Liam Lindsay

A massive fight in the Welterweight division has just been revealed. According to Stephen Thompson, he will face Shavkhat Rakhmonov at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, on December 16th at UFC 296.

**This bout takes place in the Welterweight (170 lbs) division.**

Shavkhat Rakhmonov holds an undefeated record of 17-0 (5-0 UFC) and is ranked #6 in the Welterweight division. He has credible wins over Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Carlston Harris.

Stephen Thompson is ranked #7 in the Welterweight division and holds a professional MMA record of 17-6-1 (12-6-1 UFC), with credible wins over Kevin Holland, Jorge Masvidal, and Vicente Luque.

**Official odds have yet to be released.**

Shavkhat "Nomad" Rakhmonov has looked unstoppable during his five fights in the UFC. Rakhmonov has never seen the judges scorecards, finishing all of his fights inside the distance, with nine by submission and eight via KO/TKO. In his last bout, he submitted Geoff Neal in the third round with a standing rear naked choke, capping off an impressive performance and taking home the Fight of The Night bonus. He now looks to test himself against one of the UFC's most dangerous strikers.

![rakhmonov-choke.webp](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5736ccb6-b0e1-4cd8-6657-61c19375e900/pub "Shavkhat Rakhmonov submitting Geoff Neal at UFC 285. Credits to: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC.")

Stephen Thompson is also coming off a Fight of The Night winner, upsetting Kevin Holland back in December 2022. Despite getting rocked early in the contest, Thompson would rally back and brutalize Holland in the fourth round before a corner stoppage at the end of the round, landing a myriad of spinning attacks on Holland, who sustained a broken hand in the first round. "Wonderboy" now looks to climb back into the top 5 of the division, and a win over Rakhmonov is his pathway into there.

![thompson-holland.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/10e65316-f1a0-4853-aff7-417df951e100/pub "Stephen Thompson striking with Kevin Holland in his last bout. Credits to: Nathan Ray Seebeck - USA TODAY Sports.")

This fight has been brewing for some time now, and an official announcement from the UFC could be just days away. So, who do you have winning? As a member of the Verdict Community, give us your prediction in the comments below.

Stephen Thompson Announces He's Accepted a Fight vs. Shavkhat Rakhmonov

ROUNDHOUSE MMA

Did Khamzat Chimaev just steal a title shot away from Sean Strickland? That seems to be the overall theme amongst MMA fans following Chimaev's domination of Robert Whittaker on Saturday which took him just three minutes and 34 seconds. 

To get you up to speed, Sean Strickland defeated Paulo Costa back in June, and Dricus Du Plessis submitted Israel Adesanya in August. The two seemed on a collision course to meet again. Instead of taking on another contender, Strickland opted to wait for a title shot, which now may not look like the best idea. Recency bias is key in mixed martial arts, and Khamzat Chimaev may have just earned himself a crack at Dricus Du Plessis. 

So, what is next for Chimaev and Whittaker? Let's talk about it here. 

As I said previously, recency bias is crucial in mixed martial arts. Consider Dricus Du Plessis-Sean Strickland II cancelled. Khamzat Chimaev's win over Robert Whittaker was dominant and terrifying and gave the UFC and its fans enough ammunition to promote and build a fight between Du Plessis and Chimaev. Now 14-0, Chimaev is the boogeyman this Middleweight division needs, and if he can defeat Du Plessis and win the title, the UFC will have a megastar on their hands. 

In terms of Robert Whittaker, he suffered a major injury to his jaw during the fight. Hopefully, this doesn't keep him out of action too long, but when he can return, I'd like to see him booked against Sean Strickland. With the title shot going to Chimaev, Strickland will have paid the price for attempting to wait for a rematch with Du Plessis. Both men can quickly get back into the title picture with a win. 

Think Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker should fight someone else? Let us know in the comments. 

What's Next For Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker?

Douglas Vegas Bets

Shara "Bullet" Magomedov remained undefeated with a knockout win after a fun fight with Armen Petrosyan to open the UFC 308 main card.

Result: Shara Magomedov def. Armen Petrosyan via 2nd Round KO (4:52)
## 
The fight saw the two men kick each other's legs and trade boxing combos through a close first round, with Magomedov gaining momentum late. That momentum carried into round two, where Magomedov began to time his punches, landing big counter rights repeatedly. Near the end of round two, Magomedov missed on a spinning back fist but threw another back fist as he turned back around. The second strike connected and knocked Petrosyan down and out.


>"I smash Israel Adesanya" - Shara Magomedov

What did you think of Magomedov's performance? Let us know in the comments!

Shara Magomedov Scores Highlight Knockout at UFC 308

After an early knockdown made it seem like it wouldn't be his night, Lerone Murphy was able to rally late to win the last two rounds and take a decision over Dan Ige on the UFC 308 main card.

Result: Lerone Murphy def. Dan Ige via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x 3) 

The first round saw Ige come out very aggressive and use his big power to back Murphy up before landing a huge shot that sent Murphy to the floor and nearly had him finished. Murphy survived and used his striking at a distance to take a close second round and even up the fight going into the final frame. Ige was able to secure some top time, but with just over a minute left, Murphy reversed him and landed some big shots to steal momentum and eventually the fight.

"I want someone in that top ten" - Lerone Murphy

What did you think of Murphy's performance? Let us know in the comments!

Lerone Murphy Comes Back to Take Close Fight With Dan Ige at UFC 308

Magomed Ankalaev secured a decision victory over Aleksandar Rakic on the main card at UFC 308. With this win, he expects to be next in line for a shot at the Light Heavyweight title.

## Result: Magomed Ankalaev def. Aleksandar Rakic via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x 3) 

Rakic started the fight strong with a very kick-heavy attack that helped him win the first round in most people's eyes. The second round saw the damage mount on Rakic as Ankalaev began to take over the fight with his constant forward pressure. The final round saw more pressure from Ankalaev before a late grappling attack from Rakic, which was not very successful, although it confused some people as it was an odd strategic choice.


>"Alex, stop running away from me" - Magomed Ankalaev

What did you think of the fight? Let us know in the comments!

Magomed Ankalaev Calls For Title Shot After UFC 308 Win

It was an incredible fight while it lasted, but in the end, Ilia Topuria was able to defend his Featherweight title with a knockout win over Max Holloway in the UFC 308 Main Event.

## Result: Ilia Topuria def. Max Holloway via 3rd Round KO (1:34) 

The fight saw a lot of back and forth from the first round, with the story being the volume of Holloway against the power of Topuria, with both having their moments through two rounds. The third round saw Topuria begin to land big shots more frequently, eventually rocking Holloway badly and beginning to unload before finding a nasty left hook that sent Holloway to the canvas, where Topuria quickly jumped on him to finish becoming the first to ever knockout Max Holloway.


>"To beat a legend like Max Holloway, I can't believe it" - Ilia Topuria

What did you think of the fight? Let us know in the comments!

Ilia Topuria Knocks Out Max Holloway in UFC 308 Main Event

It was all Chimaev from the very beginning as he quickly disposed of former Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the UFC 308 co-main event.

## Result: Khamzat Chimaev def. Robert Whittaker via 1st Round Submission (3:34) 

Chimaev was able to get Whittaker down within the first thirty seconds of the fight and control from there, patiently advancing position before eventually securing a neck crank that would force the tap from Whittaker. It was shown after the fight that the submission caused serious damage to the jaw of Robert Whittaker, showing the freakish strength of Khamzat Chimaev.


>"Give me the title" - Khamzat Chimaev

What did you think of Chimaev's performance? Let us know in the comments!

Khamzat Chimaev Makes Quick Work of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308

This weekend, the UFC is back on PPV with one of the most anticipated fights of the year going down as Ilia Topuria defends his Featherweight title against Max Holloway at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. I gave my prediction for that matchup and every other fight on this absolutely stacked card, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 10/23/2024**

## Ilia Topuria -263 vs. Max Holloway +205

My most anticipated fight in a long time goes down in our main event for the Featherweight title. Ilia Topuria is an offensive juggernaut with insane one-punch knockout power in his hands that he sets up with his crisp boxing technique and a ground game that is not to be slept on. Max Holloway is one of the most popular fighters in the UFC, and not just because he's a great guy, it's also because he is one of the most consistently entertaining fighters ever with a high volume kickboxing style that features almost unmatchable output, although little defense which has always been made up for by his granite chin.

I see Topuria consistently landing big power shots on the feet throughout this one, maintaining a solid pace as he did against Josh Emmett and taking home a clear decision win. However, a knockout wouldn't shock me with how hard Topuria hits.

Prediction: Topuria by Decision

## Robert Whittaker +200 vs. Khamzat Chimaev -256

The co-main event is an intriguing matchup at Middleweight, which will likely produce a title challenger. Robert Whittaker is a former champion with an incredible resume, having used his high-level striking and takedown defense to remain near the top of the division since he entered it, although there are some durability questions after multiple finish losses. Khamzat Chimaev is an all-action wrestler with a nasty ground-and-pound-and-submission game that he has used to dispose of many opponents quickly; however, when they survive, he has faded later in fights, with those having been just three rounds. 

It's easy to forget how insane Chimaev has looked because of the inactivity, but he has been unstoppable when he is healthy. If he returns in that form, I have difficulty seeing Whittaker survive long enough to gain momentum.

Prediction: Chimaev by 1st Round KO

## Magomed Ankalaev -370 vs. Alekandar Rakic +275

Top Light Heavyweights will clash here in this high-stakes matchup. Magomed Ankalaev is a fighter who has been thought to be the best in this division by some with his high-level striking and solid wrestling attack, although he has shown his flaws, having struggled with leg kicks against Jan Blachowicz. Aleksandar Rakic is an explosive kickboxer with fast kicks at range; he looked great in his last fight against Jiri Prochazka until he got caught in round two and could not recover.

I lean towards Ankalaev as my pick, but the price is far too much to make a bet on him, so I will instead play the fight to go the distance, as both men are rather durable and have plenty of experience going the distance.

Prediction: Ankalaev by Decision

## Lerone Murphy -256 vs. Dan Ige +200

An unbeaten Featherweight faces another tough challenge as he looks to move up the rankings. Lerone Murphy comes into this one off a breakout performance against Edson Barboza, where he dominated a striking battle with the veteran for five rounds, showing his boxing skills and high output. Dan Ige is a battle-tested veteran ready to take on any challenge on a moment's notice, as he did earlier this year, taking on Diego Lopes on just hours' notice and going three hard rounds, showing his insane durability and power.

I've got Murphy to take a decision here, as I see him as the higher-output fighter on the feet with the ability to mix in the wrestling game if he chooses. However, Ige has proven nearly impossible to finish, so I bet the decision prop to lower the price on Murphy.

Prediction: Murphy by Decision (Best Bet)

## Shara Magomedov -167 vs. Armen Petrosyan +136

Middleweight strikers are set to go head-to-head in this must-see matchup. Shara Magomedov has caught the attention of many with his flashy, kick-heavy style that has helped him win his first three UFC fights, although his wrestling remains a concern, with Bruno Silva finding a lot of success there late in that matchup. Armen Petrosyan is a solid kickboxer who has proven a tough test for many at this level, earning wins over names like Gregory Rodrigues and Christian Leroy Duncan.

I'll go with Petrosyan here, as he is a much more proven fighter who has only lost to grapplers during his UFC run and will have the skill to deal with Magomedov's kicks.

Prediction: Petrosyan by Decision

## Ibo Aslan -102 vs. Raffael Cerqueira -119

Light Heavyweight finishers are set to face off here. Ibo Aslan is a dangerous finisher early in fights, and he avenged his only career loss in his last fight by knocking out Anton Turkalj with a big right hand after a back-and-forth battle. Raffael Cerqueira makes his debut here as an undefeated finisher, having ended ten of his eleven wins inside the distance, although he has yet to face any serious competition, leaving many questions.

I'm picking Cerqueira as although he has not proven much at this level, I am not very high on Aslan, and Cerqueira has proven very dangerous at the least.

Prediction: Cerqueira by 2nd Round KO

## Geoff Neal -313 vs. Rafael dos Anjos +240

Veteran Welterweights square off in this fun prelim clash. Geoff Neal is a hard-hitting striker with good hands and a deadly head kick to go with a solid counter-wrestling game. Rafael dos Anjos is a former Lightweight champion who has undoubtedly seen his best days, but he remains a very well-rounded fighter capable of mixing his skills to give opponents trouble.

I like Neal here as his takedown defense has always been very solid, and I give him a clear striking advantage against the much older opponent.

Prediction: Neal by 3rd Round TKO

## Myktybek Orolbai -323 vs. Mateusz Rebecki +250

Two interesting Lightweights to watch battle here, looking to establish their place in the division. Myktybek Orolbai has made a strong impression in just two UFC fights, showing a dominant wrestling game. Mateusz Rebecki has yet to achieve the success that many expected him to have when he joined the UFC, although he has proven dangerous with finishes over Loik Radzhabov and Roosevelt Roberts, showing both knockout power and submission skills.

I'll go with Orolbai here. He should have an advantage on the ground and in the cardio that gives him a clear path to victory.

Prediction: Orolbai by Decision

## Abus Magomedov -139 vs. Brunno Ferreira +114

Middleweights looking to build off wins square off in this one. Abus Magomedov is a tall kickboxer who showed some decent wrestling to get the win his last time out, although his cardio remains a concern, with him having faded as his fights have gone on several times. Brunno Ferreira has been a brawler in his wild UFC run, with all his fights ending with a first-round knockout and him being victorious three of the four times.

I lean towards Magomedov here. Both guys have durability issues, but Magomedov is the cleaner striker with a better ground game and more experience when fights get extended.

Prediction: Magomedov by 2nd Round TKO

## Kennedy Nzechukwu -625 vs. Chris Barnett +420

An always fun character returns in this Heavyweight clash. Kennedy Nzechukwu is a tough and dangerous striker who has had some strong UFC showings, like his wins over Carlos Ulberg and Ion Cutelaba, but he comes into this having lost his last two. Chris Barnett is as fun to watch as it gets, throwing, spinning, and jumping kicks, although he has been out for several years now and is getting up there in age, leading to significant concerns.

I'm going with Nzechukwu to get the knockout here, as despite his inconsistency, Barnett is now thirty-eight years old and has not fought in over two years.

Prediction: Nzechukwu by 2nd Round TKO

## Farid Basharat -625 vs. Victor Hugo +440

Two up-and-coming Bantamweights square off in this fun prelim matchup. Farid Basharat is a solid grappler, having wrestled his way to wins over solid competition like Taylor Lapilus and Da'Mon Blackshear. Victor Hugo is a counterstriker with plenty of experience outside of the UFC.

This price makes it very tempting to take Hugo, but I'll pick Basharat as I see him as the more active fighter who uses his ground game to take rounds.

Prediction: Basharat by Decision

## Bruno Silva +133 vs. Ismail Naurdiev -164

These Middleweights desperately need a win as they clash here. Bruno Silva is a veteran striker who has been tested against some of the best the division offers, although he has looked rough lately, losing five of his last six fights. Ismail Naurdiev returns to the UFC up a weight class after a Welterweight stint several years ago, where he saw some success but not enough to remain with the promotion.

I'll pick Naurdiev here with him being the much younger fighter who I feel is more likely to improve going into this fight while Silva is likely to continue his decline.

Prediction: Naurdiev by Decision

## Rinat Fakhretdinov -256 vs. Carlos Leal +200

Short notice replacement keeps this Welterweight fight on the card. Rinat Fakhretdinov is a strong wrestler with awkward but powerful striking, although his cardio has sometimes been questionable. Carlos Leal makes his UFC debut here after earning two first-round knockout wins following his stint with the PFL, where he saw mixed success.

I lean towards Fakhretdinov here as he is relentless with his ground attack and has been preparing for a fight.

Prediction: Fakhretdinov by Decision

UFC 308 Odds Breakdown

Joey Kolnicki

This Saturday, the UFC heads to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi to host an outstanding pay-per-view card. The entire card is filled with fascinating matchups, ranked fighters, and rising stars. Although the main card is outstanding, there are plenty of excellent fights on the prelims. The most interesting of these matchups might just be Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Chris Barnett, two opponents with an eight-inch difference in height and reach.

*This fight takes place in the Heavyweight (265 lbs.) division.*

Kennedy Nzechukwu has a professional record of 12-5-0 and has won three of his last five fights. He has UFC victories over Carlos Ulberg, Ion Cutelaba, and Devin Clark.

Chris Barnett has a professional record of 23-8-0 and has won three of his last five bouts. He has UFC victories over Gian Villante and Jake Collier.

![nzechukwu2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/dc9ece3b-1bf9-4d88-bc89-cc8f2f095e00/public "Kennedy Nzechukwu blasts Ion Cutelaba with a brutal knee to the head. Credit: Zuffa LLC.")

Nzechukwu has big-time power in both hands and loves to hang in the pocket and throw heavy hooks. He’s a massive fighter at 6’5” and seemingly always has a significant reach advantage. Despite his length, he won’t typically spend much time at a distance, preferring to let his hands go inside the pocket. Nzechukwu prefers power to volume, constantly looking to close the distance and land a knockout blow. Training at Fortis MMA, he is exceptionally durable and has gotten himself out of some very tough spots, both on the feet and ground. With seven of his nine finishes coming in round 2 or later, he can be a bit of a slow starter but improves as the fight continues.

![barnett2 (2).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d55f85b3-9ba2-4b95-c5e3-b90bd7cc4000/public "Chris Barnett drops Gian Villante with a spinning wheel kick. Credit: MMA Junkie.")

Barnett is a wild, exciting striker with a diverse kicking game and surprising explosiveness. He has solid footwork and head movement but is always willing to close the distance and brawl inside the pocket. Training at Hardcore Gym, he’ll constantly blitz forward to either unload quick, precise shots or extend long combinations, often dipping his head before unloading hooks and overhands. Barnett is a 3rd dan black belt in Taekwondo and can fire impressive, flashy kicks, even earning a spinning wheel kick KO in his second UFC appearance. Although he hasn’t attempted a takedown in his promotional tenure, he has a background in judo and wrestling and is a capable grappler. He has solid cardio and is comfortable in any kind of fight, whether it's a slower-paced, more technical bout or a wild brawl. 

![barnett1 (1).jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d59a1341-a8a5-44b7-528b-40b652e74000/public "Chris Barnett rains down ground and pound onto Jake Collier. Credit: Zuffa LLC.")

This is a fight you definitely won’t want to miss.


Verdict's Sleeper Fight of the Week: Nzechukwu vs. Barnett

The UFC returns to the Apex this weekend, headlined by fast-rising Middleweight contenders Michel Pereira and Anthony Hernandez. I went over that matchup and every other fight on the main card to give my predictions and best bets, so let's get into it.

**Odds provided by Duelbits accurate as of 10/17/2024**

## Michel Pereira +113 vs. Anthony Hernandez -139

Middleweights with long win streaks will clash in this high-stakes main event. Michel Pereira is a wild and dangerous finisher with explosive power and an unorthodox style, although his cardio is questionable. Anthony Hernandez is a relentless chain wrestler who has a nasty submission game, although he is hittable on the feet, especially early in fights.

I've got Hernandez here as if he can get past the first few minutes. I see him wearing down Pereira and taking over the fight with his grappling.

Prediction: Hernandez by 3rd Round Submission (Best Bet)

## Rob Font +320 vs. Kyler Phillips -435

It's a tough test for a rising talent at Bantamweight as he faces a battle-tested veteran. Rob Font is a high-volume boxer who has battled with many of the division's best, although his durability has failed him of late, with him being dropped and hurt badly numerous times across his last few outings. Kyler Phillips is a unique fighter with a flashy and dangerous striking style to go with a nasty submission game, although, at times, he can gas himself out by going too hard early, as was the case against Raulian Paiva.

I'll go with Phillips here, as he is the younger fighter on his way up and has more tools in his arsenal. I lean towards him getting a decision, as Font is tough to KO, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a finish with his durability fading.

Prediction: Phillips by Decision

## Sumudaerji +185 vs. Charles Johnson -233

Flyweights looking to establish their place in the rankings will face off in this one. Sumudaerji is a solid striker with a long reach for the division, although his grappling has been a serious issue over his career, with him having been submitted several times. Charles Johnson is a fast-paced fighter with good boxing who often has to overcome a slow start to get the win.

I lean towards Sumudaerji at this price as he will likely have more success striking at range. Johnson has yet to show much of a ground game at this level, which limits the concerns about submission defense on the other side.

Prediction: Sumudaerji by Decision

## Jake Hadley -526 vs. Cameron Smotherman +380

This is a short-notice clash here at Bantamweight between two young prospects. Jake Hadley is a solid submission grappler who showed solid striking skills in his last fight, winning a decision over Caolan Loughran in his first fight since moving up to this division. Cameron Smotherman steps in for his debut here. He is a striker with serious power in his hands but is coming off his first career win by submission, showing that he's still adding to his game at twenty-eight.

I'll pick Hadley here, but I can't lay this price on him as Smotherman has dangerous power and has never been submitted, with Hadley having struggled to get fights to the ground on his terms so far in the UFC.

Prediction: Hadley by Decision

## Darren Elkins -110 vs. Daniel Pineda -111

Featherweight veterans square off here to open the main card. Darren Elkins is a gritty wrestler known for his ability to take damage and come back to win. Daniel Pineda is a pure finisher, with all twenty-eight of his career wins coming inside the distance, showing his all-offense style; although he has slowed down since his younger days, he looks a step slower than he once did.

I lean towards Pineda as he is the more dangerous of the two, with slightly less damage taken over his career, although I am not eager to bet either side here.

Prediction: Pindea by 2nd Round TKO

## Matheus Nicolau +160 vs. Asu Almabayev -200

It's a clash of styles here in the Flyweight featured prelim. Matheus Nicolau is looking to bounce back from two straight knockout losses; he is a solid striker with good takedown defense, but his volume on the feet does leave some to be desired. Asu Almabayev comes into this one looking to make a name for himself, coming off three straight victories to start his UFC run, showing a strong wrestling attack and dangerous submission game.

I'm taking Nicolau here as he has the takedown defense to force a striking match here, where I give him a slight advantage despite his durability concerns.

Prediction: Nicolau by Decision

## Brad Katona +180 vs. Jean Matsumoto -227

Bantamweights at very different career points will collide in this interesting matchup. Brad Katona is the only two-time Ultimate Fighter winner, but he has yet to have much consistent success at the UFC level despite having shown a well-rounded skillset with good boxing and wrestling. Jean Matsumoto is an undefeated prospect coming in off a debut win over Dan Argueta, in which he showed his solid striking base along with the nasty choke game that he has used to finish several past opponents.

I'll take Katona here, as he has the skills to match Matsumoto anywhere and is the more experienced of the two. I see this playing out to a close decision, with Katona coming on strong late with his cardio advantage. 

Prediction: Katona by Decision

## Robelis Despaigne -370 vs. Austen Lane +280

Heavyweight finishers face off in the first fight of the night. Robelis Despaigne is a dangerous knockout artist with an Olympic taekwondo background, but his ground game proved virtually non-existent last time out, as Waldo Cortes-Acosta was able to wrestle him for three rounds. Austen Lane is a former football player with decent power in his hands and some wrestling, although he has not been able to sustain that over an entire fight, and he doesn't take damage well.

I see Despaigne landing big early to get a quick finish, as Lane doesn't handle power shots well and is unlikely to keep up a wrestling-heavy attack for three rounds.

Prediction: Despaigne by 1st Round KO

UFC Fight Night Pereira vs. Hernandez Odds Breakdown

The UFC hosts yet another outstanding Fight Night card from the Apex Center in Las Vegas. Throughout the card, there’s fantastic matchups and high-level fighters looking to add to their highlight reels. Although the main card is excellent, there’s plenty of exciting preliminary bouts. Of these early matchups, the most intriguing might be Mathues Nicolau vs. Asu Almabayev. 

*This fight takes place in the Flyweight (125 lbs.) division.*

Matheus Nicolau has a professional record of 19-5-1 and has won three of his last five fights. He has UFC victories over Matt Schnell, Manel Kape, and Tim Elliot. 

Asu Almabayev has a professional record of 20-2-0 and is on a sixteen-fight win streak. He has UFC victories over Jose Johnson, Ode’ Osbourne, and CJ Vergara. 

![nicolau2.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9a670450-093e-4c02-b608-2efacc1b6d00/public "Matheus Nicolau fires a front kick at Manel Kape. Credit: MMA Fighting.")

Nicolau is very defensively sound on the feet and remains elusive throughout, with only 34% of significant strikes attempted on him landing. He tends to float on the outside and has excellent distance management, regularly darting in and out of the pocket to land damage. Training at Novo União, he is a counter-striker who will often dip his head to throw overhands, especially with his right. Nicolau is a black belt in BJJ, averaging over one takedown landed and nearly one submission attempted per fifteen minutes, but often chooses to . His pace tends to increase as the fight continues, and he does a great job of changing levels and attacking both the head and body. All of his submissions have come via choke, and he’s extremely dangerous if he finds his opponent’s neck. 

![almabayaev.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1c71fe56-7161-4743-b23c-b82ffe67bf00/public "Asu Almabayev lands a commanding takedown on Ode' Osbourne. Credit: Zuffa LLC.")

Almabayev is exceptionally well-rounded, with dominant wrestling and flashy striking. He’ll constantly throw spinning attacks on the feet and can land damage at range or in the pocket. He has landed 17 takedowns in just three UFC fights and has excellent chain wrestling, able to find takedowns from anywhere. Training at Kill Cliff FC, Almabayev is an efficient grappler who never wastes energy or telegraphs his shots or transitions. He has smothering top control, rarely allowing his opponent to throw up any offense as he pursues a finish. Most of his finishes have come after round one, and he tends to heat up as the fight continues. 

![almabayev1.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/bbdd08ef-790b-4acc-bf14-13fb30657700/public "Asu Almabayev skillfully applies a rear-naked choke to Jose Johnson.")

This is a fight you definitely won’t want to miss.
