Saturday’s UFC Combat Night time is extra like a “fight morning” as we head to Saudi Arabia for a slate of fights.
Israel Adesanya fights on a non-pay-per-view card for the primary time since 2018, as he’s headlined main playing cards for many of his profession.
He’s fallen on some exhausting instances, although, dropping three of his final 4 fights, together with an embarrassing determination loss to Sean Strickland and by submission to Dricus du Plessis.
The principle query we’ll be asking as we head into the principle occasion this weekend is that if Adesanya’s finest days are behind him.
It’s a particularly early begin time Saturday, with fights starting at 9 a.m. ET, and the principle card will go off at 12 p.m. ET.
UFC Combat Night time Riyadh
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov
Is Adesanya performed so quickly?
The “Last Style Bender” has a simple hall-of-fame profession, and his knockouts of Alex Pereira and Robert Whittaker are legendary.
However he’s misplaced two straight fights to fighters that he would have mashed earlier in his profession.
It’s a giant spot for Adesanya to get his profession again so as and, frankly, plainly his points have been extra psychological than bodily.
There’s no denying, although, that his takedown protection has let him down time and again of late.
Imavov doesn’t grapple a lot, however he can take down sturdy strikers. Look to his combat towards Chris Curtis for example for why he can win this combat on the mat.
Imavov additionally doesn’t have a submission win in his UFC profession.
Nevertheless, he has tried 10 in his UFC profession and we simply watched Adesanya seemingly give up towards Du Plessis and undergo a neck crank.
Imavov isn’t a world beater, however the worth aspect is definitely on Imavov’s grappler greater than Adesanya, who seems to be on a downward trajectory.
PICK: Imavov by submission in Rounds 3, 4, or 5 (+2200, FanDuel)
Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Web page
Two elite strikers face off as Shara “Bullet” Magomedov matches up towards Michael “Venom” Web page.
Notably, Web page is leaping as much as 185 lbs. to take this combat regardless of being a traditional welterweight fighter at 170 lbs.
Neither of those fighters is searching for takedowns. These two are going to conflict in a chess match within the middle of the octagon.
Magomedov is the youthful, extra highly effective of the 2, whereas Web page is a irritating counter striker to face.
I anticipate Web page to be tough to hit within the early going and even perhaps steal Spherical 1, however Magomedov ought to be capable of takeover right here as we get to the later phases.
Be looking out for wagers on Magomedov after Spherical 1 at plus-money, however, for now, goal Magomedov’s moneyline.
PICK: Magomedov ML (-185, BetMGM)
Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Within the heavyweight division, Sergei Pavlovich faces adorned kickboxer Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Rozenstruik is extra of a counter striker regardless of having loads of energy in his arms, whereas Pavlovich is a robust monster at heavyweight.
His most typical path to victory is to blitz his opponent and run at them with energy strikes.
Pavlovich is coming off two straight losses, with a stunning one coming towards Alexander Volkov as a giant -225 favourite.
He might blast Rozenstruik early within the combat by knocking him out inside 2:30, as Francis Ngannou did in 2020.
However Pavlovich isn’t that very same degree of striker or energy.
Wager on Rozenstruik pre-fight and look so as to add extra after the primary 2:30.
PICK: Rozenstruik (+250, BetMGM); Wait to stay guess extra after 2:30 within the first spherical
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UFC Full combat night time Abu Dhabi picks
- Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov: Imavov by submission in rounds 3, 4 or 5 (+2200, FanDuel)
- Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Web page: Magomdeov ML (-185, BetMGM) for parlays
- Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik: Wait to stay guess Rozenstruik after 2:30 within the first spherical (+250, BetMGM)
- Stated Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira: Oliveira ML (+400, ESPN BET)
- Fares Ziam vs. Mike Davis: Ziam by determination (+222, Bet365)
- Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli: Move
- Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen: Combat goes to determination (+145) | Peterson wins by determination (+600, Fanatics Sportsbook)
- Terrance McKinney vs. Damir Hadzovic: Small guess on McKinney by determination (+1000, DraftKings)
- Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva: Jasudavicius by determination (-140, FanDuel)
- Bogdan Grad vs. Lucas Alexander: Grad ML (+105, Caesars)
- Hamdy Abdelwahab (-112) vs. Jamal Pogues: Abdelwahab ML (-112, BetRivers)
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