Preview: UFC on ABC 6 Prelims

Light Heavyweights

Magomed Gadzhiyasulov (8-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (15-6, 0-1 UFC)

ODDS: Gadzhiyasulov (-325), Ribeiro (+260)

This should be quick and violent. That’s typically the name of the game for Brazil’s Ribeiro, who made a career out of kill-or-be-killed fights on the regional scene before earning a contract on the Contender Series with a first-round knockout in September. Ribeiro might not always put himself in the best positions, but he’s always trying for the finish, though getting quickly knocked out by Mingyang Zhang in his UFC debut in February served as a reminder that “The Gorilla” can be beaten to the literal punch. He should have a wild fight with a UFC newcomer and fellow 2023 Contender Series alum in Gadzhiyasulov. Born in Dagestan and representing Bahrain, Gadzhiyasulov is another large light heavyweight who works with a game that’s a bit less structured but more well-rounded than Ribeiro’s. Gadzhiyasulov can pull out some wild striking techniques and wrestle a bit but mostly seems to pull ideas out of the ether rather than fight with any sort of focus. That was enough to overwhelm some lower-level opposition, but Gadzhiyasulov is now at the point where he’s facing opponents who won’t go away quickly. While his fights have gotten uglier and he has shown some holes in his cardio, he has still managed to get his last two wins over the finish line via decision. A quick win for either fighter is on the table, particularly since Ribeiro is the first credible opponent who can nullify Gadzhiyasulov’s usual size advantage, but the Russian-Bahraini gets the nod as both the more skilled fighter and seemingly the more durable competitor. The pick is Gadzhiyasulov via first-round stoppage.

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