Prediction: Serhiy Sidey (Winner)
Smotherman is dangerous early—he’s got serious punching power, a solid basic striking arsenal, and if he lands clean while Sidey is walking in, he has the ability to completely change the fight with one shot. His offense is very fundamental and when he smells blood he commits aggressively. In short, he’s a real early-round threat to anyone who isn’t defensively locked in.
But the deeper you look, the more it favors Sidey. Smotherman doesn’t have the depth or layering to consistently stop pressure. He doesn’t move his head much, his counters are a bit predictable, and if he can’t deter his opponent with power, he will get overwhelmed in extended exchanges. That’s where Sidey shines. Sidey is a fighter who brings non-stop pressure, refuses to let opponents breathe, and mixes up his attacks well between punches, kicks, and takedown threats. He fights at a relentless pace that forces you either to match his cardio and output or drown under the accumulation of shots.
Sidey’s pressure style does leave openings—he’s not a guy who advances behind a tight defensive shell. When he’s forcing the pace, he comes forward aggressively, and his head is a little too stationary at times, which means Smotherman will have clean chances early to land his best shots. That’s Smotherman’s window. If he can catch Sidey clean while Sidey is crashing into range without much defensive setup, he could absolutely hurt him and maybe finish him. But if Sidey survives the first few minutes and keeps pushing his usual pace, the momentum should swing heavily in his favor.