Welterweights
NR | Ramiz Brahimaj (8-3 0-1 UFC) vs. NR | Sasha Palatnikov (6-3, 1-1 UFC)ODDS: Brahimaj (-125), Palatnikov (+105)
With his UFC debut in the books, it is still a bit difficult to know what to make of Brahimaj. There was little available film of Brahimaj ahead of his first Octagon appearance in 2020, most of which showed a wrestling- and grappling-focused approach—in line with the fact that all of his pro wins have come via submission. However, that November debut against Max Griffin flipped the script a bit. Brahimaj did not attempt a takedown the entire fight, opting for a striking-first approach that did not look terrible but also led to a losing effort against Griffin. This was before Griffin nearly tore off Brahimaj’s ear with an elbow, resulting in one of the gnarliest injuries of 2020. Brahimaj looks to rebound against Hong Kong’s Palatnikov, whose UFC debut in the same month went much better. Palatnikov put on a “Fight of the Night” bonus winner at UFC 255, ending Louis Cosce’s efforts in the third round after a back-and-forth war. Palatnikov is a mobile striker who is willing to try a bit of everything but locks in on his offense at the near-complete expense of his defense. Add in the fact that he is not a standout athlete, and it was no shock when he hit a clear physical wall in an April loss to Impa Kasanganay. This is a hard one to parse, as Palatnikov’s willingness to throw volume should lead to some success on the feet. However, there is just as much of a chance that Brahimaj can take this fight to the mat and ride things out—as long as his pivot away from grappling in the Griffin fight does not mark a complete style change. The pick is Brahimaj via decision.