MMA Event Breakdown - UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington
UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington
The UFC is closing out their calendar year with a massive PPV showcase complete with a two-pack of title fights in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The card has been built with more care and patience than the typical UFC card and the crowd should be hot for the young crop of international stars rounding out the supporting case on the main card.
Shamil Gaziev vs. Martin Buday
Fight Odds: +110 Gaziev vs. -130 Buday
Weight Class: 265lb. (Heavyweight)
Shamil Gaziev is a former Dagestani national volleyball team member who was recruited by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov to fight instead. Gaziev is an undefeated professional with eleven wins and no losses representing KHK Bahrain, a world class training facility which houses many international talents, particularly Russian nationals. Martin Buday has proven to be a solid UFC fighter so far, rattling off 4 straight victories inside the octagon, including a round one kimura in his last fight against Josh Parisian. Gaziev burst on the scene with a submission of his own on DWCS, dispatching talented North East fighter Greg Velasco via SUB1 (RNC) after a wild two minute fight.
Gaziev starts hotter than Buday, he appears to have more power in his hands, and he should be able to compete in the grappling while fresh. Gaziev’s issue is he is taking a step up in front of a UFC PPV crowd, and he will have to secure a finish against a tough opponent or pace himself a bit better than we have seen on tape. Buday could look like a huge hindsight favorite if Gaziev gasses out in the early going, but he is also absorbing more than 5 significant strikes per minute in the heavyweight division. If he were fighting heavier-handed opponents, you would think those numbers would be totally unsustainable.
Prediction: Shamil Gaziev defeats Martin Buday via Rd. 1 Finish