Magomed Ankalaev vs Bogdan Guskov
- Magomed Ankalaev
- Age: 34
- UFC Record: 12-2-1
- Key Losses: Knocked out Anthony Smith. Submitted by Paul Craig with 1 second left in the fight.
- Key Draws: Fought Jan Blachowicz to a split draw.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Ion Cutelaba twice. Knocked out Johnny Walker, Dalcha Lungiambula. Beat Alex Pereira, Aleksandar Rakic, Thiago Santos, Nikita Krylov, and Klidson Abreu.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: plus (70)
- Wrestling: near plus plus wrestling (75)
- Bogdan Guskov
- Age: 33
- UFC Record: 4-1-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out Nikita Krylov, Ryan Spann, a well rounded 13-3 fighter and a 4-1 grappler. Submitted Billy Elekana.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: plus (70)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
Ankalaev’s wrestling has hovered between the 70-75 range for awhile and if he can’t get Guskov down Ankalaev could be in trouble because I could definitely see Guskov blitz him like Pereira did and test Ankalaev’s chin.
Chris’ Pick: Ankalaev by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Ankalaev -135
Steve Erceg vs Ramazonbek Temirov
- Steve Erceg
- Age: 30
- UFC Record: 5-3
- Key Wins: Knocked out Matt Schnell. Submitted Shannon Ross and a well rounded 4-1 fighter. Beat Tim Elliott, Ode Osbourne, Alessandro Costa, and David Dvorak.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: plus (70)
- Grappling: plus (70)
- Ramazonbek Temirov
- Age: 29
- Pro Record: 19-3
- UFC Record: 2-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out CJ Vergara, a well rounded 10-3 fighter and a 4-1 wrestler. Beat Charles Johnson, a well rounded 5-1 fighter, and a well rounded 10-2 fighter.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
Striking between Temirov and Johnson was exactly equal 46-46 so I can’t grade Temirov’s striking a 70 anymore. Erceg bounced back nicely from the Osbourne fight by out striking Elliott 129 to 87 so I think his 70 striking is still intact.
Chris’ Pick: Erceg by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Erceg -250
Islam Dulatov vs Wellington Turman
- Islam Dulatov
- Age: 27
- Pro Record: 12-1
- UFC Record: 2-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out Adam Fugitt and a 16-6 striker.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Wellington Turman
- Age: 29
- UFC Record: 3-6
- Key Wins: Submitted Misha Cirkunov, a 13-3 striker, and a well rounded 15-4 fighter. Knocked out a 7-1 striker in only his 3rd pro fight. Beat a 12-3 striker. Split decision over Sam Alvey.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: average (50)
- Grappling: above average (60)
Chris’ Pick: Dulatov by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Dulatov -135
Magomed Zaynukov vs Damian Rzepecki
- Magomed Zaynukov
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 8-0
- UFC Record: 1-0
- Key Wins: Beat a 6-1 striker, a 6-2-1 grappler and a well rounded 5-0-1 fighter.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: plus (70)
- Wrestling: plus (70)
- Damian Rzepecki
- Age: 24
- Pro Record: 10-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 7-2 grappler and a 12-2 grappler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Grappling: above average (60)
The guy Zaynukov beat on the Contender was no scrub, Lucas Caldas, really good, I thought had 65 striking going into the fight but probably a 60 tool in hindsight. But even still, Zaynukov out struck Caldas a mind bogglingly 224 to 71. Crazy. Easy 70 grade for Zaynukov’s striking.
Chris’ Pick: Zaynukov by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Zaynukov -500
Rizvan Kuniev vs Tyrell Fortune
- Rizvan Kuniev
- Age: 34
- Pro Record: 13-3-1
- UFC Record: 3-1
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to Curtis Blaydes.
- Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 8-1 fighter, a 12-2 striker, a 5-0 wrestler and an 11-4 striker. Beat Jailton Almeida.
- Striking: plus (70)
- Power: plus (70)
- Wrestling: near plus plus (75)
- Tyrell Fortune
- Age: 35
- Pro Record: 18-3
- UFC Record: 1-0
- Key Wins: Submitted a 6-0 striker. Knocked out a well rounded 5-2 fighter. Beat a 6-1 striker.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
Before the UFC released Almeida, it looked like his tools were regressing for some reason. But Almeida’s grappling can’t be worse than a 70. And Kuniev amazingly got the better of him in the clinch and wrestling.
Chris’ Pick: Kuniev by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Kuniev -300
Saygid Izagakhmaev vs Abubakar Vagaev
- Saygid Izagakhmaev
- Age: 31
- Pro Record: 22-2
- Key Losses: Submitted by Carlston Harris.
- Key Wins: Submitted a 12-2 wrestler, an 18-3-1 grappler, and a 5-1 wrestler. Beat a 15-4 striker and a well rounded 9-2 fighter.
- Striking: above average (65)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Grappling: plus (70)
- Abubakar Vagaev
- Age: 33
- Pro Record: 24-4
- Key Wins: Beat a well rounded 22-5 fighter, a 19-4 wrestler, well rounded 9-2 fighter and a well rounded 14-2 fighter. Split decision over a 14-5 wrestler.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: average (50)
- Wrestling: near plus (60)
Chris’ Pick: Izagakhmaev by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Izagakhmaev -225
Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola
- Ismael Bonfim
- Age: 30
- UFC Record: 3-3
- Key Wins: Knocked out Terrance McKinney, an 11-4 wrestler, and a 8-3 wrestler. Beat Vinc Pichel, a 27-3 wrestler, a 6-1 grappler, a well rounded 12-2 fighter, and a well rounded 10-1 fighter.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: above average (60)
- Axel Sola
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 11-1-1
- UFC Record: 1-1
- Key Wins: Knocked out Rhys McKee, a 5-0 striker, a well rounded 4-0 fighter, and a 4-0 grappler. Beat a 6-1 striker.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: above average (65)
- Wrestling: plus (70)
Chris’ Pick: Sola by decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Sola -250
Valter Walker vs Thomas Petersen
- Valter Walker
- Age: 28
- UFC Record: 4-1
- Key Wins: Submitted Louie Sutherland, Kennedy Nzechukwu, Don’Tale Mayes, and Junior Tafa. Beat a well rounded 7-2 fighter. Split decision over an 8-3 striker.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: plus (70)
- Thomas Petersen
- Age: 31
- UFC Record: 4-3
- Key Wins: Beat Dont’Tale Mayes and Mohammed Usman. Majority decision over Guilherme Pat.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
Chris’ Pick: Walker by 1st round submission.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Walker -225
Dustin Jacoby vs Muhammad Said
- Dustin Jacoby
- Age: 38
- UFC Record: 11-4-1 at 205 lbs.
- Key Losses: Split decision loss to Khalil Rountree.
- Key Draws: Fought Ion Cutelaba to a draw.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Julius Walker, Bruno Lopes, Vitor Petrino, Kennedy Nzechukwu, Da Un Jung, Darren Stewart, Justin Ledet, a 10-3 grappler and a 7-0 grappler. Beat Michel Oleksiejczuk, Maxim Grishin, and a 7-2 grappler.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
- Muhammad Said
- Age: 30
- Pro Record: 9-0
- Key Wins: Submitted a 5-0 striker. Knocked out a well rounded 4-0 fighter.
- Striking: above average (60)
- Power: above average (60)
- Wrestling: a little above average (55)
Chris’ Pick: Jacoby by 2nd round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Jacoby -250
Sam Patterson vs Santiago Ponzinibbio
- Sam Patterson
- Age: 30
- UFC Record: 5-2
- Key Wins: Submitted Kiefer Crosbie, Yohan Lainesse, an 8-1 grappler and a 14-1 grappler. Knocked out Trey Waters, Danny Barlow, and a 9-3 striker. Beat an 18-6 grappler.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: plus (70)
- Santiago Ponzinibbio
- Age: 39
- UFC Record: 12-8
- Key Losses: Split decision losses to Muslim Salikhov, Michel Pereira, and Geoff Neal.
- Key Wins: Knocked out Carlston Harris, Alex Morono, Gunnar Nelson, and Neil Magny. Beat Miguel Baeza, Mike Perry, Nordine Taleb, and Zak Cummings.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
Chris’ Pick: Patterson by 2nd round submission.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Patterson -200
Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro
- Magomed Tuchalov
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 5-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out Caio Machado and a 3-1 striker.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: near plus (65)
- Brendson Ribeiro
- Age: 29
- UFC Record: 3-5
- Key Losses: Majority decision loss to Magomed Gadzhiyasulov.
- Key Wins: Submitted Diyar Nurgozhay, Antonio Arroyo, and a 6-1 striker. Knocked out a well rounded 11-0 fighter and a 7-1 striker. Split decision over Caio Machado.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Wrestling: above average (60)
- Grappling: a little above average (55)
Chris’ Pick: Tuchalov by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Tuchalov -135
Nurullo Aliev vs Mike Davis
- Nurullo Aliev
- Age: 26
- Pro Record: 11-0
- UFC Record: 4-0
- Key Wins: Knocked out a 3-0 grappler. Beat Shem Rock, Joe Solecki, a 5-1 wrestler and a well rounded 8-2 fighter. Majority decision wins over Rafael Alves and a 5-2 wrestler.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: a little above average (55)
- Wrestling: plus (70)
- Mike Davis
- Age: 33
- UFC Record: 5-3
- Key Wins: Submitted Natan Levy. Knocked out Mitch Ramirez and a 5-2 striker. Beat Slava Borshchev and Mason Jones.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: near plus (65)
Chris’ Pick: Aliev by split decision.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Aliev -135
Cody Gibson vs Abdul Hussein
- Cody Gibson
- Age: 38
- UFC Record: 3-7
- Key Wins: Submitted Brian Kelleher and Francisco Rivera. Knocked out a 9-1 wrestler. Beat Chad Anheliger, John Dodson and a 19-3 striker.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: near plus (65)
- Abdul Hussein
- Age: 28
- Pro Record: 15-2
- Key Wins: Knocked out an 8-2 striker and a well rounded 6-1 fighter. Submitted a 7-2 grappler.
- Striking: near plus (65)
- Power: near plus (65)
- Grappling: near plus (65)
It’s possible I could be a tad high on Hussein, but I watched him against UFC vet Tyson Nam and wow did Hussein impress me.
Chris’ Pick: Hussein by 1st round knockout.
What odds I think the favorite should be at: Hussein -135