Preview: UFC Fight Night 180 Prelims

Bantamweights

Said Nurmagomedov (13-2) vs. Mark Striegl (18-2)

ODDS: Nurmagomedov (-425), Striegl (+340)

This should be an interesting test for Nurmagomedov in his bid to get back on track. The 28-year-old is friends with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov but not related by blood. He came into the UFC with some hype but also some questions about just how well his style was going to translate. Nurmagomedov is as dedicated a kicker as you will find, as a vast majority of his time is spent trying to kick his opponents from range while relying on some solid grappling if they try to take things to the mat. Nurmagomedov managed to crumple Ricardo Ramos in February 2019, but otherwise, his lack of power and quick-twitch athleticism has made it difficult for him to dominate. Many felt he should have dropped his UFC debut to Justin Scoggins, and he did not deal well with Raoni Barcelos’ bursts of athleticism in his last fight. In the other corner, Striegl will definitely bring some power to the table. In fact, power is mostly the name of the game for the Filipino fighter. He is at his best as a bullying wrestler, but he also has a striking game built on scaring off his opponents with large single strikes. His leg kicks could prove fruitful, but Striegl’s bulk and power come with the downside of a clear lack of speed, so Nurmagomedov should have little issue staying out of danger. The pick is for Nurmagomedov to coast to a clear decision win.