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Welterweights
Rinat Fakhretdinov (18-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Andreas Michailidis (13-5, 1-2 UFC)ODDS: Fakhretdinov (-280), Michailidis (+225)
Greece’s Michailidis has struggled to carve out a niche in the UFC thus far, though “The Spartan” has at least acquitted himself well enough through three bouts. He pressed the action against Modestas Bukauskas before getting stopped, then found his first UFC win in a consistent—if unspectacular—performance against K.B. Bhullar. Michailidis was essentially put in a position to fail in his last bout, as he was matched against former kickboxing champion and potential future title challenger Alex Pereira in the Brazilian’s UFC debut. Michailidis succeeded in making the fight an ugly grind for five minutes but then ate a flying knee for a second-round knockout. This time around, Michailidis welcomes a Russian newcomer in Fakhretdinov, who makes his long-overdue UFC debut after earning a contract in January 2021. “Gladiator” can lean on his wrestling and grappling at times, but as his contract-clinching knockout of Eric Spicely showed, some of Fakhretdinov’s fights see him find his best success coming out early and throwing heat. Neither man is a particularly overwhelming force, and the fact that this bout is at welterweight makes it even harder to call. Fakhretdinov has cut down to 170 pounds only once, while Michailidis appears to have never fought down at this weight class. Fakhretdinov figures to have the easier time with the weight cut and does also appear to be both the faster striker and stronger wrestler, but there is the off-chance that something gets unlocked for Michailidis at a lower division. Failing that, Fahretdinov figures to have the advantages in a fight that is hopefully messy but entertaining. The pick is Fakhretdinov via decision.
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