The UFC octagon is on the road this weekend, so we get a solid UFC Fight Night lineup rather than a weak UFC Apex one. Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi is where the action takes place this weekend, with a UFC bantamweight title eliminator (whatever that means) in our main event. Here are my UFC Abu Dhabi predictions and best bets.
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UFC Abu Dhabi Predictions & Best Bets
Cory Sandhagen (+260) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
We’re coming out of the gate hot and taking a big underdog in the main event. ‘Cousin Umar’ Nurmagomedov might be 17-0, but he’s never fought anyone close to Cory Sandhagen’s level. ‘The Sandman’ is strong in every aspect of the sport, is gritty, relentless, and impossible to finish.
He also has plenty of five-round fight experience, which Nurmagomedov does not. I expect the perennial top-ranked bantamweight to be able to drag Nurmagomedov into deep water and hopefully earn himself a shot at UFC gold.
Shara Magomedov (-245) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Shara Magomedov, despite the ‘ov’ ending to his name, is not a very good grappler – he’s strictly a striker. This is probably why the UFC matched him up with Michal Oleksiejczuk, a fellow fighter who just wants to strike.
The 13-0 ‘Shara Bullet’ doesn’t seem to be that great of a fighter (despite the UFC hopes that he is), but he should be a better striker on Saturday and will beat Oleksiejczuk. If you want a better line, Magomedov via T/KO at +106 is probably worth a sprinkle.
Deiveson Figueiredo (-140) vs. Marlon Vera
This is our real co-main event, another bantamweight banger pitting former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo up against Marlon Vera, who fought for the bantamweight title in his last fight. Both guys are slow starters, so the first round could be rough to watch, but overall, I like Figueiredo’s chances in this one. He’s looked great since he moved up to 135 pounds, and I like his striking power and grappling more than Vera’s.
Loopy Godinez (+106) vs. Mackenzie Dern
The number we’re getting her for isn’t quite as nice as it was a few days ago, but I still love Loopy Godinez as a slight dog against Mackenzie Dern. Godinez is a much better striker, and much better wrestler, and a good enough grappler to stay safe against a grappling wizard like Dern. Look for Godinez to win a judges’ decision then hop on a plane to France to watch her sister compete on Canada’s Olympic wrestling team.
Jai Herbert (-135) vs. Rolando Bedoya
This prelim fight all comes down to experience and resume, to me, with Jai Herbert trumping Rolando Bedoya in both categories. Bedoya has yet to prove he can compete at this level, going 0-2 in the UFC, and Herbert also has a size advantage, a power advantage, as well as an advantage in the grappling department if he chooses to use it.
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