MMA Guru backed Muhammad Usman as a sizeable underdog, predicting a 29-28 decision. He thinks oddsmakers have overrated Hamdi Abdul Wahab’s 6-0 record while ignoring glaring cardio issues: Abdul Wahab slows dramatically after five minutes and looked awful in a three-round slog with Jamal Pogues (Guru scored it for Pogues). Usman owns a seven-inch reach edge and should land the cleaner single shots once both men gas. Guru concedes Usman is no world-beater, but in a ‘blob-fest’ heavyweight matchup he expects Usman’s length and slightly better gas tank to win the final two rounds and flip the betting line that currently sits around +175.

Sniper leaned toward Mohammed Usman in DraftKings builds despite officially picking Hamdi straight-up. Usman costs only $7.6K and, if he taps into the collegiate-level wrestling that runs in the family, he could land multiple takedowns against a gassed Hamdi who historically fades after Round 1. Sniper noted that a single control-heavy round could be enough for Usman to smash salary expectations on a slate where mid-range pricing is scarce. The play is strictly tournament-oriented because Usman’s cardio is volatile, but the combination of under-ownership, discount price and grappling upside makes him an intriguing leverage piece.

Bedtime MMA backed Muhammad “Mo The Motor” Usman to get past Hamdi Abdul-Hab in the Baku curtain-jerker. He argued Usman is the far more proven commodity, citing UFC wins over Junior Tafa and Zac Pauga and noting his only losses came to ranked heavyweights Mick Porkin and Thomas Peterson. Conversely, Hamdi’s spotless 5-0 mark hides serious red flags: a four-year hiatus, split-decision ‘robberies’ over Jamal Pogues and Don’Tale Mayes, and zero quality victories. Bedtime labeled Hamdi a “fat sweaty Paulo Costa” and questioned if he is UFC-level at all. He expects Usman’s experience, cardio, and sturdier résumé to sway the judges and suggested playing the Usman money-line or decision prop.