FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN VS NURMAGOMEDOV

[mrpickem]

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN VS NURMAGOMEDOV​

@ ETIHAD ARENA - ABU DHABI

Prelims:​

• 5/2.13 Sedriques Dumas -235

Should be a banging first fight kicking off a stacked card. One of the best Fight Night cards in memory.

 

[mrpickem]

Thw Whole Card


My 2024 history.

 

[Administrator]

Terrific year.

 

[mrpickem]

next couple...

• 3/3.15 Rolando Bedoya +105
• 3/1.80 HERBERT vs BEDOYA o2½ -167
• 4/2.17 VIKTORIYA DUDAKOVA -184
• 2/3.86 Jordan Vucenic +193

• Bedoya may be able to control the scoring with more volume and heavier strikes...leading to a likely decision victory
• Undefeated favorite verses journeyman Hughes. Dudakove will be stronger and able to reverse position on anything Hushes finds. One-sided scoring with possible finishing choke
• A couple little known lightweights up next, while Kutateladze has UFC experience and heavy hands, Vucenic is a crafty striker with excellent counter and able to change levels with quickness. At this price, have to get some dog

 

[mrpickem]

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN VS NURMAGOMEDOV​

Prelims:​

5/2.13 Sedriques Dumas -235
3/3.15 Rolando Bedoya +105
[1-1 -0.87u]

3/1.80 HERBERT vs BEDOYA o2½ -167​

4/2.17 VIKTORIYA DUDAKOVA -184​

2/3.86 Jordan Vucenic +193​

• 2/5.10 Don'Tale Mayes +255
• 3/1.82 Kaue Fernandes/Mohammad Yahya o1½ -165
• 3/3.45 AZAMAT MURZAKANOV BY KO, TKO OR DQ +115
• 4/2.50 Alonzo Menifield vs Azamat Murzakanov u2½ -160

• Mayes(11-6) will be the fresher HW late so long and the fight don't end early. Gazeiv(12-1) may be thew more dangerous striker but needs to get close to work his game. Mayes will try to maintain distance while landing chipping shots and moving laterally. I expect Mayes' strategy to be patient and test Shamil's gas tank again after it was exposed vs Rozenstruk last time out.
• Fernandes(8-2) is a way more technical striker and should control the range and dominate, but Yahya(12-4) has a big right and the ability to close fast behind a stiff jab and hammer home the sledge, that said... I still believe both will start slow, feeling each other out...leading to the over as the best option for me;.
• Murzakanov(13-0) is a fast starter who never lets up. Perhaps Menifield(15-4) lands early and maybe even gets a takedown, but it will be Azamat's relentless pressure that will wear Alonzo down sooner than later.

 

[mrpickem]

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN VS NURMAGOMEDOV​

Prelims:​

5/2.13 Sedriques Dumas -235
3/3.15 Rolando Bedoya +105
3/1.80 HERBERT vs BEDOYA o2½ -167
4/2.17 VIKTORIYA DUDAKOVA -184
2/3.86 Jordan Vucenic +193
2/5.10 Don'Tale Mayes +255
3/1.82 Kaue Fernandes/Mohammad Yahya o1½ -165
3/3.45 AZAMAT MURZAKANOV BY KO, TKO OR DQ +115
4/2.50 Alonzo Menifield vs Azamat Murzakanov u2½ -160
[4-5 -4.09u]

Main Card:​

• 3/4.26 Elves Brener +142
• 3/1.63 JOEL ALVAREZ vs ELVES BRENNER o1½ -184
• 3/3.45 Loopy Godinez +115

• Main card kicks off with a potential FOTN with both guy trading big shots. Personally, I don't understand the odds as I see Elves the clear favorite. He will land harder shots, takes damage well and has better endurance. Over 1½ very likely as well.
• It's crazy that Dern(13-5) is 1-3 in last 4, yet the UFC still pushes her and she still ranked #7! She is basically one-dimensional and in trouble when she can't get the fight to the ground. Loopy(12-4) is a solid warrior with good TDD with a good striking game, plus she's never been submitted. It's a tough call with Mackenzie's back literally against the wall, but I'll ride with Loopy.

 

[mrpickem]

Main Card:
3/4.26 Elves Brener +142
3/1.63 JOEL ALVAREZ vs ELVES BRENNER o1½ -184
3/3.45 Loopy Godinez +115
[5-7 -8.46u]

• 1.46/6 Tony Ferguson +410
• 3/3.45 Marlon Vera +115
• 1.75/5 Michal Oleksiejczuk +285

Riding the dogs, let's go!

 

[mrpickem]

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN VS NURMAGOMEDOV
Prelims:
5/2.13 Sedriques Dumas -235
3/3.15 Rolando Bedoya +105
3/1.80 HERBERT vs BEDOYA o2½ -167
4/2.17 VIKTORIYA DUDAKOVA -184
2/3.86 Jordan Vucenic +193
2/5.10 Don'Tale Mayes +255
3/1.82 Kaue Fernandes/Mohammad Yahya o1½ -165
3/3.45 AZAMAT MURZAKANOV BY KO, TKO OR DQ +115
4/2.50 Alonzo Menifield vs Azamat Murzakanov u2½ -160

Main Card:
3/4.26 Elves Brener +142
3/1.63 JOEL ALVAREZ vs ELVES BRENNER o1½ -184
3/3.45 Loopy Godinez +115
1.46/6 Tony Ferguson +410
3/3.45 Marlon Vera +115
[5-9 -12.92u]

1.75/5 Michal Oleksiejczuk +285

• 6/1.67 Umar Nurmagomedov -359
• 5/2.78 Umar Nurmagomedov/Cory Sandhagen o3½ -180

• Loopy and Chito both fought good and made their fights close, but the right person won in both. Tony, a sad shell of his onetime self.
• Corey is a gangsta, never shied away from any fight and beat some excellent fighter, but at the top he has always come up short so far vs Yan, Dillashaw & Sterling. Umar really looks to be special, and I do think he wins. I doubt it'll be as easy as the odds may indicate, but I don't see Umar losing. He may get a sub in later rounds or just carry the cards. You may be surprised that this fight stays on the feet for the majority. Cory has length so that will definitely test Umar's skill, but if he cruises easy, Omalley or Merab won't be champ for long.

 

[mrpickem]

Fight Of The Night: Shara Magomedov vs Michal Oleksiejczuk​

In the co-main event, middleweight Shara Magomedov collected his third-straight victory inside the Octagon, picking up a unanimous decision victory against Michal Oleksiejczuk. Poland's Oleksiejczuk didn't make it easy for the undefeated Magomedov, constantly moving forward despite taking Magomedov's best shots.

Magomedov did, however, control the striking throughout the 15 minutes, landing many of his trademark kicks and a vicious elbow that opened a cut on Oleksiejczuk's forehead. Oleksiejczuk put pressure on Magomedov the entire fight, and even secured takedowns at the latter stages of the rounds, but it was too little too late as Magomedov extends his professional mixed martial arts record to 14-0.

Performance Of The Night Bonuses ​

Performance Of The Night: Joel Álvarez​

Lightweight Joel Álvarez proved he's one to watch in the ultra competitive 155-pound division with a third round TKO victory over Elves Brener, who'd never been finished in his professional career until now.

Álvarez, who improved his record to 21-3, maintains his 100 percent finish rate as a pro, which includes six stoppages inside the Octagon. With this victory, Álvarez is right on the outside looking in to the coveted lightweight Top 15.

Performance Of The Night: Azamat Murzakanov​

Light heavyweight Azamat Murzakanov closed out the early prelims in style, finishing Alonzo Menifield midway through the second round. The 35-year-old showed no signs he hadn't competed in the Octagon for over a year; Murzakanov was the more active and effective striker for as long as the fight lasted.

With this win, Murzakanov keeps his undefeated record in tact and extends his UFC win streak to four.


Tough night for me with too many decisions.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SANDHAGEN VS NURMAGOMEDOV​

Prelims:
5/2.13 Sedriques Dumas -235
3/3.15 Rolando Bedoya +105
3/1.80 HERBERT vs BEDOYA o2½ -167
4/2.17 VIKTORIYA DUDAKOVA -184
2/3.86 Jordan Vucenic +193
2/5.10 Don'Tale Mayes +255
3/1.82 Kaue Fernandes/Mohammad Yahya o1½ -165
3/3.45 AZAMAT MURZAKANOV BY KO, TKO OR DQ +115
4/2.50 Alonzo Menifield vs Azamat Murzakanov u2½ -160
Main Card:
3/4.26 Elves Brener +142
3/1.63 JOEL ALVAREZ vs ELVES BRENNER o1½ -184
3/3.45 Loopy Godinez +115
1.46/6 Tony Ferguson +410
3/3.45 Marlon Vera +115
1.75/5 Michal Oleksiejczuk +285
6/1.67 Umar Nurmagomedov -359
5/2.78 Umar Nurmagomedov/Cory Sandhagen o3½ -180

[7-10 -10.25u]