UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres · Jun 27, 2026 · Middleweight · Scheduled
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Age 35
Height 6' 2"
Reach 78"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 31
Height 6' 0"
Reach 74"
Weight 185 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Abusupiyan Magomedov
3.07 SLpM
49.0% Str. Acc.
3.43 SApM
55.0% Str. Def.
2.61 TD Avg
59.0% TD Acc.
100.0% TD Def.
0.4 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Michał Oleksiejczuk
5.85 SLpM
53.0% Str. Acc.
4.5 SApM
59.0% Str. Def.
1.02 TD Avg
42.0% TD Acc.
52.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Abusupiyan Magomedov
Moneyline
Unibet Eu +115
KO/TKO
FanDuel +600
Submission
Unibet +285
Decision
Cloudbet 9.60
Michał Oleksiejczuk
Moneyline
BetRivers +120
KO/TKO
BetRivers +210
Submission
FanDuel +2500
Decision
BetRivers +525
Abusupiyan Magomedov - Fight History
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Abus Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-130); Oleksiejczuk (+110)

Round 1
The main card of UFC Baku kicks off with middleweights Magomedov and Oleksiejczuk, who operate under the auspices of referee Jim Perdios. Oleksiejczuk is southpaw, Magomedov orthodox, and Perdios strikes first with a warning to Magomedov for advancing with his fingers extended. Magomedov kicks the calf. Oleksiejczuk lands an uppercut to the body. Perdios warns Magomedov about the fingers again. Magomedov is active with the low kicks early, and Oleksiejczuk is thus far choosing to eat them and answer with punches. Magomedov clinches and runs Oleksiejczuk to the fence. They pummel for underhooks, and Magomedov hits the Pole with a big knee to the body. Oleksiejczuk shucks him off and they return to space. Magomedov blasts the oncoming Oleksiejczuk with a beautiful elbow that hurts him badly.
Oleksiejczuk stumbles backwards and Magomedov gives chase, dropping a few more punches, then wrapping his foe’s neck in a tight guillotine. Magomedov gets a leg up over the back and the choke is lethal. Oleksiejczuk taps, but goes out before Perdios can get there to stop the fight.
Very impressive work from Abus Magomedov.

The Official Result
Abus Magomedov def. Michal Oleksiejczuk R1 3:25 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, citing Magomedov's poor cardio and tendency to fade after round one. Oleksiejczuk has improved grappling defense and power, and should survive the first round to take over and finish Magomedov in the second or third.

Over 1.5 rounds -136. Oleksiejczuk +120 underdog.
"I'm going Ole Jchic knockout. I think he sleeps him in the second or third round."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ DeVito is confident that Michał Oleksiejczuk will defeat Abusupiyan Magomedov, who he believes is declining and has a weak will to win. He expects Oleksiejczuk to win by KO in round two or three, citing Magomedov's tendency to gas and melt under pressure. He likes the moneyline at -115 and also mentions the KO prop at +175.

Oleksiejczuk by KO at +175; Oleksiejczuk by KO round 2 at +700; round 3 at +1000.
"I really think we're looking at um Avis Momedov kind of in a similar spot to Michelle Pereira, he's falling off... I'm going McColl Juk. I think he wins by KO. Minus 115 is a pretty nice line."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ picks Oleksiejczuk as an underdog, believing he has improved his takedown defense with Fighting Nerds and has the cardio advantage. He notes Magomedov fades after the first round and that Oleksiejczuk can put him away with big shots in the later rounds. AJ expects a knockout in round 2 or 3.

Knockout +200
"I think Ole Jchuk is putting him away with big shots. So, I'm going second or third round KO Jchuk."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, believing Magomedov is fragile and has suspect cardio. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's hands are dangerous and that he will come on strong in rounds 2 and 3, while Magomedov fades. He likes Oleksiejczuk by KO in round 2 or 3.

Oleksiejczuk by KO +195; Oleksiejczuk round 2 KO +700; Oleksiejczuk round 3 KO +1000.
"I like Jchuk, dude. Ole Jchuk gang."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo picks Magomedov, citing his multiple paths to victory: he can outstrike Oleksiejczuk, outgrapple him, or weather the early storm and win as Oleksiejczuk fades. He notes both have bad cardio, but Magomedov's is slightly better.

"Aboose is the pick. He has multiple ways to win. He could potentially outstrike MCL. McCall's going to be so much faster, hit so much harder, but Aboose can manage the range. He can certainly outgra and if he just …"
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo picks Abus because he has multiple paths to victory (striking and grappling) while Michał only has striking. He notes that both fighters have cardio issues, but Abus can fall back on wrestling. He expects a fun start but a boring finish once Abus starts shooting takedowns.

"Abus can win this fight multiple ways, right? He could potentially be the better striker here. He can definitely be the better grappler here. And McCall only has one path, and that's be the better striker."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo is surprised Abus Magomedov has flipped to underdog and thinks he wins the fight. He notes that Michał Oleksiejczuk has dangerous hands but poor cardio and grappling, and has been knocking out bums. Abus is more technical and can wrestle, so if he weathers the early storm and gets grappling going, he should run away with it.

over 1.5 rounds
"Abus Magomedov, I don't know how he flipped to the underdog. I'm surprised. He was the favorite, he's now the dog... and as a dog, I think he wins this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Big Brady picks Abusupiyan Magomedov to win by submission. He highlights Magomedov's grappling credentials, having taken down and submitted black belts like Bruno Ferreira. Oleksiejczuk has terrible grappling, submitted multiple times. Brady expects Magomedov to take him down early and submit him in round one, though he notes Magomedov's questionable cardio and durability could lead to a second-round knockout loss if he gasses.

win by submission, under probably a good look
"I'm going to pick Abus Magda by submission, but I think like an under probably a good look in this fight."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Cody picks Magomedov, agreeing with Paul. He highlights Oleksiejczuk's defensive wrestling issues and Magomedov's wrestling pedigree. He thinks Magomedov can take him down and control the fight, though he acknowledges Oleksiejczuk's power and finishing ability.

"I'm going with wrestling over uh I know I've been mostly taking damage over control time, but these guys are middleweights and like the control time will probably outweigh, you know, the half dozen punches that are landed standing."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Daniel Levi picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to upset Abusupiyan Magomedov, citing his improved confidence and training at Fighting Nerds after moving from a garage gym. He notes Oleksiejczuk's marauding pressure, body shots, and recent win streak, while Magomedov has a history of fading in fights. Levi believes Oleksiejczuk's level-up and aggression will be key, though he acknowledges Magomedov's grappling threat.

"I'm going to pick Mihal to come out here, get this upset over Abus Magomedov, Inbaku Azer Bejan, climb the ranks."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Jacob picks Magomedov, calling him one of the better plays on the card. He thinks Magomedov is bigger and can bully Oleksiejczuk, who fades hard after round one. He dismisses Oleksiejczuk's win streak as beating cans and notes his grappling holes.

"I think Aboose minus 130. One of the better plays on this card. I think he has the submission path. He has the knockout path."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Lucrative James picks Michał Oleksiejczuk (Michelle Alex) because he believes Alex has better cardio, heart, will to win, and power. He notes that Abus Magomedov is more skilled technically but tends to crumble when pressured and has poor cardio. He expects Abus to start well and possibly get takedowns, but predicts the momentum will shift and Alex will finish him in round two. He also mentions that if Abus is a big underdog, he might be worth a bet, but his pick is Alex via KO.

If Abus is a big underdog, which I kind of feel like he's going to be a decent underdog, maybe that is a good bet.
"I will pick Michelle Alex to win the fight via KO in round two."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Oleksiejczuk has elite durability and has improved his striking and cardio with the Fighting Nerds. Magomedov has cardio issues and tends to fade. Oleksiejczuk will deal with early adversity and then walk him down for a knockout.

Oleksiejczuk by knockout
"I'm going to go Ole Shuk here. I think he deals with the early adversity here from Mamedov and then I think he starts walking him down and eventually finds a big knockout."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The host acknowledges Magomedov's early danger with explosivity and power, but believes in Oleksiejczuk's improvements to avoid an early finish. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's pressure striking style will catch up to Magomedov, leading to a knockout win.

Oleksiejczuk wins by knockout
"I believe in the improvements of Oleksiejczuk enough that he won't get finished early, and I think his pressure striking style is going to catch up to Magomedov leading to Olexiy winning this fight by knockout."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Paul picks Magomedov, citing his wrestling edge and Oleksiejczuk's poor takedown defense. He notes Oleksiejczuk's cardio issues and tendency to fade, and believes Magomedov can win early rounds and possibly coast. He prefers Magomedov pre-fight but suggests live betting Oleksiejczuk if he survives the first.

"I think like pre-fight flop I got to go with the guy that I think is going to be winning early and might be able to continue it and that's a boost from a live betting perspective."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The Guru picks Oleksiejczuk, citing his pressure, boxing, and takedown defense. He believes Oleksiejczuk will mitigate Magomedov's kicks by moving forward and land in exchanges. He expects a finish, possibly in the first round.

"I'm going to go with Michał Oleksiejczuk to get the job done though."
LOSS vs Joe Pyfer
Submission R2 1:46 · UFC 320 · Oct 04, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 11 of 12 91% 18 of 21 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:36
Joe Pyfer 1 6 of 10 60% 13 of 18 0 of 4 0% 2 0 2:16
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 11 of 12 91% 16 of 19 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:36
Joe Pyfer 0 1 of 3 33% 2 of 5 0 of 4 0% 0 0 0:44
2 Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 0 of 0 --- 2 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Joe Pyfer 1 5 of 7 71% 11 of 13 0 of 0 --- 2 0 1:32
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Abusupiyan Magomedov 11 of 12 91% 6 of 7 5 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 4 0 of 0 8 of 8
Joe Pyfer 6 of 10 60% 6 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 3 of 6 0 of 0 3 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Abusupiyan Magomedov 11 of 12 91% 6 of 7 5 of 5 0 of 0 3 of 4 0 of 0 8 of 8
Joe Pyfer 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Joe Pyfer 5 of 7 71% 5 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 3 of 4
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pyfer (-238), Magomedov (+195)

Round 1
The prelims ended with a middleweight striker’s delight, and it will begin with one as well. Sporting an even finish rate of 75%, Magomedov (28-6-1, 4-2 UFC) can threaten on the feet but is not a slouch on the ground. On the other hand, “Bodybagz” Pyfer (14-3, 5-1 UFC) wants to put him in a body bag. Referee Chris Tognoni—and not Cobra Kai teammate Tommy—will be officiating this contest, so sweeping the leg will be optional. Gloves are touched.
The chants for “U.S.A.” are out early, although Pyfer would prefer to fight at a safe distance. Nothing is thrown for over 30 seconds, and Pyfer suddenly springs into action by shooting for a single. He succeeds in bullying the German to the wall, holding him there until he hunts for a trip. Magomedov uses the momentum against him and drags Pyfer to the mat, where he unloads with a pair of explosive elbows. Magomedov embraces smothers Pyfer while Pyfer holds onto him to prevent much offense coming, and Pyfer sets up a triangle choke that Magomedov walks through. Magomedov dings Pyfer with a power punch, and he climbs on Pyfer’s back when Pyfer stands.
Pyfer tries to use the wall to scrape his foe off, but Magomedov lifts him and slams him down with sheer power. In a north-south position, Magomedov wrangles his foe’s left arm for a kimura while simultaneously isolating the neck with a leg-scissor choke. Pyfer’s face turns a shade of red, but Magomedov abandons it so he can get back to controlling Pyfer. Pyfer looks to kick off with butterfly hooks, and Magomedov lets him reverse-somersault so he can defend a single. Pyfer tries and fails to drag the fight down, and he rips body shots from up close when clinched. Magomedov shoves him aside and splits, and he plants a front kick on the chest. Magomedov reaches with a sharp left hand, and Pyfer unloads a power right that Magomedov shakes his head at. Pyfer walks Magomedov down and slugs him with one more punch before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2
Pyfer starts off his corner aggressive as can be, and he slings two big punches at his opponent. “Bodybagz” takes Magomedov off his feet with his rampaging two-hook offense, and he willingly follows the fight down after landing so he can get on top and do some damage. When Pyfer relocates to full mount, he lashes out with a vicious elbow that slashes open a cut on Magomedov’s forehead, and then shifts to the side while wrapping up an arm-triangle choke. Magomedov sits up to get out of the choke, and Pyfer follows him and sets up the body triangle. Pyfer wraps up the rear-naked choke grip on top of Magomedov’s chin, and he squeezes with all his might. Rather than trying to slip the forearm under the jaw, he just keeps crushing the face. Magomedov tries to tough it out until he cannot withstand the pain any longer, and the face crank submission has once again succeeded in the Octagon.

The Official Result
Joe Pyfer def. Abusupiyan Magomedov R2 1:44 via Submission (Face Crank)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 28, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Joe Pyfer

Angelo picks Joe Pyfer despite his negative attitude, believing Pyfer is better than Abusupiyan Magomedov everywhere: striking, wrestling, and grappling. He notes both fighters fade, but Pyfer hits harder and has better skills. He thinks the odds are a discount because of Pyfer's personality, but he is confident in the pick.

"I got to pick him. And I'm like super confident here. I think these odds are a discount because Joe Piper is everything Aboose thinks he is, but a little better."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 2, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Joe Pyfer

Big Brady is confident in Joe Pyfer, noting his power from the Kelvin Gastelum fight where he dropped Gastelum multiple times. He believes Abusupiyan Magomedov gets hurt easily and has poor cardio. He thinks Pyfer's power will lead to a first-round knockout.

Joe Pyfer by first round KO.
"Give me Joe Pyer. Give me Joe Piper by first round KO."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Oct 2, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Connor picks Magomedov out of spite for Pyfer, but also because he believes Magomedov is the smarter pick for a decision win. He notes that Magomedov's game is shallow but consistent, and if Pyfer doesn't finish early, Magomedov's ability to frustrate with long-range strikes and takedowns will likely lead to a win. Connor considers it a coin flip but leans toward Magomedov's consistency.

"I just decided I'm going to pick Obus Magomedov out of a rapidly grown supply of spite for Joe Piper."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 4, 2025 (fight day)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Magomedov is seen as overlooked and a better all-around fighter on paper. If he survives Pyfer's early power, his striking and grappling should lead to a decision win.

"I believe that Magomedov is being overlooked in this matchup. On paper, I think he's a better all-around fighter... Look for Magomedov to grind this fight out and win it on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 1, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Joe Pyfer

The MMA Guru picks Joe Pyfer, despite concerns about his calf kick defense. He notes Abus Magomedov's poor cardio and tendency to get sloppy, while Pyfer's conditioning and power should prevail. He predicts a second-round KO.

second-round KO
"I'm going to go with Joe Pyfer to get this one by second round KO."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Oct 2, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Joe Pyfer

Zane picks Pyfer but with hesitation, acknowledging that Pyfer's first-round dynamism could lead to a quick finish. However, he notes that if Pyfer doesn't finish early, he tends to run out of ideas and become discouraged, while Magomedov is more consistent and can frustrate him over three rounds. Zane considers it a coin flip but sticks with Pyfer due to his explosive potential.

"I came in ready to pick Piper just for that first round dynamism. So I'm going to stick with it."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates · Apr 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michel Pereira 0 73 of 168 43% 74 of 169 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 78 of 134 58% 83 of 140 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michel Pereira 0 7 of 20 35% 7 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 18 of 31 58% 23 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:52
2 Michel Pereira 0 25 of 58 43% 26 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:11
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 24 of 46 52% 24 of 46 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:09
3 Michel Pereira 0 41 of 90 45% 41 of 90 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 36 of 57 63% 36 of 57 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michel Pereira 73 of 168 43% 27 of 90 27 of 50 19 of 28 72 of 166 1 of 2 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 78 of 134 58% 53 of 99 19 of 29 6 of 6 72 of 128 3 of 3 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michel Pereira 7 of 20 35% 0 of 4 4 of 9 3 of 7 7 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 18 of 31 58% 10 of 23 5 of 5 3 of 3 13 of 26 2 of 2 3 of 3
2 Michel Pereira 25 of 58 43% 7 of 28 8 of 17 10 of 13 25 of 58 0 of 0 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 24 of 46 52% 14 of 30 8 of 14 2 of 2 24 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Michel Pereira 41 of 90 45% 20 of 58 15 of 24 6 of 8 40 of 88 1 of 2 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 36 of 57 63% 29 of 46 6 of 10 1 of 1 35 of 56 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Michel Pereira
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-155), Magomedov (+130)

Round 1
This next middleweight affair could shape up to be a wild one before the dust settles. While he has scaled back on some of the antics that cost him wins in the past, Pereira (31-12, 2 NC; 9-3 UFC) is still unafraid to hit a back flip mid-fight even if landing on opponent with stomping feet is illegal. Who needs rules in a sport like this. Russian-born German knockout artist Magomedov (27-6-1, 3-2 UFC) is the much more composed of the two, but is no less dangerous. Referee Nick Berens will need to be on high alert until the conclusion of the bout, one that kicks off with a glove touch. Magomedov stabs out with a long kick to start things off, and Berens warns both fighters for outstretched fingers…and they don’t listen. Magomedov pitches out a front kick that goes wide, and Pereira swipes at his foe’s midsection only to be out of range. Pereira does get in with a left hand, and he is out of range before a counter finds him. Pereira jabs the body with a kick and has his guard raised to block an overhand right, and Magomedov puts on heavy pressure while leading with his front kick. Magomedov kicks the side with the same foot, and he lunges in behind two right hands that brush the Brazilian’s beard. Magomedov nails Pereira with a left hand, who stumbles and needs a second to gather his thoughts. Magomedov is not giving him that second, instead blasting “Demolidor” with a head kick. Pereira takes it somehow and rebounds to jab the body, but his legs might not be fully beneath him yet. Pereira gets backed to the fence, and he ducks an overhand right but falls to his back when Magomedov easily takes him down. Magomedov unloads with left hands and an elbow, and Pereira explodes to his feet. Magomedov hangs on from behind like an angry seatbelt, smacking Pereira upside the head until he climbs on the back and wraps his hooks around the waist. Magomedov releases the grip when he cannot locate the body triangle, and Pereira recognizes this is his moment to move and he moves with a spinning back elbow. Magomedov ignores it and loads up with two overhand rights, unconcerned about anything aimed his direction. Pereira stays on his bike, avoiding exchanges when he can while not committing to much on his own side. He gets off one front kick, and Magomedov strikes back with a right hand and a head kick to end the tepid round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2
The middleweights bump fists to get going again, and Pereira does land first this time in the form of a low kick. He gets right back on his bike, entirely uncharacteristic for him as he typically presents far more aggressively. Pereira pulls back when thinking about throwing punches, and he is stuck in first gear while Magomedov can do anything. Magomedov jabs the body with his foot—it is not that Magomedov is putting a beating on Pereira, but he is nullifying the Brazilian to a surprising degree. Magomedov eats a knee coming in when shooting for a takedown, and Pereira tosses him aside and strikes with a single front kick. Magomedov gets back to chasing Pereira around, wrapping a right hand around the guard and ignoring a jab to the body coming his way. Pereira’s two punches land harmlessly on the chin, and he barely manages to avoid a booming uppercut and ties Magomedov up in a clinch. When Magomedov is going to use it against him, Pereira releases his grip and backs away. Pereira uses alternating front kicks to stay away, mixing in a few jabs. The crowd is not overly amused by the lack of engagement from the two, with Magomedov winning but not blowing him out of the water. The pace is slow and non-threatening, with Pereira fighting like someone afraid to run out of gas. Unfortunately for him, fighting while backing away is tiring as well. Pereira jabs a few times, and when he gets pushed back with a front kick, he meets Magomedov with the same strike. Pereira sticks out punches, and his front kick lands on the body. Even with volume now on his side, power is minimal and the lack of effective offense disappoints those in attendance and watching live. The less-than-stellar round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 3
The two men hug to start the last round, and the crowd showers them in boos. They answer the call with a simultaneous punch, and Magomedov recovers first and goes to the head and body with a few more punches. Pereira picks things up a little, swinging harder and actually putting some mustard in his fists. Pereira rips a left to the body, and Magomedov kicks his front leg in response. Pereira goes to the body again, and the long jab from Magomedov connects cleanly. Pereira tosses out a high kick that lightly bumps into the shoulder, and his left hooks are out of range. The fans, so frustrated with the match thus far, start taking out their phones and light up their screens while waving them around. Little changes inside the Octagon when they do this, other than a hard right hand and a knee to the body from Pereira. Magomedov drops down for a level change, and Pereira times a knee on the chin that is questionably legal as to whether a knee was down. It is ultimately immaterial, and the chanting made famous from Atlanta Braves fans and coopted by the Kansas City Chiefs faithful serenades everyone listening. Magomedov is irritated by the body work that Pereira has done this round, and he wings a pair of right hands that shake Pereira up. Pereira takes time to recover, and Magomedov allows him to do this as he appears to not have enough in the tank to do more. When Pereira jams a knee to his midsection, Magomedov suddenly looks totally out of steam. Magomedov’s kicks and punches are labored, with Pereira’s much heavier. Magomedov shoots from afar for a takedown with a minute to go, and Pereira pulls him back to his feet so he can score a knee. The Russian nails Pereira with a left hook, and Pereira wobbles but does not go down. Magomedov smacks Pereira upside the head with clean left hands, and Pereira is knocked around but throws back. With seconds to go, Pereira ramps things up, but it is far too late for anything to come from it. The huge bummer of a 15-minute slog is now in the books, and it is time to move on to the next fight.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)

The Official Result
Abusupiyan Magomedov def. Michel Pereira via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo picks Michel Pereira, believing his athleticism and power will overwhelm Abusupiyan Magomedov. He notes that Abus is hittable and Pereira hits hard, and that Pereira should replicate Bruno Ferreira's success but without letting up. He is more confident now than in his initial breakdown, though he cautions about Pereira's cardio.

Odds tightening; may hold off if it goes to even money
"Michelle should beat the [__] out of this guy."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Big Brady picks Michel Pereira, dismissing his loss to Anthony Hernandez as irrelevant since Hernandez would do the same to Magomedov. He criticizes Magomedov's poor cardio and durability, noting he slows down after the first round. He expects Pereira to win by knockout, possibly in the second round.

second round knockout
"Give me Michelle Pereira to get back on track. I'll take Pereira to win this fight. I'll say he wins it by knockout. I'll say second round knockout for Michelle Pereira."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Connor picks Pereira because he is a much more evolved and athletic fighter compared to Magomedov, who has a limited game based on a one-two and top control. Pereira has shown growth and patience, and his speed and power will be too much for Magomedov's robotic striking. Connor notes that Magomedov's wins have aged poorly and he has been exposed by any decent fighter.

"Michelle Padera is an actually very good fighter who has learned a lot and evolved a lot over time, an incredible athlete."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 25, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Michel Pereira

The host likes Pereira's explosivity, athleticism, and power to shut down Magomedov's grappling, and expects Pereira to force a break and get a second or third round TKO.

TKO in round 2 or 3
"I think his explosivity, athleticism, and power will shut down the grappling game of Momedov... I think Pereira will force him to break eventually getting that second or third round TKO."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

The MMA Guru picks Abusupiyan Magomedov as an underdog. He criticizes Pereira's cardio and lack of MMA training, saying he gasses if he doesn't finish early. He notes Magomedov's improvements in grappling and cardio, and his reach advantage. He expects Magomedov to weather Pereira's early storm and win a decision, possibly chopping up Pereira's leg.

"I'm going with Abbas Magamemedov as an underdog. I think Abbas Magdov got a ton of [__] for not looking good against Strickland and also gassing out in that fight. But since then he has shown improvements."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Apr 24, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Zane picks Pereira, emphasizing that Magomedov's game is one-dimensional and relies on size and pressure. Once a fighter is good enough to test him, Magomedov falls apart. Pereira has the speed and skill to counter Magomedov's takedowns and striking. Zane also notes that Magomedov's losses have aged well but his wins have not, and he is essentially a 'quadruple A' fighter.

"I trust put it at this point to come out the other side of a rough start or whatever, and there's not that much depth to Maga Madoff's game at all."
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R3 3:14 · UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway · Oct 26, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 26 of 59 44% 45 of 81 4 of 8 50% 1 0 3:36
Brunno Ferreira 0 29 of 71 40% 36 of 83 0 of 0 --- 1 1 0:13
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 14 of 29 48% 14 of 29 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Brunno Ferreira 0 2 of 12 16% 2 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 8 of 23 34% 21 of 37 2 of 5 40% 0 0 2:14
Brunno Ferreira 0 20 of 42 47% 22 of 47 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:06
3 Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 4 of 7 57% 10 of 15 2 of 3 66% 1 0 1:22
Brunno Ferreira 0 7 of 17 41% 12 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Abusupiyan Magomedov 26 of 59 44% 10 of 40 8 of 11 8 of 8 26 of 57 0 of 0 0 of 2
Brunno Ferreira 29 of 71 40% 20 of 59 9 of 12 0 of 0 26 of 65 1 of 2 2 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Abusupiyan Magomedov 14 of 29 48% 4 of 17 5 of 7 5 of 5 14 of 29 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brunno Ferreira 2 of 12 16% 0 of 8 2 of 4 0 of 0 2 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Abusupiyan Magomedov 8 of 23 34% 3 of 18 2 of 2 3 of 3 8 of 21 0 of 0 0 of 2
Brunno Ferreira 20 of 42 47% 16 of 38 4 of 4 0 of 0 18 of 37 0 of 1 2 of 4
3 Abusupiyan Magomedov 4 of 7 57% 3 of 5 1 of 2 0 of 0 4 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Brunno Ferreira 7 of 17 41% 4 of 13 3 of 4 0 of 0 6 of 16 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Brunno Ferreira vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-142), Ferreira (+120)

Round 1
Batten down the hatches, because an all-offense middleweight clash is about to light up the Etihad Arena for the next few minutes or less. Referee Marc Goddard is prepped and ready for the oncoming insanity. Magomedov (26-6-1, 2-2 UFC), who has seen his fair share of ups and downs in the Octagon thus far, comes to blows with Brazilian slugger Ferreira (12-1, 3-1 UFC). The over/under of 1.5 rounds is currently an even betting line, which mean that prognosticators expect some violence here. Before they swing for the fences, they touch ‘em up first. Magomedov tosses out a jumping front kick, and the two keep their safe range from one another for some time. Magomedov remains in the center of the cage, walking Ferreira down and measuring out a jab that is not there. Magomedov swings a left hook that catches the Brazilian on the chin, and “The Hulk” wears it well. Magomedov hammers the front leg with a kick, and Ferreira changes stances and tosses out a front kick. When Ferreira charges, Magomedov uses his reach advantage to pop his foe with a left hand. Magomedov gets off another chopping kick that is partially checked, and he jabs the chest with the ball of his foot. Ferreira tries his own front kick, and is otherwise relatively offensively muted. Magomedov has a head kick blocked, and he parries a punch and narrowly evades two looping hooks. Magomedov skims the side of the head with a kick, and he jabs and prods with a leg kick. Ferreira’s responding teep kick comes up short, unable to find his distance. Magomedov snaps out a front kick and dodges a counter to walk his man down. Magomedov gets away with a naked leg kick as a right hand counter clips him, and he strings a few punches together to get the Brazilian back. Magomedov jabs the body and blocks a Ferreira blitz, and the disappointing round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2
The middleweights bump fists to start the second round. Magomedov gets on his bike, peppering with jabs, and Ferreira rushes after him preparing to check kicks and reaching out punches. Ferreira marches Magomedov down with two hooks, landing at least one. Magomedov walks the Brazilian down and pushes him back with a jab, and Ferreira darts at him with two winging strikes. Ferreira checks a kick and counters a jab with two punches, and two more come to catch Magomedov standing still. Ferreira pitches out a jumping switch kick as he surges forward, far different than the first round as he may have already matched last round’s strike attempt total just 90 seconds in. Ferreira blasts his man in the face with a right hand, and Magomedov ducks down directly into a head kick that shakes him down to his core. Magomedov desperately pursues a takedown, falling directly into a guillotine choke from the Brazilian. The Russian-born competitor shakes out the cobwebs and pulls his neck out of the choke, working his way around to gain top position, sneak around to take the back, and start fishing for things. Ferreira explodes out of it and walks Magomedov down, hurling heavy leather at him. Magomedov’s legs may not be fully beneath him, and Ferreira opens up with a vicious body kick and a jumping front kick. Ferreira splits the guard with a left hand, and he stops a takedown in its tracks. When Magomedov gets up, he just dodges a left hand in time, but Ferreira reaches him with a fierce left hand. “The Hulk” smashes his man in the face with power strikes, and he spins with an elbow that gives up his back. Magomedov uses the moment to tackle Ferreira to the mat from behind, and Ferreira stands back up despite Magomedov on his back. Magomedov rolls him back down to the floor, and he assumes top position to slow the Brazilian down. Magomedov shifts to half guard to maintain control, where he grinds out the remainder of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira

Round 3
There is a clap of hands to commence the final round, marking the first time that “The Hulk” has fought beyond the 10-minute mark. Ferreira appears fresh as a daisy, spearing his opponent with a power punch. Ferreira lunges forward to throw out two more, and he dips down to defend a faked takedown and eats a stunning left hand on the jaw. Ferreira raises his arms to ask Magomedov to bring it on, and Magomedov shrugs at him back. Ferreira plods forward, jabbing the body with a kick and pounding a few punches off the guard. Magomedov intercepts his advancing foe with an uppercut, and Ferreira lets his hands fly with two punches and a spinning strike. The spin works to his disadvantage, as “Abus” times an easy takedown that plants the Brazilian flat on his back. Magomedov moves into half guard, and Ferreira scrambles and gives his back up. Magomedov slips a hook in from behind, and he starts looking for a choke before getting the other in. This allows “The Hulk” to escape, and Magomedov looks at the clock and rushes at his opponent to tackle him down to the floor courtesy of a clean double. Ferreira hits his back and hacks with elbows to the back of the head, and he is warned loudly by Goddard.
Magomedov ignores the strikes and steps over to mount and then the side, simultaneously securing an arm-triangle choke. The Russian by way of Germany locks the submission down and imposes his full body weight, and it is just a matter of time with Ferreira trapped in a precarious position. “The Hulk” surrenders before his lights go out,
and Magomedov has now handed Ferreira his first career submission defeat.

The Official Result
Abusupiyan Magomedov def. Brunno Ferreira R3 3:14 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 20, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Angelo picks Brunno Ferreira with low confidence. He questions whether Abusupiyan Magomedov is good or not, noting his weak chin and poor performances. He thinks Ferreira's only path is an early finish, but with new gloves, finishes are less reliable. He will watch the line movement for better value on Ferreira as the underdog.

Watching line movement tracker for better value on Ferreira as the dog.
"Brunno f is going to be the pick low confidence I'm going to be watching the line movement tracker keeping an eye on it see if I can get even better value."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Big Brady picks Magomedov, citing his size, reach advantage, and wrestling. He is concerned about Ferreira's cardio, noting he looked like he was slowing down in the first round against Dustin Stoltzfus. He believes Magomedov can mix in takedowns and finish Ferreira in the second round by submission.

second round submission
"I'll say abua met off to win this fight I'll take him to win this fight by second round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Cody picks Abusupiyan Magomedov, believing his wrestling and length will be key. He notes that Ferreira has poor takedown defense and that Magomedov can neutralize his power by taking him down. Cody is not highly confident due to Magomedov's cardio issues but thinks he can grind out a win.

"I'm going to take a small play on him"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Connor picks Magomedov, noting that Ferreira is much smaller and his game is shallow. He compares Ferreira to a portion of Gilbert Burns' striking without the other tools. Magomedov's size and reach will allow him to control the fight, and Ferreira is not suited for fighting off his back.

"I was thinking he's like, uh, he's like a portion of Gilbert Burns is striking without any of the other stuff to back it up. Yeah. Short little stocky power puncher who like, yeah, he just doesn't have anything else …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Daniel Vreeland picks Magomedov, arguing that he is more technical on the feet and has a strong wrestling game. He notes that Magomedov's losses are to top middleweights like Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland, and that Ferreira's only path is a KO. Vreeland expects Magomedov to take Ferreira down repeatedly and possibly submit him.

"Abus Mega Med off uh definitely my Play Here wouldn't shock me if he subbed him"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Lean picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Daniel Vreeland picks Brunno Ferreira to win by first-round knockout, citing Ferreira's devastating power and Magomedov's history of being knocked out. He acknowledges that if the fight goes to decision, Magomedov likely wins, but believes Ferreira's early finishing upside is worth the pick. Vreeland is not confident and notes the risk of Ferreira fading if he doesn't get the finish.

first-round knockout
"I'm gonna go with Bruno to come out here and upset him via starch again"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Lean picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

Jeff Fox is taking Ferreira, swayed by his recent win over Warley Alves. He believes Ferreira can land a knockout if he can keep the fight standing, though he acknowledges Magomedov's wrestling threat. Fox's pick is less confident and seems to be a contrarian choice.

"I'm taking F especially if he wants to stri with him then I I will take the hul here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Magomedov has the overall advantage with his ability to mix in grappling and his reach and length. He should counter Ferreira's blitzing approach and eventually put him away by knockout, similar to what Nurlan Ruziboev did to Toofan.

Magomedov wins by knockout
"look for magov to win this fight by knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Oct 23, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Paul picks Magomedov, citing his superior wrestling and cleaner striking. He notes that Ferreira is undersized for middleweight and has been taken down easily. Paul believes Magomedov can implement a wrestling-heavy game plan and win by decision or late finish. He is not highly confident.

"I think I'm going to go with a boost"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Oct 22, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Brunno Ferreira

The Guru leans toward Brunno Ferreira, trusting his doggedness and finishing instincts in a firefight. He notes that Abusupiyan Magomedov may not have the same grit and could fade. He acknowledges both are capable of finishing each other but believes Ferreira will push when the going gets tough. The Guru also comments that Magomedov is 'too westernized' and 'soy'.

"I'm going to go with Brunno Ferreira because in my mind I'm thinking if it all goes good for either of them each of them are going to have a chance to win."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 25, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Zane picks Magomedov because of his significant size and reach advantage over Ferreira. He notes that Ferreira's game is shallow and he is a short, stocky power puncher with no other tools to control a fight. Magomedov can use his reach to land one-twos and takedowns, and Ferreira's only chance is an early knockout, but Magomedov has speed and size.

"I think it could be wider than that. I know Avus is a bit of a glass cannon and you know, he's been shown up by fighters like Kyle Baha'o and Sean Strickland and even Lewis Taylor at one point, …"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 26, 2024 (fight day)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Zane picked Magomedov, noting that Ferreira has great power but the rest of his game doesn't exist. He described Magomedov's game as an inch deep and a mile wide, able to do enough to stay in a fight if his opponent can't take over in any one area. Zane pointed out that Ferreira lacks consistency and a plan, so Magomedov was able to climb back and get the win.

"fajeta is he's got great power but the rest of his game just doesn't exist"
WIN vs Warlley Alves
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–26) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy · May 18, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 22 of 44 50% 98 of 168 6 of 7 85% 0 0 11:56
Warlley Alves 0 16 of 38 42% 17 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:37
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 9 of 20 45% 30 of 57 3 of 3 100% 0 0 3:30
Warlley Alves 0 8 of 24 33% 8 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
2 Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 8 of 15 53% 48 of 76 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:15
Warlley Alves 0 3 of 7 42% 3 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
3 Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 5 of 9 55% 20 of 35 2 of 3 66% 0 0 4:11
Warlley Alves 0 5 of 7 71% 6 of 8 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Abusupiyan Magomedov 22 of 44 50% 15 of 32 7 of 11 0 of 1 9 of 27 2 of 2 11 of 15
Warlley Alves 16 of 38 42% 7 of 26 4 of 4 5 of 8 16 of 37 0 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Abusupiyan Magomedov 9 of 20 45% 5 of 13 4 of 6 0 of 1 5 of 15 2 of 2 2 of 3
Warlley Alves 8 of 24 33% 4 of 17 3 of 3 1 of 4 8 of 23 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Abusupiyan Magomedov 8 of 15 53% 8 of 14 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 7 of 10
Warlley Alves 3 of 7 42% 1 of 5 0 of 0 2 of 2 3 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Abusupiyan Magomedov 5 of 9 55% 2 of 5 3 of 4 0 of 0 3 of 7 0 of 0 2 of 2
Warlley Alves 5 of 7 71% 2 of 4 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 7 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Warlley Alves
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gatto (-340), Vidal (+270)

Round 1
Two middleweights with finish rates over 70% collide in this next showing. The momentum is not particularly great for these two fighters, as Magomedov (25-6-1, 1-2 UFC) has dropped two in a row albeit to elite competition, while Alves (14-7, 8-7 UFC) is on a three-fight skid with his last victory in 2021. One man’s fortunes will turn around, barring something unusual, and referee Dan Miragliotta will be the first to know. There is a quick glove touch, and Magomedov walks forward, chambering his rear leg. Magomedov leans in, and Alves lets his hands fly and knocks Magomedov from one side of the cage to the other. Alves gives chase, and Magomedov drags him down to the floor. Alves stands up, and then lowers himself to a knee to prevent from taking knees to the dome. Alves powers his way back upright again, and Magomedov knees him in the side. Alves fights his way out of the tie-up, and he escapes a looping left hand. Alves surges into action, leaping at the Russian with a knee. Magomedov bounces off the cage wall and pushes out a front kick, and the two get sucked into a vicious brawl where Magomedov lands flush with two left hands that rock Alves. Alves backs off, and a jab from Magomedov hurts him a bit more. Alves scoots away, hopping on one foot to the other to shake out any cobwebs, and he throws so hard that he spins around. Magomedov takes advantage of this by dragging Alves down from behind, and he allows Alves to spin so he can climb into half guard and drop down an elbow. Alves bucks and kicks, sitting up and turning to his side. Magomedov pushes Alves back over and elbows him in the face, and he thumps up the side a few times with his fist for good measure. Alves works his way back to the wall, and Magomedov steps into three-quarter mount to pin Alves down and do some damage. Alves still manages to sit up, and Magomedov is on top of him smacking him with his free right hand. Alves muscles his way back up to his feet and goes after Magomedov, firing off a body kick and a right hand to the same target. Magomedov shoots for a takedown, and Alves immediately defends with a guillotine choke. Magomedov tosses the submission aside and assumes top position, but the Brazilian explodes to get into a better position. A scramble results in a north-south take for Magomedov, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2
The middleweights clap hands to engage, and Magomedov is once more the aggressor as he flirts with a front kick. Alves kicks out his front leg and swarms with flailing fists, and he closes the distance and bullies Magomedov to the wall with a clinch. Magomedov works his way into a takedown effort, dragging Alves to the floor and setting up an arm-triangle choke in a hurry. Alves turns to the proper side and back to defend it, and Magomedov does not mind as he resides in half guard landing punches. Magomedov claims full mount with ease, flattening Alves out and smacking him from both sides of the head. Magomedov tries for another arm-triangle choke, and Alves explodes to break up the setup. Alves sits up, and he looks for a sweep but cannot get the Russian off of him. Magomedov returns to full mount as Alves bucks and twists, and he slashes Alves with an elbow that rips his cheek wide open. Blood pools in Alves’ eyes as he quickly transforms into a 1980s horror movie and Magomedov intentionally moves back to half guard to keep the Brazilian pinned. Alves tries to time bursts of energy to escape, sitting up and shifting in a certain way, even going after a guillotine, but Magomedov laughs it off and holds him down, bludgeoning the veteran to the bell. Alves paws at his face to assess the damage, and appears deflated at how that last round transpired.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 3
The cutperson did great work between rounds, as the inch-wide cut on Alves’ cheek is not leaking as the last round begins. Alves offers a glove touch and decides to go after a hug instead, and Magomedov reluctantly obliges him. When they start fighting, Magomedov sends Alves flying with a front kick. Alves recovers and surges into action, swinging his way into action and blasting Magomedov in the body. Magomedov bends over, possibly hurt from the shin to the liver, and he shoots for a takedown that he lands with relative ease. Magomedov takes the back, and he transitions into an arm-triangle choke. Alves escapes at the right moment to get up, only for Magomedov to hit a clean mat return with a double to put Alves back on his seat. Alves swings down an elbow to the side of the head, and he keeps his gaze trained on the big screen to assess his position and observe how much time is on the clock—it reads about 2:45 as he lingers on it, despite Magomedov striking him every so often. Magomedov climbs into mount again, and Alves bucks and rolls over, only to give up his back. Magomedov wraps one arm around the jaw of his opponent for a possible rear-naked choke or arm-triangle setup, and when Alves turns, he finds himself having to fight off a rear-naked choke after all. Magomedov lets it go when Alves shifts his hips, and he follows a fatiguing Alves around to remain on top and in mount. Magomedov sits up and drills the Brazilian with a merciless elbow, and Alves sits there for a moment to get his bearings after the concussive blow. Alves sits up and snatches up a desperation guillotine choke, and Magomedov is not remotely concerned about the choke. The Russian pops his head out, and fight ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)

The Official Result
Abusupiyan Magomedov def. Warlley Alves via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 12, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo believes Abusupiyan Magomedov is the better striker with wrestling as a backup, and that Warlley Alves' best days are behind him. He notes that Alves has power and BJJ but is not as skilled as Magomedov's previous opponents. He thinks Magomedov is worth his -240 price tag and may be decent value, but warns that Alves is always dangerous with his power.

"I do think aboose is actually worth his minus 240% price tag and is probably decent value at this point"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Cody acknowledges Magomedov's cardio issues but sees this as a perfect bounceback fight. He notes Alves has lost as a favorite multiple times and has poor cardio himself. Magomedov has world-class skills and looked great against Sean Strickland in the first round. Cody believes Magomedov's wrestling and striking will be enough to outwork Alves, who is not a natural middleweight.

"Give me a boost to get the job done and get back on track."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Warlley Alves

Magomedov is dangerous early but slows down, as seen in his last fight. Alves is a nasty kicker with veteran experience who can be competitive in deeper waters. If Alves survives the early onslaught, he can open up finishing opportunities in the second or third round by knockout or submission. The line is too wide, making Alves worth a shot.

Inside the distance by knockout or submission for Alves.
"I'm going to lean with Alvis here and I think that he'll provide enough resistance to magov to cause magov to slow down and that could open up some finishing opportunities for Alves in the second or third round by …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 15, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Paul notes Alves is a career welterweight moving up, and his cardio has always been suspect. He believes Magomedov's wrestling and striking will be too much, especially if he manages his cardio better than in previous fights. Paul expects Magomedov to catch Alves late in the first or second round.

"Abis seems like the rifle favorite in my opinion."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 14, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

The MMA Guru picks Abusupiyan Magomedov to win by TKO over Warlley Alves. He acknowledges Magomedov's recent struggles but believes his size, reach, and power will be too much for Alves, who is coming off a KO loss. He notes that Alves tends to kick a lot and may engage in a kicking battle, which favors Magomedov. He expects a first-round TKO.

TKO
"I'm going to go with abis magedov winning this fight by TKO"
LOSS vs Caio Borralho
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis · Nov 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Caio Borralho 1 51 of 103 49% 70 of 126 0 of 1 0% 0 0 2:17
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 38 of 107 35% 39 of 110 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Caio Borralho 0 11 of 25 44% 11 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 7 of 33 21% 7 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Caio Borralho 0 21 of 42 50% 21 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 20 of 49 40% 20 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Caio Borralho 1 19 of 36 52% 38 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:17
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 11 of 25 44% 12 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Caio Borralho 51 of 103 49% 33 of 73 11 of 15 7 of 15 50 of 102 0 of 0 1 of 1
Abusupiyan Magomedov 38 of 107 35% 19 of 74 14 of 24 5 of 9 38 of 107 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Caio Borralho 11 of 25 44% 5 of 15 1 of 1 5 of 9 11 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 7 of 33 21% 5 of 24 1 of 4 1 of 5 7 of 33 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Caio Borralho 21 of 42 50% 13 of 29 6 of 8 2 of 5 21 of 42 0 of 0 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 20 of 49 40% 8 of 33 9 of 13 3 of 3 20 of 49 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Caio Borralho 19 of 36 52% 15 of 29 4 of 6 0 of 1 18 of 35 0 of 0 1 of 1
Abusupiyan Magomedov 11 of 25 44% 6 of 17 4 of 7 1 of 1 11 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Caio Borralho vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Borralho (-265), Magomedov (+215)

Round 1
On the outside of the top 15 at middleweight looking in, surging Brazilian grappler Borralho (14-1, 1 NC; 4-0 UFC) may be one win away from getting a number next to his name. Coming off a loss to future champ Sean Strickland, Magomedov (25-5-1, 1-1 UFC) could surprise many if he pulls off the upset and ends Borralho’s 14-fight unbeaten streak. The third man in the cage is referee Marc Goddard, and the fighters bump fists and nod to one another before engaging. Magomedov switches stances and fakes numerous kicks initially, and Borralho leaps into action with an unorthodox stomp kick to the rear leg. Magomedov swipes out with a leg kick, and Borralho counters with one up high. Borralho darts forward with a jab, and he ducks when Magomedov is about to catch him with a right hand. Borralho pokes out another jab, and the crowd loudly starts chanting “Borralho.” He does not change his approach despite the deafening cheering, instead firing off a head kick and not finding the mark. Both men go for leg kicks, and jabs are traded as well, with neither committing to much of merit. Magomedov tries to corner his foe, and Borralho circles and bounces off the wall to escape a hefty right hand aimed at his mug. Magomedov checks a leg kick and reaches a right hand to the body, and he escapes before absorbing a counterattack. Borralho pushes off with a front kick, and he goes wide with a whipping kick. Borralho shoots in for a double, and Magomedov shuts it down and launches a kick that just misses the top of Borralho’s head. Some damage has appeared on the right side of Borralho’s face, with rapid reddening from the select few strikes that have landed cleanly. Borralho lunges with a one-two, and Magomedov pushes off with his fingers outstretched and jams his pointer finger into the eye socket. Goddard recognizes the foul immediately and pauses the action, and he brings the physician in to check on Borralho’s vision. The Brazilian wipes at his eye, and after a minute of recovery time and a little towel to wipe it out, Borralho is good to go. The two share an embrace to signal that there are no hard feelings, and they get back to it. Magomedov reintroduces himself with a sharp one-two, and Borralho slides out of the way of anything that could follow. The horn sounds to end this less-than-stellar round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2
Fists are bumped to start off Round 2, and Borralho strikes first with a kick to the ribs. Borralho jumps with a knee out, but Magomedov is well out of harm’s way. Magomedov crowds his man and slams his fists into Borralho’s midsection, and when Borralho looks to fire back, Magomedov hand-fights and a finger nearly sticks into the eye. Borralho powers out a solid jab, and he gets backed up to the wall and tries to spin to keep Magomedov honest. Borralho sees an opening when Magomedov is advancing, and he cracks the Russian with a right hand behind the ear. Magomedov signals that it was no big deal, and Borralho lands another. Magomedov gets away with another eye poke, despite Borralho’s protests, and Goddard tells Magomedov to keep his hands closed. They both fire off body kicks, and Magomedov adds a leg kick to his effort. Magomedov prods out a right hand, and Borralho misses with a counter. Magomedov steps in with a heavier right, and Borralho aims and fires multiple kicks in response that are largely blocked. Magomedov gets in a single front kick down the middle, and he dodges when Borralho jumps in the air. The power strikes are missing from both fighters, but a jab from Borralho gets Magomedov’s attention. Magomedov offers a high-five after getting tagged with a straight jab, and Borralho lets him crowd him so he can mark him up with a jump knee. Borralho picks up his volume a little after opening a cut beneath Magomedov’s left eye, but time expires before he can do much.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 3
The middleweights hug it out with five minutes to go, and then decide to be more violent than before. The two alternate kicks to the body and power hooks, and Borralho looks for his stiff jab. The jab has caused some damage on the nose and eye, and he aims that right hand at the red areas. Borralho follows a jab with a left hand down the middle, and his jab snaps the head back when he flicks it out again. Magomedov walks into the jab, and Borralho slaps him upside the head with an open hand. Magomedov comes up short with a one-two, and the two are largely relegated to potshotting one another. Another open-handed strike from Borralho lands behind the ear, and he lashes out with an elbow that hurts Magomedov. The Russian acknowledges he is hurt and takes a deep breath, and Borralho charges after him and spins with an elbow. Borralho pours on the pressure and takes Magomedov out of his game, targeting the body with strikes and connecting with a solid knee that buckles Magomedov’s legs. Magomedov slowly sits to his seat against the fence, and Borralho looks to finish the fight and complete the mighty comeback, but Magomedov is tough and surviving despite his fatigue and discomfort. Borralho lowers himself down to pursue a potential submission like an arm-triangle, and after multiple scrambles, Borralho takes the back and gets both hooks in. With one minute to spare, Borralho starts fishing for a rear-naked choke, and he simultaneously fastens the body triangle. The two start talking to one another, and they strangely clap hands while Borralho hangs on from behind. Borralho cannot muster a stoppage, and it remains to be seen if his third-round scorecard is enough to sway things in his favor or towards an even tally, depending on how the first two were scored. The lackluster encounter comes to a close, and the two are happy to be done with fighting one another.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Borralho (29-28 Magomedov)
J.L. Kirven scores the round: 10-8 Borralho (28-28)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Borralho (29-28 Magomedov)

The Official Result
Caio Borralho def. Abusupiyan Magomedov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 29, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Caio Borralho

Angelo gives a slight lean to Borralho, expecting him to wrestle and get takedowns. He acknowledges Magomedov is a powerful striker and that Borralho has looked vulnerable in fights. He does not bet on this fight, considering Borralho a potential parlay buster. He notes that if Magomedov was fraud checked by Strickland, then Borralho should win easily.

no bet, Borralho could be a parlay buster
"I am going to pick Kyo because he's at home he I think he can I can 100% count on him to try to wrestle"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 30, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Caio Borralho

Big Brady picks Caio Borralho to win by submission in the third round. He notes that Abus Magomedov has cardio issues, gassing after the first round against Sean Strickland. He believes Magomedov will win the first round but then fade, allowing Borralho to take over with takedowns and submissions. He also mentions Magomedov took the fight on short notice and is traveling to Brazil.

"give me Kyle B to win this fight I think he mixes in the takedowns where's on Abu medov and submits him in the third round there"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Caio Borralho

Daniel Levi picks Caio Borralho, citing his intelligent fighting style, elite Jiu-Jitsu under Damien Maia, and consistent performances. He notes that Borralho has shown holes in his game, such as cardio concerns and low striking output, but believes he is more reliable than Magomedov. Levi is concerned about Magomedov's performance against Sean Strickland, where he looked defeated and gassed quickly. He sees Magomedov as a wild card with a padded record, and while he considered a plus-money stab on Magomedov earlier, he ultimately leans Borralho.

"I'm gonna lean with Borralho but I don't have any interest in laying this price... I'm going to pick him to win this fight."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 4, 2023 (fight day)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

James thinks the line is too wide and likes Magomedov at +250. He argues that Borralho rarely covers -300 unless he can dominate with grappling, and he is not sure Borralho can do that against Magomedov. He notes that Borralho gasses and that Magomedov has looked good in fights, including against Dustin Stoltzfus. He believes if the fight stays on the feet, it will be close, and Magomedov has value as a big underdog.

James mentions that Borralho has a lot of decisions and doesn't push the pace, and he feels the over on total rounds should be favored. He also includes Magomedov in a degenerate parlay.
"I just think the line's wide to be honest... I like magam medov a lot in this spot."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Caio Borralho

The MMA Guru picks Caio Borralho over Abusupiyan Magomedov. He questions Magomedov's cardio and durability, noting he gassed badly against Sean Strickland. The Guru highlights Borralho's size (6'2"), strong double-leg entries, and improving striking. He believes Borralho's grappling will neutralize Magomedov's wild striking and lead to a finish or dominant decision. He also calls Magomedov a 'quitter'.

"I'm going to go with baralo here over Abus... abis magedov dangerous but quitter"
LOSS vs Sean Strickland
TKO (punches) R2 4:20 · UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov · Jul 01, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sean Strickland 1 81 of 188 43% 81 of 188 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 47 of 101 46% 47 of 101 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sean Strickland 0 11 of 48 22% 11 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 32 of 60 53% 32 of 60 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:23
2 Sean Strickland 1 70 of 140 50% 70 of 140 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Abusupiyan Magomedov 0 15 of 41 36% 15 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sean Strickland 81 of 188 43% 80 of 186 1 of 2 0 of 0 67 of 168 0 of 0 14 of 20
Abusupiyan Magomedov 47 of 101 46% 21 of 68 16 of 23 10 of 10 47 of 101 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sean Strickland 11 of 48 22% 10 of 46 1 of 2 0 of 0 11 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
Abusupiyan Magomedov 32 of 60 53% 10 of 34 13 of 17 9 of 9 32 of 60 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Sean Strickland 70 of 140 50% 70 of 140 0 of 0 0 of 0 56 of 120 0 of 0 14 of 20
Abusupiyan Magomedov 15 of 41 36% 11 of 34 3 of 6 1 of 1 15 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Sean Strickland vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Strickland (-145), Magomedov (+125)

Round 1
In the next 25 minutes or less, one of two outcomes could play out, barring something crazy. Either a top contender in Strickland (26-5, 13-5 UFC) holds the line against a surging up-and-comer, or the hard-charging Magomedov (25-4-1, 1-0 UFC) stamps his ticket towards the top echelon of the 185- pound division in a hurry. Referee Mark Smith will be on the final call of the night, and the potentially intriguing striking affair will begin with a glove touch. Magomedov pushes off early with two front kicks, and Strickland brushes his side and absorbs a low kick. Magomedov crashes forward with looping strikes, and as Strickland circles away and lines up a jab, Magomedov pushes off and a finger slides into his eye. Smith calls time, and after 30 seconds, he calls in the doctor. Strickland mentioned that he cannot see, and he takes the cloth from the physician and wipes out his eye. Strickland paces back and forth, trying to clear his vision, and he is struggling to see. After two minutes of attempted recover, Strickland mentions he has double vision. Strickland states the he is good to go at just under three minutes of time off, and the two clap hands on the reset. Magomedov is quick to loop at front kick at him, and several front kicks follow that in rapid succession. Magomedov digs a kick deep on the upper calf, and he takes a jab and aims a second leg kick to the same spot. Magomedov gives chase, throwing wide strikes, and Strickland’s partial Philly Shell guard is allowing him to block and parry the worst of the strikes. Magomedov slings a left hand that gets around the guard, and Strickland has to shake it out. Strickland prods out with a few jabs, and Magomedov’s volume and power is far higher. Strickland dodges and weaves the power punches, and he circles into a front kick to his midsection. Strickland peppers Magomedov with jabs, reddening the nose up, but Magomedov chambers and fires several harmful leg kicks. Magomedov connects with a straight left up top and one to the body, and he gets backed up with a stream of jabs. Strickland pressures his foe and leans when a right hand brushes past his hair, and he splits the guard with an increasingly steady diet of jabs. Strickland takes a head kick right on the jaw, and Magomedov shoots in for a double and manages to throw the defensively sound Strickland to his seat. As Magomedov attempts to take his back, Strickland scoots out and works back to his feet. Strickland follows one jab with a solid right hand, but he is generally relying on his jab. Strickland takes a clean left hand over the top, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2
The middleweights bump fists to start off the second frame, and Strickland lifts his leg up early to take the sting out of a leg kick. Magomedov swings for the fences with two hooks, and Strickland snipes Magomedov with a one-two. Strickland walks down Magomedov, who appears surprised by the blows, and he stumbles when he meets the cage behind him. Strickland drills Magomedov with another one-two, and he stalks after the Russian putting his punches together. Magomedov’s offense is limited to big counter punches, and Strickland senses his opening and lays into “Abus.” Strickland is in his groove, snapping out sharp jabs and follow-up punches, and Magomedov is reeling. Magomedov shells up, and Strickland accurately gets strikes around it and through it. Magomedov is fatiguing fast, his strikes telegraphed, while Strickland is not missing a beat as he lands with impunity. Strickland rattles Magomedov with a right hand, and he rolls through a counter that does not have nearly as much on it. Magomedov winces and gets backed up to the cage, and Strickland unleashes a vicious combination of punches to mess Magomedov up. Magomedov’s mouth wide open, he backs off while Strickland is comfortable to beat on him. Magomedov digs a pair of huge left hands to the body, but for every one he lands, Strickland gets off five or more.
Magomedov takes a long look at the clock, and he frowns as Strickland jabs his face off. Magomedov crumbles from the methodical bludgeoning, his knees giving way as he slumps his back to the cage. Strickland shoves him over to his side, and he force-feeds his fist into Magomedov’s face again and again without any signs of slowing. Magomedov is barely hanging on at this point, just taking damage, and Smith watches on cautiously until he decides that enough is enough and “Abus” is done.
After likely dropping the first round, Strickland came on strong, reminding the division that he is still a force to be reckoned with, and notching another win at the UFC Apex. A gracious Strickland thanks the fans and says he would not do what he does – or get paid – were it not for the fans. He then declares his love for the country, after calling for either a title shot or “meat” to fight. Whether Strickland ends up getting a crack at the belt after beating an unranked opponent in Magomedov, or he posts up at the Apex for another few headliners, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

The Result
Sean Strickland def. Abusupiyan Magomedov R2 4:20 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Jun 25, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo picks Abus Magomedov despite Strickland being the favorite. He notes Strickland's high volume and takedown defense but believes Abus's power and versatility will be key. He expects Abus to win early rounds but acknowledges Strickland's pressure could wear him down. He mentions a potential plus 5.5 point buy on the scorecard for Abus.

plus 5.5 points on judges scorecard (potential bet)
"Abus is going to be the pick here it's a low confidence pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

Big Brady picks Sean Strickland to win by decision. He notes Strickland has faced much better competition and has five-round experience, while Magomedov has only one UFC fight. He thinks Strickland is the better striker, especially as the fight goes on, and Magomedov's only path is a first-round knockout. He expects Strickland to survive the early rounds and take over later.

"I like uh Sean Strickland by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 28, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

Cody is shocked the line moved from -175 to -145, as Strickland is coming off a dominant five-round performance on short notice. He emphasizes Strickland's proven cardio, durability, and volume against elite competition, while Magomedov has only one UFC win over Dustin Stoltzfus and was knocked out by Lewis Taylor in PFL. Cody sees Magomedov's level of competition as far below Strickland's and believes the line is a trap but is willing to bet Strickland anyway.

Strickland over 80.5 significant strikes on PrizePicks
"I'm shocked man shot shock shocked so yeah I'm gonna bed and of course it's the main event so it gives me the Hedge out option if I needed to play it"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Jun 29, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

Daniel leans Strickland due to his proven volume and output over five rounds, citing his 200+ significant strikes against Imavov and 150+ against Cannonier. He acknowledges Magomedov's power and finishing ability, especially early, but sees Strickland's pace and durability as key. However, he is not confident enough to bet, calling it a 'dog or pass' situation because Magomedov's decision record (5-1) and power make the outcome uncertain. He notes Strickland's output increases in later rounds, which favors him if the fight goes the distance.

dog or pass situation; Strickland minus 170, Magomedov plus 145
"I'm gonna lean towards Strickland but I think these odds reflect a lean towards Strickland a nice little 170 so I don't know man I honestly think this might be a dog or pass situation"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Jun 27, 2023 (4 days before fight)

James discusses the matchup at length but does not make a definitive pick. He notes that Abusupiyan has stylistic advantages in wrestling that Strickland hasn't faced recently, and that Strickland's pressure and experience in five-round fights are factors. He says he needs to do more tape before coming to a prediction.

"I haven't have I don't have a massive decision yet I'm going to um tape it more cuz I have done a little bit of tape I'm going to tape it more and come up my prediction."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 28, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

Paul agrees with Cody, surprised by the line movement. He highlights Strickland's ability to go five rounds at 185, his volume (182 significant strikes in his last fight), and his ranking as #4 in the division. He notes Magomedov is not ranked in the top 15 and has fought mostly low-level competition. Paul believes Strickland's experience and cardio are decisive.

"I think I was surprised by the line on minus 175 the fact that it moved down to minus 145 I'm not quite understanding it"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 27, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Sean Strickland

The Guru picks Sean Strickland, reasoning that Abus Magomedov's only notable win is over Dustin Stoltzfus, which is not enough evidence. He notes Strickland's experience and pressure, and believes if Magomedov doesn't finish in round one, his finishing rate plummets. He predicts Strickland will wear him down and get a late-round TKO or decision, similar to his win over Nassourdine Imavov.

late round TKO or decision
"you have to pick Strickland you pick an Abus magnumedov if you are guessing what he will become"
KO (front kick and punches) R1 0:19 · UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa · Sep 03, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Abusupiyan Magomedov 1 7 of 7 100% 7 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Dustin Stoltzfus 0 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Abusupiyan Magomedov 1 7 of 7 100% 7 of 7 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Dustin Stoltzfus 0 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Abusupiyan Magomedov 7 of 7 100% 6 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 3 2 of 2 2 of 2
Dustin Stoltzfus 0 of 2 0% 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Abusupiyan Magomedov 7 of 7 100% 6 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 3 2 of 2 2 of 2
Dustin Stoltzfus 0 of 2 0% 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-265), Stoltzfus (+225)

Round 1
Wrapping up the prelims with a bow, highly touted debutant Magomedov (24-4-1, 0-0 UFC) will finally step into the Octagon for the first time after a number of unfortunate delays. He draws Stoltzfus (14-4, 1-3 UFC) in his first assignment, who will serve as the final U.S.-based fighter on the card. Out of the last 14 wins for “Abus,” he has procured stoppages in 13 of those, with his lone decision coming over PFL 2022 welterweight finalist Sadibou Sy back in 2018. The third man inside the cage for this one will be referee Loic Pora, who stands back while the two men bump fists. Stoltzfus punches his way into an exchange, blocking a kick with his knee on the way in. Magomedov is a man possessed after this brief feeling-out process,
splitting the guard with a Lyoto Machida-esque front kick that staggers the American. Magomedov senses he already has Stoltzfus in danger, and he meets Stoltzfus with an uppercut that knocks him back to the wall. “Abus” releases a left hook and a massive uppercut that wreck Stoltzfus, who crumbles to his back on the floor. Sealing the deal, the German-Russian newcomer drives two blistering right hands into the jaw, and Stoltzfus goes out and gets snapped back into consciousness with the thunderous punches.
Pora cannot get in fast enough to save Stoltzfus from any further damage, and Magomedov has just made a massive statement by destroying Stoltzfus in less than 20 seconds. The stoppage will likely clock in as one of the fastest knockouts in UFC middleweight history, depending on when it was officially called. Wow.

The Official Result
Abusupiyan Magomedov def. Dustin Stoltzfus R1 0:19 via TKO (Front Kick and Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 27, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Dustin Stoltzfus

Angelo leans toward Dustin Stoltzfus because of high-level experience, noting that Abusupiyan Magomedov has not fought this level of competition. He thinks Stoltzfus can use takedowns to control for a win, similar to his last fight. He calls it a toss-up and a very low confidence pick.

"i am gonna do a slight lean here for dustin this is a very low confidence pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Big Brady picks Abusupiyan Magomedov to win by decision. He notes that Magomedov has a significant striking advantage and good wrestling, while Stoltzfus has poor takedown defense and striking defense. The only concern is Magomedov's 20-month layoff, but he doesn't think Stoltzfus can exploit it. He expects Magomedov to control the fight wherever it goes.

"i'll say magametto by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Dustin Stoltzfus

Cody picks Dustin Stoltzfus as a dog, arguing that Abusupiyan Magomedov is overrated with a padded record, poor wrestling, and a suspect chin. He notes that Magomedov has been inactive and has injury issues, while Stoltzfus has better cardio and top control. Cody believes Stoltzfus can tire Magomedov out and win by pressure and grappling.

"I'll think i'll take the dog shot dustin stolfest but again i mean it's hard to get really excited and confident about it."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Daniel Levi picks Abusupiyan Magomedov but is not confident, noting that Magomedov's fights can be close and that Stoltzfus has been competitive in his losses. He acknowledges Magomedov's talent but questions the dominance at -260. He does not bet.

"I'm gonna pick a boost but I'm not as confident as you"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

The host is very confident in Magomedov, citing his superior striking, range control, and ability to mix in grappling. He dismisses Stoltzfus's only UFC win as unimpressive and believes Magomedov is outmatched everywhere. He predicts a finish inside the distance, possibly by submission or knockout.

Magomedov inside the distance (plus 120)
"Give me Abus inside the distance."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Aug 31, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Paul picks Abusupiyan Magomedov, but with low confidence. He thinks Magomedov's power and striking are better than Stoltzfus's, and that Stoltzfus's wrestling may not be good enough to take Magomedov down. Paul says he will not bet the -270 line and is not confident in the pick.

"I'm picking my uh abus magomedov in the spot... definitely not taking the shot."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 29, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

The MMA Guru picks Abusupiyan Magomedov over Dustin Stoltzfus, citing Magomedov's size, athleticism, and grappling ability. He believes Stoltzfus lacks the power or explosiveness to trouble Magomedov early, and if the fight goes past the first round, Magomedov will win. He predicts a second or third round TKO finish for Magomedov.

Magomedov wins by TKO in round 2 or 3
"i'm going to be going with abba sippy and magomedov it's a trustworthy pick"
Michał Oleksiejczuk - Fight History
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Abus Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-130); Oleksiejczuk (+110)

Round 1
The main card of UFC Baku kicks off with middleweights Magomedov and Oleksiejczuk, who operate under the auspices of referee Jim Perdios. Oleksiejczuk is southpaw, Magomedov orthodox, and Perdios strikes first with a warning to Magomedov for advancing with his fingers extended. Magomedov kicks the calf. Oleksiejczuk lands an uppercut to the body. Perdios warns Magomedov about the fingers again. Magomedov is active with the low kicks early, and Oleksiejczuk is thus far choosing to eat them and answer with punches. Magomedov clinches and runs Oleksiejczuk to the fence. They pummel for underhooks, and Magomedov hits the Pole with a big knee to the body. Oleksiejczuk shucks him off and they return to space. Magomedov blasts the oncoming Oleksiejczuk with a beautiful elbow that hurts him badly.
Oleksiejczuk stumbles backwards and Magomedov gives chase, dropping a few more punches, then wrapping his foe’s neck in a tight guillotine. Magomedov gets a leg up over the back and the choke is lethal. Oleksiejczuk taps, but goes out before Perdios can get there to stop the fight.
Very impressive work from Abus Magomedov.

The Official Result
Abus Magomedov def. Michal Oleksiejczuk R1 3:25 via Submission (Guillotine Choke)
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ picks Oleksiejczuk as an underdog, believing he has improved his takedown defense with Fighting Nerds and has the cardio advantage. He notes Magomedov fades after the first round and that Oleksiejczuk can put him away with big shots in the later rounds. AJ expects a knockout in round 2 or 3.

Knockout +200
"I think Ole Jchuk is putting him away with big shots. So, I'm going second or third round KO Jchuk."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, believing Magomedov is fragile and has suspect cardio. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's hands are dangerous and that he will come on strong in rounds 2 and 3, while Magomedov fades. He likes Oleksiejczuk by KO in round 2 or 3.

Oleksiejczuk by KO +195; Oleksiejczuk round 2 KO +700; Oleksiejczuk round 3 KO +1000.
"I like Jchuk, dude. Ole Jchuk gang."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ DeVito is confident that Michał Oleksiejczuk will defeat Abusupiyan Magomedov, who he believes is declining and has a weak will to win. He expects Oleksiejczuk to win by KO in round two or three, citing Magomedov's tendency to gas and melt under pressure. He likes the moneyline at -115 and also mentions the KO prop at +175.

Oleksiejczuk by KO at +175; Oleksiejczuk by KO round 2 at +700; round 3 at +1000.
"I really think we're looking at um Avis Momedov kind of in a similar spot to Michelle Pereira, he's falling off... I'm going McColl Juk. I think he wins by KO. Minus 115 is a pretty nice line."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, citing Magomedov's poor cardio and tendency to fade after round one. Oleksiejczuk has improved grappling defense and power, and should survive the first round to take over and finish Magomedov in the second or third.

Over 1.5 rounds -136. Oleksiejczuk +120 underdog.
"I'm going Ole Jchic knockout. I think he sleeps him in the second or third round."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo picks Abus because he has multiple paths to victory (striking and grappling) while Michał only has striking. He notes that both fighters have cardio issues, but Abus can fall back on wrestling. He expects a fun start but a boring finish once Abus starts shooting takedowns.

"Abus can win this fight multiple ways, right? He could potentially be the better striker here. He can definitely be the better grappler here. And McCall only has one path, and that's be the better striker."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo picks Magomedov, citing his multiple paths to victory: he can outstrike Oleksiejczuk, outgrapple him, or weather the early storm and win as Oleksiejczuk fades. He notes both have bad cardio, but Magomedov's is slightly better.

"Aboose is the pick. He has multiple ways to win. He could potentially outstrike MCL. McCall's going to be so much faster, hit so much harder, but Aboose can manage the range. He can certainly outgra and if he just …"
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo is surprised Abus Magomedov has flipped to underdog and thinks he wins the fight. He notes that Michał Oleksiejczuk has dangerous hands but poor cardio and grappling, and has been knocking out bums. Abus is more technical and can wrestle, so if he weathers the early storm and gets grappling going, he should run away with it.

over 1.5 rounds
"Abus Magomedov, I don't know how he flipped to the underdog. I'm surprised. He was the favorite, he's now the dog... and as a dog, I think he wins this fight."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Big Brady picks Abusupiyan Magomedov to win by submission. He highlights Magomedov's grappling credentials, having taken down and submitted black belts like Bruno Ferreira. Oleksiejczuk has terrible grappling, submitted multiple times. Brady expects Magomedov to take him down early and submit him in round one, though he notes Magomedov's questionable cardio and durability could lead to a second-round knockout loss if he gasses.

win by submission, under probably a good look
"I'm going to pick Abus Magda by submission, but I think like an under probably a good look in this fight."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Cody picks Magomedov, agreeing with Paul. He highlights Oleksiejczuk's defensive wrestling issues and Magomedov's wrestling pedigree. He thinks Magomedov can take him down and control the fight, though he acknowledges Oleksiejczuk's power and finishing ability.

"I'm going with wrestling over uh I know I've been mostly taking damage over control time, but these guys are middleweights and like the control time will probably outweigh, you know, the half dozen punches that are landed standing."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Daniel Levi picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to upset Abusupiyan Magomedov, citing his improved confidence and training at Fighting Nerds after moving from a garage gym. He notes Oleksiejczuk's marauding pressure, body shots, and recent win streak, while Magomedov has a history of fading in fights. Levi believes Oleksiejczuk's level-up and aggression will be key, though he acknowledges Magomedov's grappling threat.

"I'm going to pick Mihal to come out here, get this upset over Abus Magomedov, Inbaku Azer Bejan, climb the ranks."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Jacob picks Magomedov, calling him one of the better plays on the card. He thinks Magomedov is bigger and can bully Oleksiejczuk, who fades hard after round one. He dismisses Oleksiejczuk's win streak as beating cans and notes his grappling holes.

"I think Aboose minus 130. One of the better plays on this card. I think he has the submission path. He has the knockout path."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Lucrative James picks Michał Oleksiejczuk (Michelle Alex) because he believes Alex has better cardio, heart, will to win, and power. He notes that Abus Magomedov is more skilled technically but tends to crumble when pressured and has poor cardio. He expects Abus to start well and possibly get takedowns, but predicts the momentum will shift and Alex will finish him in round two. He also mentions that if Abus is a big underdog, he might be worth a bet, but his pick is Alex via KO.

If Abus is a big underdog, which I kind of feel like he's going to be a decent underdog, maybe that is a good bet.
"I will pick Michelle Alex to win the fight via KO in round two."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The host acknowledges Magomedov's early danger with explosivity and power, but believes in Oleksiejczuk's improvements to avoid an early finish. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's pressure striking style will catch up to Magomedov, leading to a knockout win.

Oleksiejczuk wins by knockout
"I believe in the improvements of Oleksiejczuk enough that he won't get finished early, and I think his pressure striking style is going to catch up to Magomedov leading to Olexiy winning this fight by knockout."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Oleksiejczuk has elite durability and has improved his striking and cardio with the Fighting Nerds. Magomedov has cardio issues and tends to fade. Oleksiejczuk will deal with early adversity and then walk him down for a knockout.

Oleksiejczuk by knockout
"I'm going to go Ole Shuk here. I think he deals with the early adversity here from Mamedov and then I think he starts walking him down and eventually finds a big knockout."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Paul picks Magomedov, citing his wrestling edge and Oleksiejczuk's poor takedown defense. He notes Oleksiejczuk's cardio issues and tendency to fade, and believes Magomedov can win early rounds and possibly coast. He prefers Magomedov pre-fight but suggests live betting Oleksiejczuk if he survives the first.

"I think like pre-fight flop I got to go with the guy that I think is going to be winning early and might be able to continue it and that's a boost from a live betting perspective."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The Guru picks Oleksiejczuk, citing his pressure, boxing, and takedown defense. He believes Oleksiejczuk will mitigate Magomedov's kicks by moving forward and land in exchanges. He expects a finish, possibly in the first round.

"I'm going to go with Michał Oleksiejczuk to get the job done though."
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira · Feb 07, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 140 of 221 63% 143 of 225 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:30
Marc-André Barriault 0 77 of 201 38% 79 of 204 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 47 of 73 64% 47 of 73 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:08
Marc-André Barriault 0 19 of 54 35% 19 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 41 of 68 60% 42 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Marc-André Barriault 0 33 of 80 41% 34 of 81 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 52 of 80 65% 54 of 83 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:22
Marc-André Barriault 0 25 of 67 37% 26 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michał Oleksiejczuk 140 of 221 63% 91 of 161 39 of 49 10 of 11 138 of 218 1 of 1 1 of 2
Marc-André Barriault 77 of 201 38% 57 of 178 16 of 19 4 of 4 59 of 173 18 of 28 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michał Oleksiejczuk 47 of 73 64% 32 of 56 8 of 9 7 of 8 46 of 71 0 of 0 1 of 2
Marc-André Barriault 19 of 54 35% 9 of 44 6 of 6 4 of 4 19 of 54 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Michał Oleksiejczuk 41 of 68 60% 27 of 49 11 of 16 3 of 3 40 of 67 1 of 1 0 of 0
Marc-André Barriault 33 of 80 41% 28 of 74 5 of 6 0 of 0 21 of 60 12 of 20 0 of 0
3 Michał Oleksiejczuk 52 of 80 65% 32 of 56 20 of 24 0 of 0 52 of 80 0 of 0 0 of 0
Marc-André Barriault 25 of 67 37% 20 of 60 5 of 7 0 of 0 19 of 59 6 of 8 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Oleksiejczuk (-330); Barriault (+270)

Round 1
Every now and then, the matchmaking plans are glaringly obvious as to what the UFC would like from a particular pairing. This middleweight slugfest is one such bout, as Oleksiejczuk (21-9, 1 NC; 9-7, 1 NC UFC) vs. Barriault (17-10, 1 NC; 6-9, 1 NC UFC) is practically destined for a knockout. Referee Chris Tognoni is ready whether this goes 15 seconds or the whole distance, and he gathers himself as the combatants bump gloves together.
Oleksiejczuk moves himself to the center of the cage and slowly works his way forward, but Barriault strikes first with a hefty body kick. Barriault loops a right hand over the guard, and he gets countered when trying. Oleksiejczuk swipes out a few lefts to wrap them around the raised hands, looking to hand-fight to pull down one glove and open up a big right. Oleksiejczuk stings “Power Bar” with a hard left hand, backing Barriault up to the wall but not pouncing. He swats away a responsive left to chop at the lead leg with a kick, and he leans back to watch punches buzz past him. Barriault clips Oleksiejczuk when Oleksiejczuk loads up on power, and he tosses out a naked kick that has him get his jaw jacked. Oleksiejczuk hammers the body with a kick, and he loops a right hand upstairs to follow. Barriault advances, driving home a knee up the middle and peeling back.
Oleksiejczuk has a leg kick checked, and he nails the body with a resounding thud. Barriault probes out with his jab, trying to disrupt the power flying at his melon, and he zips in an uppercut to keep Oleksiejczuk honest. Oleksiejczuk walks through it to loose a leg kick, and he rolls with a left hook to put two fists on Barriault’s face. Oleksiejczuk keeps his guard up to knock Barriault back with a heavy fist, and Barriault is fighting defensively enough to defend the big stuff upstairs but his midsection is wide open. Oleksiejczuk kicks so low, it practically hits the ankle, and he goes to the body again. Barriault’s looping response is a few feet off, and he gets clubbed with two straight lefts. Oleksiejczuk bloodies up his foe’s nose with his big swings, and he hacks at the lead leg with an inside kick. Oleksiejczuk catches a body kick, lashes out with a left and hurls Barriault to the mat in hopes of pounding on him. Barriault ties him up as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk

Round 2
The middleweights touch gloves, and Oleksiejczuk advances as the initial aggressor. Both men paw out their jabs, and Oleksiejczuk briefly drops Barriault to a knee with a heavy inside low kick. He swipes a right over the top, and he takes a left on the chin that he no-sells. Oleksiejczuk racks up a pair of punches on the chin, and “Power Bar” is hanging in tough and very much in this fight. Barriault swings body to head, and Oleksiejczuk does the same, both men scoring strikes. Barriault keeps his right hand pinned to his melon, and he has his guard split with a jab. Barriault loops a right to the ribs, and he catches Oleksiejczuk at the end of a pair of hooks. Oleksiejczuk slips and rips with a right hand on the jaw, and he meanders out a follow-up right that leads to him getting countered. Oleksiejczuk drives home a one-two, backing Barriault up, and he connects with a body kick with a sound like a 2-by-4 hitting a side of beef. Barriault steels himself and comes out firing, getting Oleksiejczuk’s attention when he swings with everything he has.
Barriault starts landing cleanly on Oleksiejczuk, changing his strategy completely as he walks Oleksiejczuk down. Oleksiejczuk’s power appears to be fading as Barriault ignores blows that would have irritated him the previous round. Barriault loads up, seeing that Oleksiejczuk could be losing steam, and he pressures him relentlessly. Barriault goes to the body and lands an elbow up top that cuts Oleksiejczuk’s forehead. Oleksiejczuk swings wildly with body shots and the occasional one to the head, and Barriault is on top of him forcing him to react. Oleksiejczuk lands a left that may have hit the cup, and he has a spinning back fist glance off the side of the head. Barriault marches forward, not reacting to anything that lands on him while forcing Oleksiejczuk to backpedal. The horn sounds to end a close round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barriault
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Barriault
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barriault

Round 3
The middleweights touch ‘em up before commencing the final frame, and it starts like the first round and not the second. Oleksiejczuk plants his feet and pins a one-two on the chin, shoulder-rolling to take some of the sting out of what comes back his way. He swipes out a one-two, and he digs one to the body. Both men are feeling it after their brawl, and Barriault comes out the cleaner as he backs Oleksiejczuk off with a short but effective barrage of punches. Barriault maneuvers himself to the pocket to trade, but this is where Oleksiejczuk wants to be, and he hurls back punches in bunches. Suddenly, the Polish athlete changes things up for a takedown attempt, and Barriault shuts it down as they reset in slugging range.
Both men proceed to trade leather, with Oleksiejczuk ripping body shots while Barriault headhunts. Oleksiejczuk strings three punches together, shooting in for a double behind it and bullying the Canadian to the wall. Barriault shucks it off and swings for the fence, but no one is there to be hit. Oleksiejczuk has backed away to re-engage, and they jab at one another until Oleksiejczuk pitches a high kick that bangs into the raised guard. The clinch tie-up results in a few body shots from Barriault, and a knee on the button freezes Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk takes a breath and flashes out his power punches, connecting effectively with his left to the liver. Barriault boxes back, and Oleksiejczuk kicks at his lead leg. Barriault lumbers out with a left hand, and they swat at one another with jabs out of range. Oleksiejczuk dips and clubs Barriault upside the head, and not to be outdone, Barriault kicks him in the face. Oleksiejczuk offers a high kick that hits the guard, and they proceed to throw punches, kicks and the kitchen sink at one another until we have—perhaps surprisingly—reached the final bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk (29-28 Oleksiejczuk)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk (29-28 Oleksiejczuk)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Oleksiejczuk (29-28 Oleksiejczuk)

The Official Result
Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Marc-Andre Barriault via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Angelo picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, citing his fast hands and power, with 8 knockouts in 9 UFC wins. He notes that Barriault's chin seems to be fading and that Oleksiejczuk hits incredibly hard. He acknowledges Barriault's wrestling could be a problem but thinks Oleksiejczuk's speed and power will prevail. He suggests under 2.5 rounds might be solid.

Under 2.5 rounds might be solid
"I'm going to pick McCall here because I think the chin's kind of fading a little bit on Mark Andre. McCall hits hard as hell."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Big Brady picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, citing that Marc-André Barriault's chin has been cracked recently, with three knockout losses in his last four fights. He believes Oleksiejczuk's pressure and power will be too much for Barriault, who has taken a lot of damage. He predicts a first-round finish.

by first round finish
"Mikuel Jose by first round finish."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Cody agrees, highlighting Oleksiejczuk's 8 first-round KOs in 9 UFC wins. He notes Barriault's history of being knocked out in the first round and his inability to change his game. Cody expects Oleksiejczuk to win by KO or decision, but is confident in the victory.

"He's either going to knock out Mark Andre Barry in the first round or he's going to win a split decision. But I think he wins in either case."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Oleksiejczuk is a good athlete who is not shot, while Barriault is past his prime and gets hurt easily. He thinks Oleksiejczuk will put it all on Barriault and likely hurt him early. He mentions that Barriault's only chance is if Oleksiejczuk's cardio fades.

Same odds discussion.
"I'll take a look at Sajak too."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Feb 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Lucrative James picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by KO in round one. He believes Barriault's chin is compromised and that Oleksiejczuk's power and early-round danger will be too much. James notes that Barriault's style of walking forward plays into Oleksiejczuk's hands, and he expects a quick finish.

KO in round 1
"My official prediction on this fight is Michelle Alex to KO Mar Andre Bariel in round one."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 3, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The host picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, but notes the line is too wide at -350. He believes Oleksiejczuk's power will eventually find Barriault's chin, but warns that Barriault could make it tough if his chin holds up, using clinch work and cardio to wear Oleksiejczuk down. He suggests a live bet on Barriault in later rounds.

plus 285 on Barriault is worth a sprinkle; live betting Barriault in rounds 2-3
"So the prediction is going to be Ole Shuk by knock. I think he eventually lands that big shot and puts Bario away. But in terms of odds, minus 350 is just far too wide to be confident enough on …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Paul picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, expecting a first-round knockout. He notes Barriault's recent durability issues and Oleksiejczuk's power, especially since joining Fighting Nerds. Paul believes Oleksiejczuk's improved patience and game planning will lead to an early finish.

"Mikey O knockout round one for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 7, 2026 (fight day)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The host picks Michał Oleksiejczuk over Marc-André Barriault. He notes Oleksiejczuk has real power at middleweight and a resurgence since joining Fighting Nerds. He thinks Barriault has been on the receiving end of too many TKO losses. He predicts a first-round TKO.

first round TKO
"I think Michał Oleksiejczuk's dusting him up in round one by TKO."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 5, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Zane picks Oleksiejczuk because he is not physically washed and has a good multi-level striking attack. He notes that Barriault gets hurt too easily and is vulnerable, as seen in his fight against Shara Bullet. He thinks Oleksiejczuk will hurt Barriault quickly, though if it doesn't work out, it could become a hairy fight.

Oleksiejczuk opened at -225, currently -550; Barriault at +400.
"I think I have to take Michael Oksajuk."
KO R1 3:03 · UFC 319: du Plessis vs. Chimaev · Aug 16, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Gerald Meerschaert 0 3 of 16 18% 3 of 16 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Michał Oleksiejczuk 1 23 of 51 45% 23 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Gerald Meerschaert 0 3 of 16 18% 3 of 16 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Michał Oleksiejczuk 1 23 of 51 45% 23 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Gerald Meerschaert 3 of 16 18% 2 of 14 0 of 0 1 of 2 3 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 23 of 51 45% 18 of 46 5 of 5 0 of 0 11 of 31 0 of 0 12 of 20
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Gerald Meerschaert 3 of 16 18% 2 of 14 0 of 0 1 of 2 3 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 23 of 51 45% 18 of 46 5 of 5 0 of 0 11 of 31 0 of 0 12 of 20
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Oleksiejczuk (-218), Meerschaert (+180)

Round 1
In the battle of surnames that would likely win against any other pair on Scrabble tonight, it should not last terribly long. In the combined 57 pro victories for Meerschaert (37-19, 12-11 UFC) and Oleksiejczuk (20-9, 1 NC; 8-7, 1 NC UFC), they have needed the judges on six of those occasions. Referee Herb Dean—who gets a bigger pop from the crowd than either athlete—will almost certainly be needed, while the scorers might be able to take this one off. Before throwing down, the violent middleweights bump fists.
The marvelously mustached Meerschaert moves to the center of the cage, and he leans back as a huge left hand buzzes past him. Oleksiejczuk looks for another power punch, and Meerschaert is out of range pitching a low kick at him. Meerschaert ducks under a few punches to go after a single, and the former light heavyweight pops him in the chops on the way out. When “GM3” tries for another takedown, the Polish athlete shuts him down and forces him to stand back up. Oleksiejczuk ignores a leg kick that misses him to clip his foe with a left hand, but it is one-and-done. Oleksiejczuk measures his man with an uppercut, and he avoids counters and is ready to stuff a takedown before it comes to light. Oleksiejczuk narrowly avoids a left hook, and he laughs off a failed shot from the submission specialist. Meerschaert gets off a left hand, and Oleksiejczuk answers him with two big punches that shake him to his core. A third uppercut dings him on the jaw when he goes for a takedown, and “step into my parlor” says the spider to the fly.
Meerschaert does not get Oleksiejczuk to oblige him in playing in the guard, instead backing off to make “GM3” strike with him.
Knowing that Meerschaert is in trouble, Oleksiejczuk jacks his foe in the jaw with three punches that send Meerschaert down to the floor again. With Dean watching in closely, Oleksiejczuk unleashes a bombardment of wide-arcing hammerfists to punish “GM3” for ever considering grappling with him. As the punches continue, with no sign of slowing down, Dean has no choice but to get involved and halts the match.
That marks one more dominant win for a Fighting Nerds competitor, and Oleksiejczuk dons the trademark glasses while also handing commentator Joe Rogan a pair as well.

The Official Result
Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gerald Meerschaert R1 3:03 via TKO (Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Aug 10, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Angelo notes Oleksiejczuk is a pure striker with power and fast hands, while Meerschaert is a grappler with questionable chin and takedown accuracy. He thinks it's easier for Oleksiejczuk to stay on the feet and land strikes than for Meerschaert to get the fight to the ground. He leans Oleksiejczuk but says he should not be a -225 favorite in such a tricky matchup.

Under no circumstances should he be a minus 225 in a very tricky matchup
"I'm going to lean McCall because I think it's easier for him to stay away from the takedowns while letting his hands fly against a somewhat chinny Gerro Mirard."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Big Brady picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by first-round knockout. He notes Oleksiejczuk is a phenomenal striker with bodywork, volume, and power, while Meerschaert is at a massive striking disadvantage. However, he acknowledges the grappling danger: Meerschaert has 30 submission wins and Oleksiejczuk has been submitted six times. He thinks Oleksiejczuk can keep the fight standing and knock out Meerschaert, especially if he has improved his takedown defense. He mentions Oleksiejczuk's ability to get back up when taken down.

Oleksiejczuk by KO, round 1
"I think Oluk knocks out Mirart, and I think he does it in round number one."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Connor agrees with Zane, picking Meerschaert. He notes that Oleksiejczuk has a history of getting submitted when he has a little success and then panics. He also points out that Meerschaert's recent losses were to tough opponents (de Ridder, Tavares) and that Oleksiejczuk's game is thin. He expects Meerschaert to capitalize on Oleksiejczuk's mistakes.

"I got to trust Meerschart. The past couple of fights for him have been especially bad match ups that we can credit those opponents for being either, for being not as bad as they, they looked."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The host believes Oleksiejczuk's improvements from training with the fighting nerds will carry over, though it may result in a more measured approach. He expects Oleksiejczuk to wear Meerschaert down with striking and secure a finish in the third round.

finish in the third round
"I think he'll eventually be able to muster up a finish in the third round of this fight as he wears Mirard down with his striking approach"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The Guru picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by TKO in the first or second round. He believes Oleksiejczuk has improved since joining the Fighting Nerds and has nasty ground and pound and power. The Guru notes that Meerschaert is on borrowed time and doesn't move his head well, making him vulnerable. He also mentions that Oleksiejczuk has good grappling defense and reversals, so he won't be a fish out of water on the ground.

TKO first or second round; Oleksiejczuk finishes Meerschaert
"I'm going with Macaux. ... TKO first or second round."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Gerald Meerschaert

Zane picks Meerschaert, reasoning that Oleksiejczuk is prone to getting submitted due to his hyper-aggressive style and poor defensive wrestling. He notes that Oleksiejczuk will likely shoot takedowns himself or fall into submissions, and Meerschaert is a dangerous grappler. He acknowledges the risk that Oleksiejczuk could land a big shot early, but trusts Meerschaert's experience.

"I think that that's going to lead him to getting submitted by Gerald Meerschart."
KO R1 2:49 · UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes · Apr 12, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sedriques Dumas 0 3 of 26 11% 3 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michał Oleksiejczuk 1 34 of 57 59% 34 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:18
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sedriques Dumas 0 3 of 26 11% 3 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michał Oleksiejczuk 1 34 of 57 59% 34 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:18
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sedriques Dumas 3 of 26 11% 0 of 18 2 of 5 1 of 3 3 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 34 of 57 59% 27 of 49 7 of 8 0 of 0 13 of 27 0 of 0 21 of 30
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sedriques Dumas 3 of 26 11% 0 of 18 2 of 5 1 of 3 3 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 34 of 57 59% 27 of 49 7 of 8 0 of 0 13 of 27 0 of 0 21 of 30
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Sedriques Dumas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Oleksiejczuk (-192), Dumas (+160)

Round 1
A potential middleweight brawl takes the top spot on the early preliminary card, with referee Marc Goddard standing by to handle it. Dumas (10-2, 3-2 UFC) still has yet to register a finish since joining the roster a couple years ago, while six of seven UFC victories for Oleksiejczuk (19-9, 1 NC; 7-7, 1 NC UFC) came inside the distance. The two opt to touch gloves ahead of their scheduled melee, and Dumas throws the first strike in the form of a blocked head kick. The Floridian tries two more times with this kick, and Oleksiejczuk is on top of it and parries the subsequent front kick. Oleksiejczuk tries to get his hands on his opponent, and he ends up punching the fighter sporting the “Hood Wolf” tattoo in the chest. Oleksiejczuk mixes in body shots when Dumas ducks down, and he absorbs a flush body kick on the way out. Oleksiejczuk jabs his way into attack, and Dumas practically somersaults and sprints away. Oleksiejczuk plods forward like a Polish Terminator, measuring him with a left hook and backing him to the wall where he can further unload. Two punches are all Oleksiejczuk get off before Dumas rushes away, and Dumas’ body language is not positive at the time. Oleksiejczuk connects with a few left hands, and he ignores a head kick that Dumas tosses up half-heartedly.
Oleksiejczuk plants a one-two on the chin, and a clubbing left hand sends Dumas flying to the mat. Oleksiejczuk pounces, and he unleashes a fury of elbows and punches. Dumas stays shelled up on his back, defending and moving but still taking strikes. With Goddard watching closely, Oleksiejczuk bombards his downed foe with one final barrage of punches and elbows
, and Goddard determines that Dumas is no longer intelligently defending himself and waves the fight off. The Floridian immediately protests, motioning that he was moving back and forth, but there is nothing more he can do. Proudly training with former foe Caio Borralho, Oleksiejczuk maximizes his time on the microphone by donning the Fighting Nerds glasses and calling out Paul Craig.

The Official Result
Michael Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas R1 2:49 via TKO (Punches and Elbows)
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Apr 11, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Connor picks Michał Oleksiejczuk out of spite, believing he has faced much better competition than Dumas and should be capable of putting pressure on him. He notes that Oleksiejczuk's game plan should be simple: throw the same one-two, pressure, and not fall in on his strikes. Connor acknowledges that Oleksiejczuk often does something stupid and loses, but hopes he can execute a basic game plan.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"I think I'm going to pick Olexagic just out of like dogged. Spite."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2025 (fight day)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Daniel Levi was happy to see Michał Oleksiejczuk get a first-round stoppage over Sedriques Dumas. He praises Oleksiejczuk for changing his training environment to the Fighting Nerds and showing maturity and measured striking, outstriking Dumas 34 to 3 in under three minutes.

"What I was really happy about was seeing Mllicha go out there and get that first round stoppage over Cedric's Dumas."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Apr 11, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Sedriques Dumas

Zane picks Sedriques Dumas, reasoning that Oleksiejczuk has a tendency to self-destruct spectacularly, and Dumas' physicality and athleticism will allow him to capitalize on Oleksiejczuk's mistakes. He notes that Oleksiejczuk loves to explode without warning, and Dumas can wait for that to happen. Zane acknowledges Dumas' losses to Josh Fremd and Abu Sultan Rozybaev show he struggles against non-cans, but believes Oleksiejczuk's impulsiveness will be his downfall.

Oleksiejczuk opened at -197, now -194; Dumas opened at +162, now +172.
"I think I have to pick Dumas."
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov · Aug 03, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sharabutdin Magomedov 0 97 of 178 54% 123 of 209 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 77 of 146 52% 94 of 172 3 of 7 42% 0 0 2:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sharabutdin Magomedov 0 40 of 74 54% 42 of 76 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 35 of 53 66% 36 of 54 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:08
2 Sharabutdin Magomedov 0 35 of 64 54% 37 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 24 of 52 46% 28 of 58 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:44
3 Sharabutdin Magomedov 0 22 of 40 55% 44 of 66 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 18 of 41 43% 30 of 60 2 of 3 66% 0 0 1:47
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sharabutdin Magomedov 97 of 178 54% 52 of 112 33 of 52 12 of 14 89 of 163 8 of 15 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 77 of 146 52% 45 of 103 18 of 27 14 of 16 72 of 138 4 of 6 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sharabutdin Magomedov 40 of 74 54% 16 of 39 17 of 26 7 of 9 38 of 69 2 of 5 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 35 of 53 66% 23 of 38 9 of 11 3 of 4 34 of 50 1 of 3 0 of 0
2 Sharabutdin Magomedov 35 of 64 54% 24 of 48 7 of 12 4 of 4 33 of 60 2 of 4 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 24 of 52 46% 12 of 35 5 of 9 7 of 8 22 of 50 2 of 2 0 of 0
3 Sharabutdin Magomedov 22 of 40 55% 12 of 25 9 of 14 1 of 1 18 of 34 4 of 6 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 18 of 41 43% 10 of 30 4 of 7 4 of 4 16 of 38 1 of 1 1 of 2
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-238), Oleksiejczuk (+195)

Round 1
The latest hot commodity out of Russia for the UFC, Magomedov (13-0, 2-0 UFC) has a stiff test in front of him in the power-punching Pole Oleksiejczuk (19-8, 1 NC; 7-6, 1 NC UFC). “Shara Bullet” has passed every previous exam set before him, winning most thus far via strikes. Together, they have performed 25 knockouts, so referee Dan Movahedi is prepped and ready for the potential of a 26th. Interested in lopping the other’s head off at the stem, they pass right by touching gloves. Bouncing towards and away from one another in alternating stances, Oleksiejczuk is the first to reach his opponent. Oleksiejczuk reaches his foe with a right and a left while Magomedov kicks. Oleksiejczuk jabs and defends a right hand and a trio of kicks. Oleksiejczuk knocks his man off his seat with a left hand, and Magomedov pulls on the fence to stand back up. Oleksiejczuk bears down on him with two left hooks, and he aims a left to the body while Magomedov kicks him twice in the side. Oleksiejczuk connects with a left hand and eats a left hand counter, and he digs a left to the torso. Magomedov chips with two kicks and absorbs another flush left hand, and Oleksiejczuk aims another heavy left at the ribs. Magomedov tries to spin with a punch, and he catches Oleksiejczuk coming in with a knee. Oleksiejczuk windmills a left hand, and the second he throws lands flush. Magomedov replies with a short few punches, and an elbow gets Oleksiejczuk’s attention and shreds him open. Magomedov knees him and pushes Oleksiejczuk away, but Oleksiejczuk walks right towards him again and parries two high kicks. Oleksiejczuk digs a left to the side and absorbs a clean knee and a side kick to the same spot, and he loops a right hand over the guard. Magomedov lands a body kick and pulls on the top of the head, getting off a head kick and taking a left hand off the forehead. Magomedov lands and gets tagged, but his knee connects cleanly as Oleksiejczuk tries to tie him up. There is a brief Thai clinch, and they separate as Oleksiejczuk swarms with left hooks. Oleksiejczuk kicks the front leg and tries to catch a side kick, as Magomedov buzzes him with spinning back elbow. Magomedov skirts away and pitches out side kicks, and he has a leg kick checked. Oleksiejczuk wings a left up high when a head kick flies at him, and he backs Magomedov of with a second left. Oleksiejczuk pounds on the body with a knee and a kick, and he swipes out with a right hand. Oleksiejczuk drills the chest with a straight left, and he lumbers forward swinging lefts. Magomedov gets off a body kick and ducks a swinging punch, and he dodges the worst of the wild punches except for one. The Russian misses a head kick right before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2
Oleksiejczuk is so amped up to go, Movahedi has to back him up halfway across the cage. They practically sprint out of their corners to start fighting again, with Oleksiejczuk backing the Russian off immediately. Magomedov snipes at his opponent while backing off, with a side kick, low kick and check left hook. Oleksiejczuk lumbers at him with looping punches, and Magomedov’s head movement keeps him largely safe. Magomedov scores with front kicks, and Oleksiejczuk lands a left to the body and then one up top. Magomedov stuns his foe with a Superman punch, and Oleksiejczuk turns him around with a left hand. Magomedov fakes a spin, and his front leg gets kicked when recovering. Oleksiejczuk uses a body lock to try to take the fight down, and Magomedov blatantly grabs the fence to stay on his feet and is not called because Movahedi is on the wrong side. Oleksiejczuk releases him and eats a right to the body and a right to the head that briefly shakes him up. Blood flows from the left side of his head on multiple wounds, and he still is headhunting and throwing everything he has. Oleksiejczuk kicks the front leg and whiffs on a left hook, and he walks into a check hook and a jab. Oleksiejczuk responds with a clean left hand, and Magomedov stands firm and answers with a straight right hand down the pipe. They both throw hands at the same time, with Oleksiejczuk landing cleaner as he dodges the sneaky front-leg head kick. Oleksiejczuk gets in a left hand as Magomedov bounces and moves, and he has a massive left hand miss him by a matter of millimeters. Oleksiejczuk rips a left to the side as he jabs his way forward, and a left hook brushes the beard. Oleksiejczuk blocks a head kick as the crowd oohs, and Magomedov is quick to throw another low kick. Magomedov jumps into his offense, and he lines up several knees before Oleksiejczuk can push him away. Oleksiejczuk reaches his foe with a left and a right, and he takes a deep breath. Magomedov slips a punch and zips a counter up high, and he remains in perpetual motion while not staying in the same spot for long. Oleksiejczuk kicks the front leg and loops a left over the top, and he dodges a left hook and counters cleanly. Magomedov connects with a head kick, and Oleksiejczuk throws him to the floor and hops onto the back when they hit the mat. Oleksiejczuk sneaks a single hook in and considers a choke, but Magomedov hand-fights to prevent anything from materializing. Oleksiejczuk fastens one arm beneath the chin, and Magomedov punches him from behind until the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 3
The middleweights meet in the middle after 10 minutes of blood and guts battle. Magomedov misses with a knee, and Oleksiejczuk belts him in the jaw. “Shara Bullet” mocks him, asking if that is all he has, and Oleksiejczuk swings hard in response. Oleksiejczuk loops a left over the top, and he gets kicked in the guts while wading forward. Oleksiejczuk telegraphs a left hand that Magomedov is able to block, and speed is on the side of the Russian at this point. Magomedov delivers a kick to the body, and he laughs off the attacks from Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk whiffs on looping shots as he walks forward, and Magomedov keeps his hands down and moves from side toe side. Oleksiejczuk is an inch out of range from a brutal left hand, and he follows him around and scores one. Magomedov knees him in the face and then side kicks him square on the jaw, and Oleksiejczuk can do nothing but tank it. Magomedov connects with a side kick, and Oleksiejczuk punches him in the body back. Magomedov swats with left hands and side kicks, and he leans back when Oleksiejczuk loads up on his left hand. Magomedov hammers the body with several knees, and he kicks the Polish fighter in the head, who does not budge. Oleksiejczuk lands a leg kick and wings a left hook, and Magomedov once more boots him upside the head. Oleksiejczuk grabs hold of him and throws him to the canvas in response, and Magomedov wall-walks and keeps his balance to prevent the mat return. Oleksiejczuk attempts a double, and Magomedov stops it. Magomedov stands him up and slashes him with an elbow, and Oleksiejczuk keeps his chin tucked and unleashes a left hand. With a minute to go, Oleksiejczuk sprints forward and grabs hold of a single, dumping “Shara Bullet” to the canvas. Magomedov lands several rabbit punches to the back of the head, and Movahedi warns him for the fouls. Magomedov hacks with elbows from his back, and these may have cut Oleksiejczuk a few more times. Oleksiejczuk tries to mount some offense, and they proceed to trade strikes right to the final horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)

The Official Result
Sharabudtin Magomedov def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 28, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Angelo picks Magomedov despite concerns about his recent activity and lack of killer instinct. He thinks Magomedov is still very powerful and should be good enough to win, especially as Oleksiejczuk fades late. He notes Magomedov's busy schedule and possible lack of camp, but still expects a win.

Over 1.5 rounds if line available
"Char marov is going to be the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Big Brady is confident in Sharabutdin due to Oleksiejczuk's concerning situation: he is not with a team, training in his garage, talking about retirement, and has been finished quickly in recent fights. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's heart is not in it and he will fold after the first few minutes, predicting a first-round knockout for Sharabutdin.

"I got to go sh here I I'm not sure what's going on with meluk but whatever is going on it's it's super weird"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Cody picks Sharabutdin Magomedov, noting that Michał Oleksiejczuk has one foot out the door, training in his garage and talking about retirement. He believes Shara is still improving and has more upside, while Oleksiejczuk has stagnated. Cody thinks Shara's cardio and grappling will improve fight to fight, and that Oleksiejczuk's only path is an early knockout. He also mentions Shara is being fed winnable opponents.

"Char is the pick."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 31, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Daniel believes Shara has a superior striking arsenal and will capitalize on Oleksiejczuk's overly aggressive style. He notes that Oleksiejczuk makes bonehead mistakes on the mat and likes to brawl, which plays into Shara's hands. He thinks Shara will blast the body and take advantage of openings, and that the time to fade Shara is not now but against a real grappler.

"give me Shara there to come out here and get the dub"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 1, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Oleksiejczuk will crowd Magomedov, causing issues for his kicking game. If he reins in his durability, he should land big power and possibly knock out Magomedov in the first two rounds.

knockout in first two rounds
"ol shj has a little bit of a durability issue but if he can Reign it in for this matchup and really keep Mago medov on the back foot he should be able to land that big Power and I …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

Paul picks Sharabutdin Magomedov, citing Oleksiejczuk's poor cardio and submission losses. He notes that Oleksiejczuk has been submitted multiple times and that Shara's striking is good enough to outvolume him. Paul expects Shara to finish late or win a decision, and mentions a potential Shara late finish prop. He also points out that Oleksiejczuk has no cardio and poor grappling.

Shara late finish prop
"I'd be interested in like um Mega mov late prop maybe this squeez into the third round."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 30, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Sharabutdin Magomedov

The MMA Guru picks Sharabutdin Magomedov over Michał Oleksiejczuk, citing Magomedov's superior striking and low kicks. He notes Oleksiejczuk's poor mindset, having commented that he will probably lose. He thinks Magomedov's technical outside work will be enough, despite his weak ground game. He mentions Oleksiejczuk's vulnerability to low kicks while moving backwards.

"I'm going to pick Shara magedov to win this fight I think he's better than maau Alex Atri on the feet"
LOSS vs Kevin Holland
Technical Submission (armbar) R1 1:34 · UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier · Jun 01, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Kevin Holland 0 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:16
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 8 of 18 44% 9 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:31
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Kevin Holland 0 8 of 17 47% 8 of 17 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:16
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 8 of 18 44% 9 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:31
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Kevin Holland 8 of 17 47% 5 of 13 3 of 4 0 of 0 8 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 8 of 18 44% 5 of 15 3 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Kevin Holland 8 of 17 47% 5 of 13 3 of 4 0 of 0 8 of 17 0 of 0 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 8 of 18 44% 5 of 15 3 of 3 0 of 0 6 of 13 0 of 0 2 of 5
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Kevin Holland vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holland (-265), Oleksiejczuk (+215)

Round 1
After a while at welterweight, the ultra-active Holland (25-11, 1 NC; 12-8, 1 NC UFC) is bouncing back to 185 pounds for a relatively short-notice affair. He takes on powerful Polish slugger Oleksiejczuk (19-7, 1 NC; 7-5, 1 NC UFC) in a fight between two men with finish rates around 80%. Referee Herb Dean has donned his hard hat for what’s about to come, as it could end quickly and violently. The fighters share a swift fist bump ahead of the melee, and Holland is backed off in a hurry from a heavy right hand from the Polish man. Holland slides away from another, and Oleksiejczuk is headhunting and loaded for bear. Holland stays on his bike, keeping just out of reach, and he sits down on a kick and pushes Oleksiejczuk away. At the same time, Oleksiejczuk unleashes a left hand, and he knocks Holland to his seat. Holland falls to his back, getting pounded on from hammerfists, and he clears his head and snatches up an armbar in the blink of an eye. Oleksiejczuk tries to step over, and in the process, Holland rolls his foe over, wrenching on it with all his might. Oleksiejczuk tries to sit up, and Holland tells Dean that he broke Oleksiejczuk’s arm. Dean looks down at the damaged limb, and he has immediate flashbacks of Tim Sylvia against Frank Mir and waves the fight off when seeing the elbow is backwards and something appears to be protruding that should not be doing that. Oleksiejczuk protests, but he cannot raise his arm and it is clearly in dire straits. An elated “Trailblazer” climbs up and jumps out of the cage to share words with Trump, White, Hunter Campbell and matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard. Holland proudly declares himself the ultimate gatekeeper—his words, not ours—and he says he will fight anyone at 170, 185 or higher.

The Official Result
Kevin Holland def. Michal Oleksiejczuk R1 1:34 via Technical Submission (Armbar)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 26, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

Angelo picks Kevin Holland despite the short notice, believing his range, accuracy, and experience will overcome Michał Oleksiejczuk's early power. He notes that Holland is the bigger fighter and has a massive advantage on the ground. He is a little worried about Oleksiejczuk's fast hands but is confident Holland will win.

"Kevin Holland is going to be the pick I'm pretty confident in him to get it done"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 31, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Kevin Holland

Big Brady likes Kevin Holland a lot, stating he should not only win but win dominantly by finish (KO or submission). He believes Holland has advantages everywhere and that Oleksiejczuk is a round-one knockout bust if the fight goes to the second. He acknowledges Holland's poor fight IQ but thinks this is a big step down in competition. He expects a finish, possibly in the first round.

Kevin Holland wins inside the distance, finish in first round possible
"I like Holland here and he's not too expensive he's only 9k I think he's live for a finish it could be early as well"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 29, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

Cody picks Holland, calling Oleksiejczuk a 'glass cannon' who fades after the first round. He notes Oleksiejczuk's six first-round KOs but argues his wins are over low-level opposition. Cody believes Holland's durability, volume, and pace will be too much, and that Holland's frame at 185 lbs is fine. He suggests Holland is a better value at -280 than Makhachev at -700.

"Oleksiejczuk is a front runner... his game just totally falls apart when the fight extends beyond the first round... Kevin Holland is the pick."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked May 28, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Daniel fades Holland due to his tendency to fool around and rely on physical gifts. He believes Oleksiejczuk's pressure and durability will break Holland, citing his fights with Krylov and Jacoby. He worries about Holland's neck attacks but sees value in the underdog.

"I'm gonna go on a limb here and actually take the underdog"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked May 30, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

Daniel Vreeland picks Kevin Holland despite being unhappy about it. He argues that Holland doesn't walk into shots on the feet and has survived fights with excellent strikers like Jack Della Maddalena and Michael Venom Page without being knocked out. Vreeland doesn't see Oleksiejczuk as the guy to finally tag Holland, nor does he think Oleksiejczuk can win a decision. He acknowledges Holland fights stupidly but sees no path for Oleksiejczuk.

"I don't see a way that Ola shck gets his hands on him"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked May 30, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Jeff Fox picks Oleksiejczuk because he has no faith in Kevin Holland fighting smart. He notes Holland has lost two straight and tends to eat shots. Fox points to Oleksiejczuk's knockout of Sam Alvey and his power, believing he can catch Holland. He dismisses Holland's durability against top strikers, saying Oleksiejczuk is the type to land a big shot.

"I don't have any faith in Kevin Holland I'm taking here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 27, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

The host expects Holland to use his length and footwork to keep Oleksiejczuk at range and eventually find a finish. Oleksiejczuk's pressure style may be nullified by Holland's striking and sneaky submission game. However, the host notes that Holland is tough to trust at -260, but if he fights smart, he should win inside the distance.

inside the distance
"I'm going to go Holland and Holland inside the distance."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 29, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Kevin Holland

Paul picks Holland, noting his incredible chin and durability. He expects Oleksiejczuk to have early success but fade, and Holland to find his groove and finish via submission (club and sub). He mentions Holland's submission skills and Oleksiejczuk's poor cardio. Paul likes Holland by submission at +275.

Holland by submission (+275)
"Holland for all his flaws his chin is incredible... I feel like Oleksiejczuk will have some big time success early and then Holland will find his groove... I kind of see this ending in a club and sub type of …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant picked May 27, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The MMA Guru picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, though he is hesitant. He believes Kevin Holland has lost his snap and grit, and that Oleksiejczuk will have a weight advantage at 185. He notes Oleksiejczuk's underrated grappling and ability to outgrapple Holland. He worries about Holland's motivation and thinks Oleksiejczuk has more drive.

"I'm going to go with maau atrick though I think he's got more drive"
LOSS vs Michel Pereira
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 1:01 · UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2 · Mar 09, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Michel Pereira 0 11 of 15 73% 11 of 15 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:18
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Michel Pereira 0 11 of 15 73% 11 of 15 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:18
Michał Oleksiejczuk 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Michel Pereira 11 of 15 73% 5 of 9 6 of 6 0 of 0 9 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 1 of 4 25% 0 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Michel Pereira 11 of 15 73% 5 of 9 6 of 6 0 of 0 9 of 13 2 of 2 0 of 0
Michał Oleksiejczuk 1 of 4 25% 0 of 3 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Michal Oleksiejczuk vs. Michel Pereira
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pereira (-148), Oleksiejczuk (+124)

Round 1
A casual observer might look at this battle of Michel vs. Michal and not immediately know which one competed at light heavyweight recently. By the size of Pereira (29-11, 2 NC; 7-2 UFC), he does not look like the kind of person that made welterweight in 2022. On the other hand, Oleksiejczuk (19-6, 1 NC; 7-4, 1 NC UFC) appears well-suited for his newer, lighter weight class, and his knockout last year over Chidi Njokuani shines on his ledger. Pereira is psyched to compete in Miami, and he brings his cousin with him to do a synchronized, choreographed dance before walking out. This potentially wild 185-pound affair will be officiated by referee Dan Miragliotta, and there is a quick glove touch from the competitors to get it going. Pereira hops back and forth, changing stances, and he dodges a right hand and rips two kicks to the body. Oleksiejczuk goes over the top with a right hook, and Pereira backs off and skirts to the side. Pereira lands two speedy punches before springing to the side, and he drives a right hand on the solar plexus and hurts Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk backs off to the fence, bent over but trying to remain on his feet, and Pereira charges at him and knees him twice in the same spot to buckle the Polish fighter’s knees.
Oleksiejczuk slumps to the ground, and Pereira leaps around to take his back and grab hold of a rear-naked choke without even bothering to get a hook in. The Brazilian locks down the choke and his forearm slides beneath the chin, and he squeezes with all his might. Oleksiejczuk does not once consider tapping, and he fades into unconsciousness as the submission puts him all the way out.
Miragliotta pulls them apart when recognizing Oleksiejczuk is out cold, and Pereira rushes to the center of the cage and breakdances to celebrate. What a performance for Pereira, who has now won seven in a row and may soon be a contender at his new weight class of middleweight.

The Official Result
Michel Pereira def. Michal Oleksiejczuk R1 1:01 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 3, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Angelo picks Michel Pereira, citing his better cardio, power, and grappling. He notes Oleksiejczuk has a great chin but can fade. He has a half-unit bet on Pereira at -130, but keeps it small because Oleksiejczuk could survive early and outpoint him.

Half unit bet on Pereira at -130.
"I still think P wins this fight and I do like the odds at minus 130 I've got a little bit of a bet on that as well half a unit on P here"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Big Brady picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to win by decision. He notes that while Pereira has a BJJ black belt, he doesn't wrestle often and lacks the cardio to grapple for 15 minutes. He expects the fight to stay on the feet, where Oleksiejczuk's forward pressure, body work, and volume will wear down Pereira and win the later rounds.

win by decision
"I'm going to go Mel o to win this fight Win It by decision I think the bodyw work's going to come into play the cardio the volume is all going to come into play"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Cody notes that Pereira has matured and now fights more conservatively, using his accuracy and wrestling. He thinks Oleksiejczuk is a reckless brawler with poor takedown defense, and Pereira will counter him and mix in takedowns to win a decision.

"I will go with Pereira"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 4, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Oleksiejczuk has great durability and forward pressure, marching forward and breaking opponents with his boxing. He has eaten clean shots and continued to push. Pereira is dangerous early with his unorthodox power, but Oleksiejczuk's durability should allow him to weather the early storm. As the fight goes on, Oleksiejczuk will start to catch Pereira, coral him against the cage, and land combinations. I expect Oleksiejczuk to get a finish in the second or third round, possibly by knockout.

Oleksiejczuk by knockout, live betting Oleksiejczuk after first round
"I have to lean with the O shuk side here as I believe that his durability will allow him to kind of just way through the early threat that Pera normally uh implements in his fights and from there I …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Michel Pereira

Paul agrees, highlighting Pereira's improved fight IQ and the fact that he looked great at 185. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's wrestling is exploitable and that Pereira has multiple ways to win.

"Pereira is the pick for me as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 5, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The MMA Guru picks Michał Oleksiejczuk, citing concerns about Michel Pereira's finishing ability and cardio. He notes Pereira failed to finish chinny fighters like Andre Fialho and Nico Price, and that Oleksiejczuk is extremely tough and has power. He predicts Oleksiejczuk will pressure Pereira, take him down, and finish with a body shot TKO in round two.

round two body shot TKO
"I'm GNA say round two body shot TKO from maau Alex huk"
Expert Picks (16)
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 25, 2026 (2 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, believing Magomedov is fragile and has suspect cardio. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's hands are dangerous and that he will come on strong in rounds 2 and 3, while Magomedov fades. He likes Oleksiejczuk by KO in round 2 or 3.

Oleksiejczuk by KO +195; Oleksiejczuk round 2 KO +700; Oleksiejczuk round 3 KO +1000.
"I like Jchuk, dude. Ole Jchuk gang."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ DeVito is confident that Michał Oleksiejczuk will defeat Abusupiyan Magomedov, who he believes is declining and has a weak will to win. He expects Oleksiejczuk to win by KO in round two or three, citing Magomedov's tendency to gas and melt under pressure. He likes the moneyline at -115 and also mentions the KO prop at +175.

Oleksiejczuk by KO at +175; Oleksiejczuk by KO round 2 at +700; round 3 at +1000.
"I really think we're looking at um Avis Momedov kind of in a similar spot to Michelle Pereira, he's falling off... I'm going McColl Juk. I think he wins by KO. Minus 115 is a pretty nice line."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ picks Oleksiejczuk as an underdog, believing he has improved his takedown defense with Fighting Nerds and has the cardio advantage. He notes Magomedov fades after the first round and that Oleksiejczuk can put him away with big shots in the later rounds. AJ expects a knockout in round 2 or 3.

Knockout +200
"I think Ole Jchuk is putting him away with big shots. So, I'm going second or third round KO Jchuk."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 22, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

AJ picks Oleksiejczuk by knockout, citing Magomedov's poor cardio and tendency to fade after round one. Oleksiejczuk has improved grappling defense and power, and should survive the first round to take over and finish Magomedov in the second or third.

Over 1.5 rounds -136. Oleksiejczuk +120 underdog.
"I'm going Ole Jchic knockout. I think he sleeps him in the second or third round."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo is surprised Abus Magomedov has flipped to underdog and thinks he wins the fight. He notes that Michał Oleksiejczuk has dangerous hands but poor cardio and grappling, and has been knocking out bums. Abus is more technical and can wrestle, so if he weathers the early storm and gets grappling going, he should run away with it.

over 1.5 rounds
"Abus Magomedov, I don't know how he flipped to the underdog. I'm surprised. He was the favorite, he's now the dog... and as a dog, I think he wins this fight."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo picks Magomedov, citing his multiple paths to victory: he can outstrike Oleksiejczuk, outgrapple him, or weather the early storm and win as Oleksiejczuk fades. He notes both have bad cardio, but Magomedov's is slightly better.

"Aboose is the pick. He has multiple ways to win. He could potentially outstrike MCL. McCall's going to be so much faster, hit so much harder, but Aboose can manage the range. He can certainly outgra and if he just weathers an early storm and has three minutes of cardio …"
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Angelo picks Abus because he has multiple paths to victory (striking and grappling) while Michał only has striking. He notes that both fighters have cardio issues, but Abus can fall back on wrestling. He expects a fun start but a boring finish once Abus starts shooting takedowns.

"Abus can win this fight multiple ways, right? He could potentially be the better striker here. He can definitely be the better grappler here. And McCall only has one path, and that's be the better striker."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Big Brady picks Abusupiyan Magomedov to win by submission. He highlights Magomedov's grappling credentials, having taken down and submitted black belts like Bruno Ferreira. Oleksiejczuk has terrible grappling, submitted multiple times. Brady expects Magomedov to take him down early and submit him in round one, though he notes Magomedov's questionable cardio and durability could lead to a second-round knockout loss if he gasses.

win by submission, under probably a good look
"I'm going to pick Abus Magda by submission, but I think like an under probably a good look in this fight."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Cody picks Magomedov, agreeing with Paul. He highlights Oleksiejczuk's defensive wrestling issues and Magomedov's wrestling pedigree. He thinks Magomedov can take him down and control the fight, though he acknowledges Oleksiejczuk's power and finishing ability.

"I'm going with wrestling over uh I know I've been mostly taking damage over control time, but these guys are middleweights and like the control time will probably outweigh, you know, the half dozen punches that are landed standing."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Daniel Levi picks Michał Oleksiejczuk to upset Abusupiyan Magomedov, citing his improved confidence and training at Fighting Nerds after moving from a garage gym. He notes Oleksiejczuk's marauding pressure, body shots, and recent win streak, while Magomedov has a history of fading in fights. Levi believes Oleksiejczuk's level-up and aggression will be key, though he acknowledges Magomedov's grappling threat.

"I'm going to pick Mihal to come out here, get this upset over Abus Magomedov, Inbaku Azer Bejan, climb the ranks."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Jacob picks Magomedov, calling him one of the better plays on the card. He thinks Magomedov is bigger and can bully Oleksiejczuk, who fades hard after round one. He dismisses Oleksiejczuk's win streak as beating cans and notes his grappling holes.

"I think Aboose minus 130. One of the better plays on this card. I think he has the submission path. He has the knockout path."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Jun 21, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Lucrative James picks Michał Oleksiejczuk (Michelle Alex) because he believes Alex has better cardio, heart, will to win, and power. He notes that Abus Magomedov is more skilled technically but tends to crumble when pressured and has poor cardio. He expects Abus to start well and possibly get takedowns, but predicts the momentum will shift and Alex will finish him in round two. He also mentions that if Abus is a big underdog, he might be worth a bet, but his pick is Alex via KO.

If Abus is a big underdog, which I kind of feel like he's going to be a decent underdog, maybe that is a good bet.
"I will pick Michelle Alex to win the fight via KO in round two."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The host acknowledges Magomedov's early danger with explosivity and power, but believes in Oleksiejczuk's improvements to avoid an early finish. He thinks Oleksiejczuk's pressure striking style will catch up to Magomedov, leading to a knockout win.

Oleksiejczuk wins by knockout
"I believe in the improvements of Oleksiejczuk enough that he won't get finished early, and I think his pressure striking style is going to catch up to Magomedov leading to Olexiy winning this fight by knockout."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 23, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

Oleksiejczuk has elite durability and has improved his striking and cardio with the Fighting Nerds. Magomedov has cardio issues and tends to fade. Oleksiejczuk will deal with early adversity and then walk him down for a knockout.

Oleksiejczuk by knockout
"I'm going to go Ole Shuk here. I think he deals with the early adversity here from Mamedov and then I think he starts walking him down and eventually finds a big knockout."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 24, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Abusupiyan Magomedov

Paul picks Magomedov, citing his wrestling edge and Oleksiejczuk's poor takedown defense. He notes Oleksiejczuk's cardio issues and tendency to fade, and believes Magomedov can win early rounds and possibly coast. He prefers Magomedov pre-fight but suggests live betting Oleksiejczuk if he survives the first.

"I think like pre-fight flop I got to go with the guy that I think is going to be winning early and might be able to continue it and that's a boost from a live betting perspective."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 26, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Michał Oleksiejczuk

The Guru picks Oleksiejczuk, citing his pressure, boxing, and takedown defense. He believes Oleksiejczuk will mitigate Magomedov's kicks by moving forward and land in exchanges. He expects a finish, possibly in the first round.

"I'm going to go with Michał Oleksiejczuk to get the job done though."