Saturday’s UFC Combat Evening is extra like a “combat 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 laborious occasions, although, shedding 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 primary occasion this weekend is that if Adesanya’s finest days are behind him.
It’s an especially early begin time Saturday, with fights starting at 9 a.m. ET, and the primary card will go off at 12 p.m. ET.
UFC Combat Evening Riyadh
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov
Is Adesanya achieved so quickly?
The “Final Type 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, evidently 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 robust strikers. Look to his combat in opposition to Chris Curtis for instance for why he can win this combat on the mat.
Imavov additionally doesn’t have a submission win in his UFC profession.
Nonetheless, he has tried 10 in his UFC profession and we simply watched Adesanya seemingly stop in opposition to Du Plessis and undergo a neck crank.
Imavov isn’t a world beater, however the worth facet 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 in opposition to Michael “Venom” Web page.
Notably, Web page is leaping as much as 185 lbs. to take this combat regardless of being a standard welterweight fighter at 170 lbs.
Neither of those fighters is on the lookout for takedowns. These two are going to conflict in a chess match within the heart of the octagon.
Magomedov is the youthful, extra highly effective of the 2, whereas Web page is a irritating counter striker to face.
I count on 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 embellished kickboxer Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
Rozenstruik is extra of a counter striker regardless of having loads of energy in his fingers, whereas Pavlovich is a robust monster at heavyweight.
His commonest 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 in opposition to Alexander Volkov as a giant -225 favourite.
He may 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 reside guess extra after 2:30 within the first spherical
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UFC Full combat evening 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 reside guess Rozenstruik after 2:30 within the first spherical (+250, BetMGM)
- Mentioned 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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Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt however he has a black belt in MMA betting. Through the soccer season he’s showcased huge income at The Publish within the participant prop market the final two seasons. Whereas continuously betting lengthy photographs, his return on funding is 30.15 p.c since 2022.