UFC Russia Occurs April 20 at Yubileyny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the following bouts have been added to the card.
Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan, UFC Fight Night 149
Lightweight contender Islam Makhachev returns to the Octagon when he chooses on UFC newcomer Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Fight Night 149. Igor Lazorin broke the news. Makhachev (16-1) has gone 5-1 overall in the Octagon and is currently riding a four-fight win streak which includes back-end stoppage wins over Gleison Tibau and Kajan Johnson. Tsarukyan (13-1) is only 22 and has already finished 10 fights, such as a brutal head kick KO win over former UFC fighter Felipe Olivieri in his last outing. He has won 12 straight fights including victories over other former UFC fighters Junior Assuncao and Takenori Sato. Though Makhachev is a huge gift and will certainly be a heavy favorite here, I was amazed appearing into Tsarukyan and give him a good chance of making this battle aggressive.
Gadzhimurad Antigulov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk , UFC Fight Night 149
Light heavyweights Gadzhimurad Antigulov and Michal Oleksiejczuk will meet in a fight that is not likely to go three full rounds. Antigulov (20-5) is 2-1 in the UFC but has been knocked out in barbarous manner by Ion Cutelaba in his last outing. Oleksiejczuk (13-2, 1 NC) recently returned from a yearlong USADA suspension to score a TKO win over Gian Villante. Both guys are treacherous fighters, but I expect Oleksiejczuk to be heavily favored here.
Magomed Mustafaev vs Rafael Fiziev, UFC Fight Night 149
Lightweights Magomed Mustafaev and Rafael Fiziev are put to fight at this function. Mustafaev (13-2) won his first two fights in the UFC but was submitted by Kevin Lee back in November 2016 and hasn’t fought since. Fiziev (6-0) has completed all six of his expert bouts including a head kick KO triumph in Titan FC his last time out. Although Russian fighters always get respect from bettors, based on Mustafaev’s extended layoff and Fiziev’s undefeated record, I expect Fiziev to be a large favorite here.
Movsar Evloev vs. Seung Woo Choi, UFC Fight Night 149
Bantamweight prospects Movsar Evloev and Seung Woo Choi are also set to clash. Evloev (10-0) was a champion in M-1 and seems to be on the Petr Yan fast-track to the UFC’s top-15 rankings. Choi (7-1) has won five of his pro fights by knockout and is making his UFC debut. Both guys seem to be solid prospects but given Evloev’s undefeated record he is surely going to be the favorite here.
Krzysztof Jotko vs. Alen Amedovski
Middleweights Krzysztof Jotko and Alen Amedovski are set to fight. Denis Geyko broke the information. Jotko (19-4) was at once an up-and-coming middleweight competition but has really fallen on hard times as of late with three consecutive losses, including consecutive TKO defeats to Brad Tavares and Uriah Hall. Amedovski (8-0) is fighting out of Macedonia and has won eight of his pro fights by knockout with his past two wins coming from Bellator. Amedovski looks like quite a promising prospect and also given the deteriorating state of Jotko’s chin, I’d go with the newcomer here.
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