Career Averages - Bekzat Almakhan
Career Averages - Aleksandre Topuria
Bekzat Almakhan - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 39 of 119 | 32% | 42 of 122 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 47 of 81 | 58% | 55 of 89 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 2:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 12 of 39 | 30% | 14 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 17 of 28 | 60% | 23 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:40 | |
| 2 | Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 13 of 31 | 41% | 14 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 15 of 26 | 57% | 16 of 27 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:05 | |
| 3 | Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 14 of 49 | 28% | 14 of 49 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 16 of 28 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bekzat Almakhan | 39 of 119 | 32% | 26 of 102 | 8 of 11 | 5 of 6 | 38 of 116 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 47 of 81 | 58% | 45 of 75 | 1 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 44 of 77 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bekzat Almakhan | 12 of 39 | 30% | 6 of 31 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 17 of 28 | 60% | 15 of 23 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Bekzat Almakhan | 13 of 31 | 41% | 8 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 13 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 15 of 26 | 57% | 15 of 25 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 25 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Bekzat Almakhan | 14 of 49 | 28% | 12 of 47 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 15 of 27 | 55% | 15 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Aleksandre Topuria over Bekzat Almakhan, but with caution. He notes Topuria's Greco-Roman wrestling may suit him well if he pressures Almakhan against the cage. Almakhan is dangerous with knockout power, but Topuria's size and strength advantage could be key. Angelo warns that Topuria is not his brother Ilia and that Almakhan at plus money is a viable underdog play.
Big Brady leans Bekzat Almakhan, impressed by his knockout of Brad Katona and well-rounded skills. He questions Topuria's cardio and performance against Colby Covington, expecting Almakhan to do more and win by decision or late finish.
Cody picks Aleksandre Topuria, noting his patient style and power. He believes Topuria's wrestling and grappling are superior, and that Almakhan is one-dimensional with big power but poor takedown defense. Cody thinks Topuria can take Almakhan down and control him.
Connor picks Almakhan as well, citing his real-world experience against decent regional talent. He notes that Topuria has only had one solid showing against a non-technical opponent and has a knockout loss. He thinks Almakhan's power and ability to walk people into shots could be key, and that Topuria may not have the power to match.
Lucrative James picks Bekzat Almakhan in a close fight. He believes Almakhan is a cleaner striker with more power and experience. He notes Topuria's lack of activity and unknown grappling. He expects a striking exchange where Almakhan's speed and timing give him the edge. He acknowledges Topuria's potential but leans Almakhan.
Almakhan has a better strength of schedule and has faced more resistance. His striking should counter Topuria's power approach, and he may have the wrestling edge. However, confidence is low due to Topuria's potential.
Paul picks Aleksandre Topuria, agreeing with Cody. He notes that Almakhan has only shown big power and has poor takedown defense. Paul believes Topuria's grappling and patience will lead to a win.
The MMA Guru picks Bekzat Almakhan over Aleksandre Topuria, not buying the hype around Topuria. He notes Almakhan dropped Umar Nurmagomedov in his debut and had great scrambles. He believes Almakhan is better than Colby Covington, who gave Topuria a close fight. He predicts a TKO finish by Almakhan.
Zane picks Almakhan but is quite open to being surprised. He notes that Almakhan is a dangerous finisher who dropped Umar and pasted Brad Katona. He thinks Topuria looks like he prefers coaching to fighting and may lack his brother's competitive drive. He mentions Topuria's technical grounding but questions his desire.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Katona | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 1 | 8 of 11 | 72% | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Katona | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 1 | 8 of 11 | 72% | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Katona | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 8 of 11 | 72% | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Katona | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 8 of 11 | 72% | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Angelo picks Brad Katona, criticizing the hype around Bekzat Almakhan who lost his UFC debut despite landing one good punch. He trusts Katona's grit and forward pressure. He mentions a safer bet on Katona plus 3.5 (buying points) rather than the moneyline, noting Katona is at home and may get favorable judging.
Big Brady sees this as a very close fight, with both fighters well-rounded. He notes that Bekzat Almakhan's hype is based on one moment against Umar Nurmagomedov, but he lost most of that fight. He favors Brad Katona's volume and wrestling, and thinks the fight goes to decision. He picks the Canadian Katona in what he expects to be a close fight, relying on the judges.
The host believes Brad Katona has been underachieving and will showcase his pace, fight IQ, and defensive grappling to keep the fight in the striking realm. He expects Katona to dictate the pace with his striking advantage and mix in some grappling to secure a decision victory.
The MMA Guru picks Almakhan, citing his physicality, power, and performance against Umar Nurmagomedov. He thinks Katona is untalented and lacks finishing ability, while Almakhan will stuff takedowns and land a TKO. He notes Almakhan's fast, dangerous striking and Katona's well-rounded but unimpressive style.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 68 of 98 | 69% | 145 of 197 | 5 of 5 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 11:26 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 1 | 3 of 16 | 18% | 5 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:34 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 7 of 8 | 87% | 43 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:21 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 1 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 | |
| 2 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 39 of 60 | 65% | 52 of 83 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:06 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:25 | |
| 3 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 22 of 30 | 73% | 50 of 65 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:59 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 2 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umar Nurmagomedov | 68 of 98 | 69% | 64 of 94 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 61 of 85 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 3 of 16 | 18% | 1 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 7 of 8 | 87% | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 7 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 39 of 60 | 65% | 38 of 59 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 36 of 53 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 22 of 30 | 73% | 20 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 25 |
| Bekzat Almakhan | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Umar Nurmagomedov, acknowledging Bekzat Almakhan is a very good fighter but believes Umar's wrestling and kicking range will be the difference. He notes the odds are too high to bet on Umar at -900, removing any temptation to bet.
Big Brady picks Umar to finish Almakhan in the second round by submission. He notes Umar is better everywhere—striking, wrestling, grappling—and has fought much better competition. He thinks Almakhan is a solid fighter but is outmatched. He calls Umar a -1200 favorite and expects a finish.
Cody also picks Umar, noting that Almakhan is a sacrificial lamb brought in to lose. He compares Almakhan to other undefeated regional fighters who struggle in the UFC, like Azat Maksum. Cody believes Umar's wrestling and striking are superior and that Almakhan's only path to victory is a freak accident or foul. He calls it a squash match.
Nurmagomedov is a well-rounded fighter with excellent wrestling and striking, but Almakhan is a legitimate regional champion with improving skills. The host expects Nurmagomedov to win by decision rather than finish, as Almakhan is more disciplined than in his sole loss. The over 1.5 rounds is too chalky at -200, but Nurmagomedov by decision prop could offer plus money. The host advises against parlaying the -1050 moneyline.
Paul picks Umar confidently, calling him a future champion. He notes that Almakhan is a short-notice replacement with a padded record and that Umar is levels above. He mentions that Almakhan is well-rounded but not elite in any area, and Umar should dominate everywhere. He acknowledges the minus-1000 price is prohibitive for straight bets but sees Umar as a safe parlay piece.
The MMA Guru picks Umar Nurmagomedov, noting he is a massive bantamweight with strength and grappling advantages. He predicts Umar will get a takedown, take the back, and choke out Almakhan in round one. He sees a significant strength difference and believes Almakhan looks frail in comparison.
Aleksandre Topuria - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 39 of 119 | 32% | 42 of 122 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 47 of 81 | 58% | 55 of 89 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 2:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 12 of 39 | 30% | 14 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 17 of 28 | 60% | 23 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:40 | |
| 2 | Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 13 of 31 | 41% | 14 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 15 of 26 | 57% | 16 of 27 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:05 | |
| 3 | Bekzat Almakhan | 0 | 14 of 49 | 28% | 14 of 49 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 15 of 27 | 55% | 16 of 28 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bekzat Almakhan | 39 of 119 | 32% | 26 of 102 | 8 of 11 | 5 of 6 | 38 of 116 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 47 of 81 | 58% | 45 of 75 | 1 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 44 of 77 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bekzat Almakhan | 12 of 39 | 30% | 6 of 31 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 17 of 28 | 60% | 15 of 23 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Bekzat Almakhan | 13 of 31 | 41% | 8 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 13 of 30 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 15 of 26 | 57% | 15 of 25 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 25 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Bekzat Almakhan | 14 of 49 | 28% | 12 of 47 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Aleksandre Topuria | 15 of 27 | 55% | 15 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Aleksandre Topuria over Bekzat Almakhan, but with caution. He notes Topuria's Greco-Roman wrestling may suit him well if he pressures Almakhan against the cage. Almakhan is dangerous with knockout power, but Topuria's size and strength advantage could be key. Angelo warns that Topuria is not his brother Ilia and that Almakhan at plus money is a viable underdog play.
Big Brady leans Bekzat Almakhan, impressed by his knockout of Brad Katona and well-rounded skills. He questions Topuria's cardio and performance against Colby Covington, expecting Almakhan to do more and win by decision or late finish.
Cody picks Aleksandre Topuria, noting his patient style and power. He believes Topuria's wrestling and grappling are superior, and that Almakhan is one-dimensional with big power but poor takedown defense. Cody thinks Topuria can take Almakhan down and control him.
Connor picks Almakhan as well, citing his real-world experience against decent regional talent. He notes that Topuria has only had one solid showing against a non-technical opponent and has a knockout loss. He thinks Almakhan's power and ability to walk people into shots could be key, and that Topuria may not have the power to match.
Lucrative James picks Bekzat Almakhan in a close fight. He believes Almakhan is a cleaner striker with more power and experience. He notes Topuria's lack of activity and unknown grappling. He expects a striking exchange where Almakhan's speed and timing give him the edge. He acknowledges Topuria's potential but leans Almakhan.
Almakhan has a better strength of schedule and has faced more resistance. His striking should counter Topuria's power approach, and he may have the wrestling edge. However, confidence is low due to Topuria's potential.
Paul picks Aleksandre Topuria, agreeing with Cody. He notes that Almakhan has only shown big power and has poor takedown defense. Paul believes Topuria's grappling and patience will lead to a win.
The MMA Guru picks Bekzat Almakhan over Aleksandre Topuria, not buying the hype around Topuria. He notes Almakhan dropped Umar Nurmagomedov in his debut and had great scrambles. He believes Almakhan is better than Colby Covington, who gave Topuria a close fight. He predicts a TKO finish by Almakhan.
Zane picks Almakhan but is quite open to being surprised. He notes that Almakhan is a dangerous finisher who dropped Umar and pasted Brad Katona. He thinks Topuria looks like he prefers coaching to fighting and may lack his brother's competitive drive. He mentions Topuria's technical grounding but questions his desire.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 38 of 127 | 29% | 40 of 131 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Colby Thicknesse | 0 | 41 of 79 | 51% | 65 of 110 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 5:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 13 of 46 | 28% | 13 of 47 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Colby Thicknesse | 0 | 18 of 32 | 56% | 20 of 34 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 | |
| 2 | Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 21 of 70 | 30% | 21 of 71 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Colby Thicknesse | 0 | 22 of 43 | 51% | 22 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 | |
| 3 | Aleksandre Topuria | 0 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 6 of 13 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Colby Thicknesse | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 23 of 33 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 4:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleksandre Topuria | 38 of 127 | 29% | 18 of 91 | 12 of 27 | 8 of 9 | 35 of 122 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Colby Thicknesse | 41 of 79 | 51% | 18 of 53 | 19 of 22 | 4 of 4 | 35 of 70 | 5 of 7 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandre Topuria | 13 of 46 | 28% | 6 of 32 | 5 of 11 | 2 of 3 | 11 of 44 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Colby Thicknesse | 18 of 32 | 56% | 7 of 20 | 11 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 2 | |
| 2 | Aleksandre Topuria | 21 of 70 | 30% | 8 of 49 | 7 of 15 | 6 of 6 | 20 of 67 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Colby Thicknesse | 22 of 43 | 51% | 11 of 30 | 7 of 9 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 39 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aleksandre Topuria | 4 of 11 | 36% | 4 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Colby Thicknesse | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Topuria (-410), Thicknesse (+320)
Round 1
A surprising rivalry has developed from this preliminary pairing completely consisting of men making their promotional debuts. Representing Australia, Thicknesse (7-0, 0-0 UFC) will receive cornering from ex-champ Alexander Volkanovski. He will be facing off against Topuria (5-1, 0-0 UFC), younger brother of Ilia Topuria who is also in his corner. This proxy battle at 135 pounds takes place under the watchful eye of referee Jim Perdios, and it starts with the fighters tapping their fists together. Topuria is the initial aggressor, pawing away a front kick to crowd Thicknesse towards the cage. Thicknesse swings hard and shoots for a faked takedown attempt, and he surprises Topuria with a jump knee. Topuria keeps his guard up to block a high kick, and he stalks Thicknesse down looking to unload with something. Thicknesse jabs out with a front kick, and Topuria marches ever forward to release a right hand. Thicknesse looks for another takedown entry, and Topuria ignores it and keeps stalking forward. Thicknesse tries to back him off with a head kick and some jabs, and a body kick finds its home under the guard. Topuria follows a jab with a right hand, and he takes a pair of body kicks flush for his efforts. Thicknesse chips away from his preferred range with kicks, hopping away from jabs and nearly catching Topuria with a head kick. Topuria tries to tie him up, but Thicknesse is away with his guard up to not get cracked. Topuria rushes him, looking for a clinch and absorbing a pair of knees before Thicknesse shoves him away. Topuria gives chase, staying smart enough to not walk into a big strike. Thicknesse jumps forward with a knee and follows with a head kick, but “El Conquistador” is not amused. Topuria slings a single right hand that smashes into the side of the jaw, sending Thicknesse squirrely but not putting him on the canvas. Thicknesse smartly fights out of the danger rather than getting desperate, and Topuria is not selling out for anything. A step-in knee gets through for Thicknesse, who darts in and out before a counter reaches him. Topuria walks him down and digs a few body shots before wrenching Thicknesse down to a knee. Topuria suddenly hits a mighty belly-to-back suplex, dropping Thicknesse on his head before the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Round 2
The fighters clap hands before engaging, and Topuria is once more the one putting the pressure on early. Thicknesse scoots to the side, only to absorb a thumping leg kick and a left hook. Thicknesse hops to the side and does work on either side of Topuria’s lead wheel. Thicknesse pecks with jabs and low kicks, and one hits the cup to force a momentary stoppage. Topuria appears no worse for wear and gets back to it, firing off a flashy wheel kick that skims the side of the head. Topuria’s head movement is slick as he dodges a flurry of punches, where only Thicknesse’s body kick getting off. Thicknesse whips a kick off the raised guard, and when he plants his leg down, Topuria slams his shin into it. Thicknesse tries to hand-fight his way forward, only to get beaned with a right hand over the top. Thicknesse is warned for outstretched fingers a few times, and he absorbs a pair of low kicks without responding. Thicknesse shoots for a double, pushing Topuria against the cage but only landing a knee before the break. Topuria smiles at him, shrugging off two kicks so he can let fly a jab. Thicknesse turns his leg out in time to check a kick, and he leans back to narrowly evade a haymaker. Thicknesse tries his own home run punch, but it is the sharper, straighter attack that tends to connect. Topuria walks into a right hook after a few jabs, and he parries a front kick and smashes a right hand on the solar plexus. Thicknesse no-sells the strike and resets to jump in with a knee and a right hand. Thicknesse ducks a huge right hand to go for a takedown, with the defense from the Georgian holding up well. Thicknesse climbs back upright, and Topuria walks him down with a big right hand that pops into the guard. They peck at one another with jabs until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Thicknesse
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Round 3
The last round kicks off with Thicknesse loading up with a body kick. When he tries for a takedown, Topuria easily slides around to the side and then gets hold of him from behind. Thicknesse scoots his way to the fence despite Topuria’s hands clasped around his waist, thwarting Topuria’s subsequent efforts to wrestle or throw him. Thicknesse breaks out of the tie-up and spears Topuria with jabs and follow-up right hands. Topuria shakes it off and stuffs a double-leg entry, and he again gets hold of Thicknesse from the back during a scramble. Thicknesse defends with a kimura to sweep, and Topuria steps over it to establish top position in side control. Thicknesse uses a rubber guard to wrap his left leg up for a setup, but Topuria is wise to it and flattens the American out. Thicknesse gets Topuria back to his guard, and he hooks his arm and leg around Topuria’s neck with an unorthodox submission grip that could be considered a modified arm-triangle choke from his back. Topuria shakes it out and steps into half guard, and he stays heavy with a potential arm-triangle of his own as fans lambaste him for the grappling. Thicknesse twists and works to his knees, wall-walking before suddenly rolling over to escape. Topuria shuts it down by not stopping the somersault, but by being exactly where he should be to establish top position. Thicknesse throws his legs up wildly for one last desperate submission, but Topuria grinds him out with a bit of ground-and-pound until the match comes to an end.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Topuria (29-28 Topuria)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Topuria (30-27 Topuria)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Topuria (30-27 Topuria)
The Official Result
Aleksandre Topuria def. Colby Thicknesse via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Big Brady is skeptical of Aleksandre Topuria's signing, citing his lack of activity and poor competition. He notes that Topuria has only fought three times in ten years and gassed out in his only fight that went past the first round. However, he thinks Topuria has a big advantage early with power and grappling, and can get a first-round finish. He worries if the fight reaches the second round, as Topuria's cardio is a major question mark. Brady picks Topuria by first-round knockout.
Topuria, brother of the featherweight champion, is expected to make a dominant statement. He will walk Thicknesse down, grind him against the cage, and eventually land a big shot for a knockout. The pick is for Topuria to win by knockout.
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Aleksandre Topuria over Bekzat Almakhan, but with caution. He notes Topuria's Greco-Roman wrestling may suit him well if he pressures Almakhan against the cage. Almakhan is dangerous with knockout power, but Topuria's size and strength advantage could be key. Angelo warns that Topuria is not his brother Ilia and that Almakhan at plus money is a viable underdog play.
Big Brady leans Bekzat Almakhan, impressed by his knockout of Brad Katona and well-rounded skills. He questions Topuria's cardio and performance against Colby Covington, expecting Almakhan to do more and win by decision or late finish.
Cody picks Aleksandre Topuria, noting his patient style and power. He believes Topuria's wrestling and grappling are superior, and that Almakhan is one-dimensional with big power but poor takedown defense. Cody thinks Topuria can take Almakhan down and control him.
Connor picks Almakhan as well, citing his real-world experience against decent regional talent. He notes that Topuria has only had one solid showing against a non-technical opponent and has a knockout loss. He thinks Almakhan's power and ability to walk people into shots could be key, and that Topuria may not have the power to match.
Lucrative James picks Bekzat Almakhan in a close fight. He believes Almakhan is a cleaner striker with more power and experience. He notes Topuria's lack of activity and unknown grappling. He expects a striking exchange where Almakhan's speed and timing give him the edge. He acknowledges Topuria's potential but leans Almakhan.
Almakhan has a better strength of schedule and has faced more resistance. His striking should counter Topuria's power approach, and he may have the wrestling edge. However, confidence is low due to Topuria's potential.
Paul picks Aleksandre Topuria, agreeing with Cody. He notes that Almakhan has only shown big power and has poor takedown defense. Paul believes Topuria's grappling and patience will lead to a win.
The MMA Guru picks Bekzat Almakhan over Aleksandre Topuria, not buying the hype around Topuria. He notes Almakhan dropped Umar Nurmagomedov in his debut and had great scrambles. He believes Almakhan is better than Colby Covington, who gave Topuria a close fight. He predicts a TKO finish by Almakhan.
Zane picks Almakhan but is quite open to being surprised. He notes that Almakhan is a dangerous finisher who dropped Umar and pasted Brad Katona. He thinks Topuria looks like he prefers coaching to fighting and may lack his brother's competitive drive. He mentions Topuria's technical grounding but questions his desire.
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