands. Conner is the more technical of the two and won’t want to let Guaylupo get inside. I think Conner is going to move around the outside while popping shots at range, as Guaylupo tries to track him down and land big shots.

Pick: Conner via Decision

Drew Beaupre- This one should be an entertaining striking battle for as long as it lasts, and much of the intrigue in this matchup lies in the fact that both men are looking to prove their legitimacy after largely dominating sub-par competition thus far.

While they’re both strikers, Connor and Guaylupo like to go about their business in different ways, and the fight will probably be decided by whichever man is able to keep this fight at their preferred range and pace. Guaylupo is going to be pressing forward and throwing big shots at Connor, who will have to chip away with his jab and leg kicks to slow the Peruvian down a bit and break some of his pressure.

Connor doesn’t have the power necessary to crack Guaylupo with an impactful counter shot as he’s coming forward, and without that threat, I expect that “El Lobo” is eventually going to overwhelm him with a barrage of strikes. (Pick: Guaylupo via R3 KO/TKO)

Cangrejo Ruiz- This is a low-level fight, but at least Guaylupo has some potential; his striking has good fundamentals, and he is aware of the takedowns, but he is quite green and would need a slow build-up. I don’t get bringing Connor tho, he knows the basics but that is not going to take you far in this division, his grappling should be better than Guaylupo’s and that should be his path to victory. I think Guaylupo is gonna defend the takedown fine tho, and I expect him to do more damage round by round.

Prediction is Guaylupo by Decision

Benjamin Keith-  With this matchup of undefeated fighters, one will prove themselves legitimate, and one will prove themselves merely a product of their matchups.

This fight is a story of power versus polish. Connor is the more polished, clean fighter, doing well to take little damage while slowly piecing his opponents apart. Guaylupo is a pretty typical Peruvian fighter: he walks forward and throws hard. He is only 21 and has shown great killer instinct.

While not at the same level, it is pretty reminiscent of Silvestre Sanchez vs Liam McCracken from earlier this season. In that fight, I chose the more polished (and English) fighter, McCracken, and he got thumped. So I cannot stand to make that mistake twice.

Pick: Guaylupo by 2nd round KO/TKO