MMA Event Breakdown - UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Font
UFC Fight Night – Sandhagen vs. Font
The UFC octagon is headed back to Nashville, Tennessee, but they are not bringing much local flavor. Instead, the combat sports leader has opted to bring fun, violent, action-packed fights replete with an international cast of characters. The main event was salvaged with Rob Font stepping up on short notice, so we have a ton to break down!
Ode Osbourne vs. Asu Almabaev
Fight Odds: +170 Osbourne vs. -200 Almabaev
Weight Class: 125lb. (Flyweight)
Asu Almabaev is a UFC debutant from Kazakhstan out of the same gym as UFC welterweight standout Shavkat Rakhmonov, so he comes in with lofty expectations from the betting public. Osbourne is a veteran of 7 UFC fights, but he sports an uninspiring record of 4 wins and 3 losses. Almabaev opened as an underdog offshore, but he has been bet to a sizable favorite with little resistance since opening. Osbourne was submitted by a stocky grappling archetype in Brian “Boom” Kelleher in his UFC debut at bantamweight, so perhaps people are putting stock into that loss. At flyweight, Osbourne’s only two losses have come by way of first-round knockout against noted hitters Tyson Nam and Manel Kape.
Osbourne is the much larger fighter here, and he has an active and dangerous guard while fresh (5/11 pro wins via SUB). He also has a unique ability to catch kicks, which he showed in his Contender Series bout against Armando Villarreal, the last time he submitted an opponent as a professional. Osbourne is still a work in progress on the mat, but he looks to be in career-best shape for this fight, and his opponent could experience octagon jitters. Against UFC level competition, Almabaev has struggled, edging out Makovsky to a split decision and getting routed by Tagir Ulanbekov back in 2017. I expect a contentious, back-and-forth grappling affair at times, but while the fight is on the feet, I expect Osbourne to score the bigger strikes, particularly with his hands. Considering his underdog status and my question marks about Almabaev, I am going to reluctantly pick Ode Osbourne.
Prediction: Ode Osbourne defeats Asu Almabaev via Club and SUB 1/2