MMA Event Breakdown - UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Magomedov
UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Magomedov
Sean Strickland has become “Mr. Apex” by routinely appearing in main events in the small octagon within the confines of the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada. This weekend he gets another crack at the headlining role opposite UFC newcomer Abus Magomedov, a humble 1-0 inside the octagon with a bevy of professional experience elsewhere. The card is full of action fights with international appeal, and we could see several prospects take the next important step in their professional development. However, given last week’s UFC event, we must remember never to count out the underdog prematurely, as underdogs were rolling early and often in Jacksonville.
Alexander Romanov vs. Blagoy Ivanov
Fight Odds: -130 Romanov vs. +110 Ivanov
Weight Class: 265lb. (Heavyweight)
It is rare to see UFC heavyweight action kicking off the card, but that’s what we will get in the curtain jerker on Saturday night, as the once hyped Alexandr Romanov looks to right the ship against the battle-tested veteran Blagoy Ivanov. Romanov was the biggest favorite in UFC history when he defeated Chase Sherman via first round submission, but he has since dropped the ball in consecutive outings against Marcin Tybura and Alexander Volkov. Tybura weathered the early storm to rally back in rounds two and three for the decision, while Volkov prevented the early takedown attempts and broke Romanov in the opening frame.
Romanov has lost his peak physical fitness, struggled to maintain a team around him, and he is searching for answers, moving to Maryland for this training camp after a career-worst showing, training on his own in Moldova. Ivanov is a former Combat Sambo World Champion, but his smaller stature could cause him trouble against his massive heavyweight foe. Ivanov’s approach must be to extend this fight, as Romanov has horrible cardio, and his accumulation of extra weight will further inhibit his ability to fight hard for fifteen minutes. In a binary fight, I will favor the larger man with more early finish equity at heavyweight, but I will not feel inspired to back him at the betting window.
Prediction: Alexandr Romanov defeats Blagoy Ivanov via TKO1/SDEC