For the Very first time in over five years, the Octagon heads to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for UFC 242.
Headlining the card is really a bout for its lightweight title between Khabib”The Eagle” Nurmagomedov along with Dustin”The Diamond” Poirier. The present champion, Nurmagomedov, is a -365 favorite with all the challenger, Poirier, coming back in +275. I’ve a select for every fight on the card and a breakdown.
Nurmagomedov (-365) is placing his perfect 27-0 record at stake and is currently now making his second title defense because he falls into the Octagon for the very first time because UFC 229 last October. The Eagle won the empty belt from Al Iaquinta in April of this past season and defended it using a fourth-round entry of??Conor McGregor at October.
The Russia native is an incredible wrestler who places immense pressure on his opponent, constantly stalking forward to receive his hands on his foe??and bring him??into the ground. He averages 5.09 takedowns a 15 minutes and contains got multiple takedowns in each of his last eight fights. Additionally, he has always improved his impressive, such as falling McGregor with a well-timed overhand right in their struggle.
Poirier (+275) looks to expand his six-fight winning series, his??greatest since he turned into a skilled and??won his first seven fires. The Diamond won the interim title by earning a unanimous-decision victory over Max Holloway at UFC 236 at April, although Nurmagomedov was off to a suspension. Poirier earned wins over Anthony Pettis along with former champions Eddie Alvarez.
The Louisiana native has tremendous experience as he’s creating his 23rd walk into the Octagon and that he seems really calm and comfortable from the cage. Poirier has a very fast and exact jab that he uses to give himself a living space and that allows him to move forward at which he throws a flurry of strikes. The southpaw averages 5.75 significant strikes per minute, but he consumes 4.08 significant strikes per minute. He has only been taken down three times within his last six fights and defends 69 percent of efforts.
This really is a classic striker vs grappler matchup as Poirier will seem to maintain the fight standing and let his hands fly for five rounds at a high speed. Meanwhile, the Nurmagomedov will appear to pressure the Diamond and drag him into the ground where he could work his nasty ground and pound or try to find a submission. Both guys have.
Prediction: Khabib Nurmagomedov (-365) via conclusion
Barboza (-130) is seeking to get back on track after dropping three of the last four fights. The Brazil native had a three-fight winning streak snapped at UFC 219 with a decision reduction to Khabib Nurmagomedov and followed up with a doctor’s stoppage loss to Kevin Lee. Most recently, he also suffered a first-round knockout loss to Justin Gaethje in March.
The 33-year-old has power in his strikes. He flames leg kicks that have made him three endings in that manner. He doesn’t use a ton of additional energy at the standup, typically standing company just on the surface of his competitor’s strikes and he begs for him to plant themselves for another and then??fires his shouts. One issue he has is dropping his hands when he moves backward, which led to his knockout loss to Gaethje at March.
Felder (EVEN) has won four of his last five fights, with his only loss coming by split decision if he struck his arm in the bout but lived to get into the judges’ scorecards. “The Dragon” needed a three-fight finish streak, all knockouts by elbows, before dropping to Mike Perry by split decision. Felder bounced back from that defeat to earn a decision win over James Vick in February.
The Pennsylvania native is quite competitive, always cutting on the cage and not giving his rival any breathing space. He is also quite inventive, throwing loads of elbows and spinning attacks, frequently coming from misses. Don’t search for him to carry this battle to the ground as he has not got a takedown since he dragged Daron Cruickshank into the picture twice in 2016.
This really is a struggle of the night rematch out of 2015 when a unanimous-decision success was scored by Barboza. Since that loss, Felder has gone 6-3 while Barboza has gone 4-4 so it is only fitting to play it backagain. In that first fight, the Irish Dragon frequently followed Barboza, letting him scoot from danger rather than cutting off the crate. In addition, the Brazil native has been light on his toes compared to his recent fights. I anticipate.
Prediction: Paul Felder (EVEN) via decision
Makhachev (-220) intends to procure his sixth straight win and continue to climb the lightweight standings. The Russia native had his album if he suffered a first-round weight loss loss to Adriano Martins snapped in his fight in the UFC. Ever since that time, Makhachev has rattled off five consecutive wins, including two first-round endings over that interval.
Makhachev, similar to fellow Dagestan fighters, is predominantly a wrestler since he averages 4.25 takedowns a 15 minutes. He has acquired a takedown in five of his six UFC wins, and with the sole victory without a takedown coming because of first-round, first-minute knockout over Gleison Tibau. What allows him to attain because many takedowns as he does is??his variety of procedures, whether it’s a classic double or single leg takedown or??more unconventional trips.
Ramos (+180) looks to expand his four-fight winning streak after dropping his UFC debut. “The Tasmanian Devil” entered the Octagon with a 6-1 record, but instantly dropped his initial bout by unanimous decision. That said that the Brazil indigenous settled down after that with four straight victories, including three entry wins, heading into this struggle.
The 32-year-old is very patient on his feet, examining his opponent??every move and figuring out the best game plan for attack. He’s got adequate stunning, typically loading on his right as well as throwing leg kicks. On the other hand, the main attack for Ramos is taking the battle to the floor and working following a submission as among the 12 professional wins have finished in that fashion.
Ramos’ takedowns appear very traditional, looking for burst double legs and right into a body lock to haul the fight to the ground.?? I am not sure if this will be sufficient to take Makhachev down. In addition, he has not had to defend a takedown in the Octagon, therefore that will be interesting to watch him off his spine because he generally is on top working toward a entry. I think that the Russia native has tools in the standup and at grappling.
Prediction: Islam Makhachev (-220) via decision
Blaydes (-300) appears to string wins together following his unanimous-decision triumph over Justin Willis at March. The 28-year-old needed a streak of six conflicts in which he did not suffer a reduction, earning a rematch with the only man to conquer him, Francis Ngannou. Regrettably for”Razor,”??he suffered the exact same result in the rematch with a first-round knockout loss to the Predator.
The Oklahoma native is a well-known fighter who’s predominantly a wrestler but has improved his standup game too. Blaydes has great cardio,??averages 6.79 takedowns a 15 minutes and contains got multiple takedowns in seven of the nine UFC battles. When he can bring the battle to the ground, he then goes into town with his vicious floor and pound.
Abdurakhimov (+230) looks to expand his three-fight winning series. The Russia native split his first four battles at the Octagon, falling from knockout to Timothy Johnson and Derrick Lewis while earning decision wins Walt Harris and Anthony Hamilton. Because the reduction to Lewis,”Abrek” has won three consecutive fights, involving two by knockout.
The 37-year-old is rather light on his toes but does tend to stand a little flat-footed, which renders him vulnerable to heavy leg kicks. In addition, he stuffs 66 percent of takedown efforts as he is sometimes off balance and loads up on his cries if he moans. Finally, mixtures doesn’t throw, rather throwing one electricity punch at one time.
The only person is name competition Abdurakhimov and Francis Ngannou doesn’t possess the power that is identical . Razor will have the speed benefit and his blast double is nearly unstoppable at heavyweight.?? I anticipate him to have victory and over again dragging the struggle and working his ground and pound.
Prediction: Curtis Blaydes (-300) via knockout
Taisumov (-280) returns to the Octagon for the first time in nearly a year and looks to find out where he left off. “Beckan” is riding a six-fight winning series, five of which have been knockouts, although his last win was a unanimous-decision success. Taisumov retains a record along with his sole loss coming from Michel Prazeres in 2014.
The Russia native is extremely patient in waiting for his chances and has intense power in his hands. He really does a good job of??baiting his competition into casting a hit and then dips out of their way and throws huge counter-strikes. They put his rival to sleep, if they land. With knockout, 15’ve ended of his 27 wins .
Ferreira (+220) aims to expand his four-fight winning streak. The Brazil native had a two-fight losing skid to Beneil Dariush and Dustin Poirier in 2014 to 2015 but has rebounded since to win four straight bouts, including two by knockout. Most recently, he secured a unanimous-decision victory over Rustam Khabilov.
The 34-year-old will keep the battle position as he’s competitive and likes to swap hands with his opponent. Ferreira averages 4.70 significant strikes per minute, but only lands 37 percent of his own strikes and does not have a whole lot of energy behind his cries, making only three knockout wins in his career. Don’t expect him to take part in a grappling game as he has landed just 1 takedown in the Octagon and it came in his debut in 2014.
Long layoffs do not seem to bother Taisumov. That is his fourth fight since the beginning of 2016, however he’s three wins over that span. Ferreira enjoys to have into the face of his rival and back up them with strikes, however he lacks true knockout power along with the Russia native Is Extremely good at maintaining distance and attacking his own foe??when they enter his striking range. ??
Prediction: Mairbek Taisumov (-280) via knockout
Here’s a look at the full list of odds for UFC 242: Nurmagomedov vs Poirier:
Odds as of August 20
Curious at BetOnline at August 20
Curious at BetOnline as of August 20
Odds at August 20 in BetOnline
Odds at August 20
Curious in BetOnline at August 20
Curious at BetOnline as of August 20
Curious at BetOnline at August 20
Curious in BetOnline at August 20
Curious at August 20
Curious at August 20??in BetOnline
Odds at August 20??at BetOnline
Odds as of August 20
Odds as of August 20
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