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ABDUL RAZAK ALHASSAN VS CLAUDIO RIBEIRO FACTS
When is UFC Fight Night 217? Saturday 14th January, 2023 - 22:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Fight Night 217? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 217? Click here to buy tickets for UFC Fight Night
What channel is UFC Fight Night 217 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 217? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
ABDUL RAZAK ALHASSAN VS CLAUDIO RIBEIRO LOWDOWN
Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-3) is back in the slump. After reeling off three vintage knockouts on the spin, he lost three – a unanimous decision to Mounir Lazzez (2020), a knockout to Khaos Williams (2020) and a unanimous decision to Jacob Malkoun (2021). He bounced back in classic Alhassan fashion by folding Alessio Di Chirico (2021) with a head kick, but he is back in the loss column thanks to Joaquin Buckley. It was a close battle back in February last year and he just came up short in a split decision.
Now, he welcomes Claudio Ribeiro (10-2) to the big leagues. He is coming in hot after knocking out his last six victims. His only knockout that was not in the first round came under the Future FC banner against Kelles Albuquerque (2021) who he forced to retire in the fifth round. He then followed that up with his 10th career knockout over Ivan Valenzuela on the Contender Series back in August.
ABDUL RAZAK ALHASSAN VS CLAUDIO RIBEIRO PREDICTION
Considering 100% of their combined wins (22) have come via knockout, we have a good idea of what to expect here. Alhassan has the better experience, but Ribeiro boasts a four-inch reach and three-inch height advantage.
There would not be a better time for Alhassan to leverage his judo especially as Ribeiro has suspect takedown defence. However, in all likelihood, they are going to exchange leather until one man gets put to sleep.
Alhassan has all of the skills and experience to get the job done here. However, Ribeiro is dangerous from range and if this goes deep into the second round, you have to back the Brazilian. A knockout either way is likely and we have a feeling a Ribeiro hook will land.
Prediction: Ribeiro via KO/TKO - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Alhassan via KO/TKO