UFC is back again with another fight card live from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas as Bobby Green steps up on short notice to take on Islam Makhachev. We also look at the co-main event as Misha Cirkunov takes on Wellington Turman. Read on for our free predictions and betting tips.
We ???’? ???? for this one ?@MakhachevMMA & @BobbyKGreen headline #UFCVegas49 tomorrow LIVE on @ESPNPlus ? pic.twitter.com/P7l4nliXFZ
— UFC (@ufc)
Islam Makhachev vs Bobby Green
Another weekend, another short notice change to a main event. Islam Makhachev (21-1) was preparing to face Beneil Dariush in a possible title eliminator fight.
However, after injury put Dariush out of this fight, Bobby Green (29-12-1) has stepped up on short notice and will fight in the main event just two weeks after his UFC 271 win over Nasrat Haqparast.
Green is not even ranked in the top 15 of the Lightweight division and due to the circumstances, this fight will be a catchweight bout contested at 160 pounds, but a win over Makhachev could catapult Green into title contention.
Since making his UFC debut in 2013, Green has won and lost against some renowned names in the Lightweight division, but this will arguably be his toughest test to date.
Green will need to avoid being taken down by Makhachev and utilise his superior striking to have any chance of taking the win here.
For the fourth ranked contender, Makhachev, it is a case of having everything to lose here. A win here will likely not secure him as the next title challenger as it may have done had he been facing Dariush. However, a loss would see his hopes of a title shot in the near future crumble.
Makhachev has not lost since 2015 and is on a run of nine straight wins. During that time, you would be hard pressed to find a round that Makhachev has lost.
Makhachev trains with former Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and displays similarly dominant wrestling as his fellow Russian.
Out of Makhachev’s ten UFC victories in his career, five have come by submission, with four decision wins and one win by knockout.
Prediction
Green has shown incredible heart to step up on short notice just two weeks after his last fight to take on someone as dominant as Makhachev.
However, it will take something incredible for Green to pull off the upset. Makhachev is priced at 1.11 to win with Green priced at 6.5 which reflects how much the Russian is favoured.
Makhachev is unbackable at that price and instead we prefer to back the fight to last over 1.5 rounds at 1.53. Green has incredible heart and should be able to last the seven minutes and 30 seconds required to make that bet a winner.
With five of Makhachev’s ten UFC wins coming by submission including his last three, we believe the price of 2.0 for the Russian to record another submission victory is worth backing.
Massive action in the MW division ??@MishaC911 vs @TurmanMMA is set for tomorrow’s co-main event ?
[ #UFCVegas49 | LIVE on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/CcwdoGScU1
— UFC (@ufc)
Misha Cirkunov vs Wellington Turman
Latvia’s Misha Cirkunov (15-7) fights in his second Middleweight contest as he takes on Brazilian, Wellington Turman (17-5).
Both fighters have lost more than they’ve won recently, and this should be an interesting co-main event, especially with Cirkunov adjusting to life as a Middleweight after moving down from Light-Heavyweight.
After an impressive four straight victories to begin his UFC career, Cirkunov has since lost five out of his last seven fights, also losing to Krzysztof Jotko in his Middleweight debut by split decision.
The close nature of that fight can somewhat justify his decision to move down to the 185-pound division, however, Cirkunov will be under pressure to not lose three in a row as that can sometimes see fighters being cut from their UFC contract.
Turman is still a relative newcomer to the UFC having fought five times since July 2019. The Brazilian has lost three out of his first five UFC fights, with two of these coming by knockout. However, Turman redeemed himself last time out, winning via split decision against Sam Alvey.
Alvey has also fought at Light-Heavyweight previously so it would have been good experience for Turman fighting someone bigger than him, just like Cirkunov will be early Sunday morning.
However, it is difficult to place too much emphasis on that win as including that fight, Alvey has lost seven and drawn one of his last eight fights.
Prediction
Vbet has this one to be close with Cirkunov priced at 1.83 and Turman at 1.95.
We believe the slight favourite, Cirkunov, will put his five-inch reach advantage to good use and come away with the victory here. His experience of fighting bigger men regularly will also come into play.
All of Cirkunov’s UFC victories have been finishes with one knockout win and five submission victories. Cirkunov to finish the fight inside the distance is priced at 2.6.
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