Preview: UFC 253 ‘Adesanya vs. Costa’ Main Card

Featherweights

Zubaira Tukhugov (19-4-1) vs. Hakeem Dawodu (11-1-1)

ODDS: Tukhugov (-115), Dawodu (-105)

This is an interesting fight on paper and should tell us a lot about these two rising prospects. Tukhugov is probably still best known for rushing the cage and attempting to attack Conor McGregor after his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov. What was initially touted as a lifetime ban instead turned into an extra year added to what wound up as a three-year sabbatical. The “Warrior” does not have the typical game of Nurmagomedov’s crew. Instead of a process-driven wrestling game, Tukhugov is more of a sniper, choosing to play a slow-paced range striking game in an attempt to shock his opponents with speed and power. When it works, there are some impressive moments, but it has also led to some uninspiring fights where neither Tukhugov nor his opponent were willing to fill space in between bursts of offense. After a violent win over Kevin Aguilar in February, Tukhugov looks to continue that momentum against Dawodu, who seeks his fifth straight win. Dawodu had a rough two years or so starting in 2016. While he was still regarded as one of the top prospects in his native Canada, his career stalled when the World Series of Fighting simply did not book him for many fights. However, Dawodu eventually got free from his contract and made it to the UFC, where he suffered a shocking upset in his promotional debut. Dawodu came in overconfident about his ability to slip shots and got caught by Danny Henry for a flash knockout and submission. Dawodu has rebounded well, however. While he is still a fighter who builds best over time, he has adopted a slower pace to start his fights, which has kept him out of danger until he eventually finds his rhythm. There is still a chance for Tukhugov to shock him. The Russian is much more explosive and powerful than Dawodu’s last few opponents, so this is essentially a proof-of-concept fight for the changes that he has made in the last few years. Add in Tukhugov’s wrestling and there is enough to make this an extremely close call, but as long as Dawodu can navigate through the first round, he should win this clearly based on volume and effectiveness. The pick is Dawodu via decision.

Continue Reading » Riddell vs. Coelho