Abushaar vs Staines Odds & Predictions

• Loai Abushaar meets George Staines in the Week 8 lightweight headliner as prospects chase UFC contracts at the UFC Apex
• Staines is a -360 favorite at Bet365 with Abushaar sitting at +260
• See my expert Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 picks, odds and predictions for Abushaar vs Staines below

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10 Week 8 kicks off tonight, September 29, 2026, at 7 pm ET on Paramount+. The action unfolds at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas where rising prospects compete for UFC contracts.

The card is headlined by a lightweight bout between Loai Abushaar and George Staines. I have evaluated every fight to uncover the betting value.

Here are my Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 picks, odds and predictions.

Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8 Odds

Odds as of September 29 at Bet365. Check out the best UFC betting apps for Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8.

Looking at Bet365, Aieza Bertolso enters as the biggest favorite on the card at -575. Camila Reynoso represents the biggest underdog at +375.

Escuza vs Borando is the only fight the market cannot separate, with both prospects priced inside -120. Everywhere else the favorites are steep enough that the totals and method markets hold the real value.

Contender Series lines open late and thin, and they rarely hold through the afternoon. A BetMGM promo code or a theScore Bet promo code is worth having so you are not stuck taking whatever number is left at showtime.

Abushaar vs Staines Prediction

Both fighters in this main event still need more work, but George Staines is the more naturally talented prospect by a mile. He is a grappler without much wrestling, but still does not look fully confident on the feet, which could make this a measured opening.

Loai Abushaar stands 6-foot-4, which would make him the tallest lightweight on the UFC roster. His sheer size presents a massive hurdle for a raw fighter like Staines, who may need time to figure out the range and create the fight he wants.

Without potent wrestling, Staines likes to feel his opponents out with tepid striking before slowly getting the fight he wants. Abushaar will come at him, but the lanky American has very little technique to sustain the pressure he needs to fight with.

I expect Staines to have the stronger overall skill set, but the size and feeling-out process point me toward a longer fight.

DWCS Week 8 Best Bet: Diop vs Sabanov Prediction

Zaurbek Sabanov is a real fighter with a Sanda background, while Adama Diop is nothing more than a big man who relies heavily on power. Diop often stands with his hands up until an opponent throws, then responds with wide, wild swings.

If Sabanov fights intelligently, I expect him to take Diop down and work quickly on the mat. The matchup favors Sabanov’s technique, and I am pairing his moneyline with an under that reflects the potential for an early finish.

Diop does have real power, but Sabanov is faster and much more educated. As long as he avoids Diop’s wild counters, Sabanov should be in for a quick night.

Escuza vs Borando Prediction

This fight should be the best of the night and likely should have been the main event. Luca Borando and Ian Escuza are two of the best strikers to compete on DWCS this season, setting up an interesting and entertaining style matchup.

Burando and Escuza share Muay Thai backgrounds, but Borando brings more offensive variety and the better grappling ability. Escuza mainly relies on outside leg kicks and elbows in highly predictable patterns. Although deadly when they land, that is a difficult game plan to implement against an experienced striker like Borando.

Escuza is the better defensive fighter but without a diverse offensive game, he might have a difficult time scoring if Plan A fails.

Borando is faster, moves better and has the option to wrestle if the striking exchanges do not go his way. I expect that broader skill set to give him more ways to win than Escuza.

Bertolso vs Reynoso Prediction

Aieza Bertolso has the strongest prospect resume on this card as a two-time IMMAF champion. She is a long grappler whose striking continues to improve, giving her several ways to control the fight.

Conversely, Camila Reynoso is a fighter who competes with a ton of heart, but her skill is not yet on par. Still just 23, she has a lot of time to cover that ground, but she is extremely overmatched on paper against Bertolso.

Reynoso’s main angle will be with her pressure, but Bertolso has more than enough experience to counter that flimsy approach. Reynoso struggles to manage distance when she moves forward, and engaging in a clinch is not what she wants in this fight.

I expect Bertolso to use her grappling to dominate positionally and find a finish before the fight reaches the later rounds.

Bulaid vs Visconde Prediction

Ilias Bulaid is a former kickboxer with a 25-6 record who fights from that background. But as good as his striking base is, Bulaid is still very raw as an MMA prospect.

Although he has power,most of Bulaid’s attacks are singular and telegraphed. His grappling remains a question, but he has shown good takedown defense and defensive vision to counter wrestling.

Wrestling is precisely what Erick Visconde will be looking to do the entire fight. However, he times his shots well but can struggle to finish them, and I do not think he will respond well to sustained damage from the best striker he has faced.

The path to victory is clear for both men, but Bulaid is more well-rounded and the better athlete. If Visconde gets lazy with his wrestling, Bulaid has been aggressive with submission attempts in the past and has a surprisingly tight squeeze.

Odds as of September 29 at Bet365 Sportsbook.