Prediction: Mansur Abdul-Malik via TKO
On paper and in the cage, Malik should win this fight with no real problems. We’re talking speed, power, wrestling—all in Malik’s corner. The man hits like a truck, moves like he’s a weight class below, and wrestles like someone who actually enjoys dragging people through hell. That’s a nightmare recipe for someone like Brundage.
Look, Brundage has potential. I’ve said it over and over—he’s got the frame, the athleticism, and a real wrestling base. But there’s a major issue that keeps popping up: he starts strong, but if he doesn’t get you out early, he mentally checks out. Like clockwork. If you survive his first 90 seconds, the fight flips. You can literally see it in his body language—hands drop, movement slows, eyes drift. He goes from trying to win to looking for the nearest exit.
That’s dangerous against a guy like Malik, who’s not just explosive—he’s violent on purpose. He comes out throwing with fight-ending intentions and doesn’t need a long read to land something clean. He’s always hunting for that one big moment, and Brundage folding under pressure plays right into his highlight-reel game. If Brundage doesn’t land something huge early, he’s cooked.
But—and this is key—Malik isn’t flawless. He leaves his chin high, doesn’t move his head much, and when he gets reckless, he’s hittable. So there’s a window early for Brundage to land a bomb. One clean shot could change everything. But if it doesn’t come quick? Malik’s going to crush him. That’s why the Under 1.5 is the move here. It covers the Malik steamroll, and it protects you in case Brundage wakes up with a kill switch and cracks that chin early.
This isn’t going to be a drawn-out war. Someone’s getting hurt fast. But 9 times out of 10, it’s Brundage getting hunted down, breaking, and giving Malik the finish.