UFC Abu Dhabi playing preview: Can Umar Nurmagomedov reside as much as the household title in opposition to Cory Sandhagen?

This Saturday, UFC returns to Abu Dhabi with a stacked battle card, headlined by a bantamweight matchup between Cody Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. Whereas a title shot has not been assured, the winner figures to have the within monitor to dealing with the winner of UFC 306’s title battle between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili.

The remainder of the cardboard is not any much less engaging as there are a selection of different marquee matchups with large implications, so let’s dive into the most effective bets for this weekend. Plus, we’ll even throw in just a little boxing motion, only for enjoyable.

As all the time, all odds are courtesy of our buddies at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Straight Bets

Marlon Vera (+120)

“Chito” takes on former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo within the featured essential card bout which will truly be the most effective battle of the weekend. Since bumping as much as bantamweight, “Figgy Smalls’’ has been electrical, however “Chito” figures to be his hardest check by far.

Vera is among the most sturdy fighters within the UFC and intensely offensively potent. That’s a profitable mixture in opposition to all however the most effective fighters, and ought to be tough for Figueiredo to navigate. Like Vera, Figueiredo is a low-volume fighter, counting on his ending skill to win fights immediately, however in opposition to a man who can’t be completed, that’s a giant hill to climb. Getting Vera at underdog odds is terrific worth.

Michal Oleksiejczuk (+195)

Oleksiejczuk faces Shara Magomedov within the co-main occasion of the night, and whereas he ought to be an underdog, he shouldn’t be this large of 1. “Bullet” entered UFC with outsized hype relative to his skill, and although he’s 2-0 within the promotion to this point, each wins have been underwhelming. Now he faces a man in Oleksiejczuk who’s as rough-and-tumble as they arrive. Oleksiejczuk goes to place Shara in a battle proper from the outset, and provided that the Polish fighter hasn’t be knocked out in a decade, I believe he has a good shot at merely overwhelming Magomedov.

Crazy Godinez (-102)

Godinez takes on Mackenzie Dern in a essential card bout, and I believe it’s lastly time I gave up the Dern dream. For years I’ve been on the island saying, “One among nowadays she’ll put it collectively and it’s curtains for the remainder of the strawweights,” and for years I’ve been disillusioned. Typically it’s a must to let go of your goals to make room for one thing new.

Dern has the flexibility to win this battle, as a result of she has the flexibility to win each battle. She’s so vastly superior to everybody on the bottom that if it goes there, she will win. However she’s by no means developed the instruments to get fights there, and now even when she does, Dern doesn’t punish opponents on the ground. It’s an all-or-nothing proposition for her submissions. When she doesn’t discover one, the spherical ends and he or she’s again to sq. one.

Godinez is the higher striker and an excellent wrestler. She will be able to maintain this standing and win in simple style, and that’s what I’m guessing occurs.

Picture by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Prop Bets

Umar Nurmagomedov to Win by Any Knockout, Submission, or DQ (+180)

My boldest prediction of the night. I believe Cory Sandhagen is probably the most tough battle for Nurmagomedov at bantamweight. And I believe he delivers the breakout efficiency of his profession.

Sandhagen is a good all-around fighter and the superior striker by a very good margin, however Nurmagomedov can compete on the ft and has an enormous edge within the wrestling and grappling. That’s to not say Sandhagen is dangerous, Nurmagomedov is simply that good. He’s the religious successor to Khabib (Islam Makhachev is the literal successor and a really totally different type of fighter), and I believe Saturday is a coronation of kinds.

Michael Chiesa to Win by Any Knockout, Submission, or DQ (+100)

There’s not a form approach to put this: Tony Ferguson shouldn’t be competing anymore.

Sure, Chiesa is on a three-fight dropping streak. Ferguson’s is SEVEN. Ferguson has not received a battle in FIVE years. Worse but, he appears previous, worn, and washed each outing. Ferguson was by no means an excellent defensive wrestler, and now Previous Tony has to battle a person a lot greater than him who can wrestle. That is going to be a carbon copy of the Beneil Dariush battle, besides I believe Chiesa finishes the battle, and hopefully Ferguson’s profession. I don’t need to see him maintain taking injury like this for no purpose.

Picture by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing/Getty Pictures

Parlay of the Week

I assumed we’d combine it up this week and do a boxing parlay as there’s a really strong battle card happening Saturday night in Los Angeles, headlined by Terence Crawford difficult Israil Madrimov for the WBA tremendous welterweight title.

Terence Crawford (-700)

Crawford is, at worst, the third-best boxer on the planet proper now, and many individuals imagine he’s No. 1. It’s me. I’m a type of folks. Crawford can merely do all the pieces within the boxing ring. Whereas Madrimov is an excellent fighter, he’s not at Crawford’s degree, and I’m not even certain he’ll be a lot greater than “Bud” come battle evening.

Andy Ruiz (-300)

Man, who doesn’t love Andy Ruiz? A former unified world champion when he iced Anthony Joshua, Ruiz has been out of motion for practically two years on account of a torn rotator cuff however he’s again now and this matchup with Jarrell Miller is an efficient one to check him with out being too large of a danger.

Jared Anderson (-190)

Dubbed the way forward for American heavyweight boxing, Anderson has large expectations on his very broad shoulders, however to this point has confirmed equal to them. Martin Bakole is strictly the form of check you need to see for a prospect like this — a man who packs a wallop however tends to fade down the stretch and is actually not the athlete Anderson is. The wager right here is that Anderson can mitigate Bakole’s early energy benefits and win down the stretch.

Parlay these three bets collectively for +132 odds.

Wrap Up

Powerful week final weekend. UFC 304 was not variety to us. Hopefully UFC Abu Dhabi is a bit more light, although with this many underdog performs, we’ll see.

Till subsequent week, benefit from the fights, good luck, and gamble responsibly!

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