UFC Saudi Arabia main event preview & top betting picks

Unbeaten Russian phenom Shara Magomedov will clash with longtime MMA veteran Michael Page at the anb Arena in Riyadh this Saturday night for the UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Imavov co-main event. Other main card highlights include an explosive heavyweight bout between Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik and a compelling lightweight matchup between Fares Ziam and Mike Davis. Read on for BettingPlanet’s fight previews and top picks.

Israel Adesanya v Nassourdine Imavov

Israel Adesanya vs Nassourdine Imavov

The main event in Saudi Arabia pits aging former champion Israel Adesanya against an improving younger prospect in Nassourdine Imavov. Adesanya has struggled in recent years against the lightweight division’s elite competitors and will be out to salvage respect when he faces the surging Imavov, who sits on the cusp of title contention. See our Adesanya vs Imavov betting preview here.

Shara Magomedov v Michael Page

Shara Magomedov vs Michael Page

Shara Magomedov (15-0-0) has set the middleweight division ablaze since making his UFC debut in 2023, securing four consecutive wins over increasingly tougher opponents. The Russian striker throws a range of dangerous attacks, as evidenced by his recent knockout win over Armen Petrosyan with two rapid-fire spinning backfists — a unique combination and UFC first. Magomedov has yet to taste defeat and is a hot favourite with leading UFC bookmakers to stretch his winning sequence to 16.

Michael Page (22-3-0) opened his UFC account in 2024 with a solid decision win over Kevin Holland on debut before dropping a close bout with the highly ranked Ian Garry. Page lacks the dynamism of Magomedov but will enjoy significant reach and experience advantages. The 37-year-old has not been knocked out since 2019 and should be able to last this distance in Riyadh.

Sergei Pavlovich v Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Sergei Pavlovich vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik

Sergei Pavlovich (18-3-0) has slumped to consecutive defeats after appearing destined to one day hoist the UFC heavyweight belt. The hard-hitting Russian was no match for the explosive power of Tom Aspinall in November 2023, losing via first-round knockout, and was beaten again by Alexander Volkov across three rounds in June last year. The 32-year-old has taken a break to lick his wounds and hoping to rediscover the form that delivered six straight first-round knockouts between 2019 and 2023.

Jairzinho Rozenstruik (15-5-0) enters this contest as a rank outsider with major betting sites, but his recent form suggests he have some chance at scoring an upset. The kickboxer has won three of his last four bouts, including a technical and tactical decision win over Tai Tuivasa in August last year. The 37-year-old’s chances should improve if he can survive the opening round, so look for him to finish strongly if his footwork and evasive skills can prevent early damage.

Said Nurmagomedov v Vinicius Oliveira

Said Nurmagomedov vs Vinicius Oliveira

Said Nurmagomedov (18-3-0) has a single blemish on his recent record, posting five wins and one loss since 2020. The Russian grappler brings a strong top game into the octagon and is most comfortable landing ground-and-pound while hunting submission opportunities. Six of his professional wins have come via that method, but the 32-year-old can become frustrated when his takedown attempts fail to land and he is forced to stand for lengthy periods.

Vinicius Oliveira (21-3-0) appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2023, earning his UFC contract with a first-round knockout courtesy of a clean punch in the third minute. The Brazilian has since fought twice, scoring wins over Bernardo Sopai and Ricky Simon. This matchup represents a significant rise in class, but the 29-year-old is still improving and boasts an array of dangerous strikes.

Fares Ziam v Mike Davis

Fares Ziam vs Mike Davis

Fares Ziam (16-4-0) has slowly worked his way up the lightweight division’s pecking order with four straight wins since 2022. The 27-year-old is a well-rounded athlete, and his professional wins are split evenly between knockouts, submissions, and decisions. Ziam’s best work is generally done on the feet, and he moves smoothly around the cage while constructing tidy combinations that score well with the judges.

Mike Davis (11-2-0) is another consistent recent performer, with four wins and one loss in the UFC since 2019. The 32-year-old presses hard for stoppage victories during his bouts, with nine of his 11 professional wins coming inside the distance. The American is likely to win the opening round, but if an early finish is not forthcoming, he could be picked apart in the latter stanzas by a more technically competent striker.

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