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JOAQUIN BUCKLEY VS ALBERT DURAEV FACTS
When is UFC on ESPN 37? Sunday 19th June, 2022 - 12:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC on ESPN 37? Moody Center, Austin, Texas (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC on ESPN 37? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC events
What channel is UFC on ESPN 37 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC on ESPN 37? 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!
JOAQUIN BUCKLEY VS ALBERT DURAEV LOWDOWN
Joaquin Buckley (14-4) has regained some momentum after Alessio Di Chirico gave him a taste of his own medicine in January last year. Buckley was coming off two knockouts – one that will appear in every top 10 knockout reel going against Impa Kasanganay (2020) and then Jordan Wright (2020). A couple months later, the Italian served up his own beautiful head kick to knock Buckley out, but he showed a lot of character eight months later knocking out Antonio Arroyo and now he is coming off a much harder fought three rounds with Abdul Razak Alhassan (2022) doing enough to earn the split decision.
We wish Albert Duraev (15-3) was more active as he is sitting on a 10-fight win streak and we are still not sure how high his ceiling is. Eight of those wins came under the ACB banner which included two knockouts and four submissions. That earnt him an audition on the Contender Series in September last year which he passed with flying colours cranking Caio Bitencourt’s neck into submission in the first round. He then made his debut a month later earning a unanimous decision over Roman Kopylov.
JOAQUIN BUCKLEY VS ALBERT DURAEV PREDICTION
Duraev is desperate for more cage time, but his last two fights are his only bouts since 2018. That is usually a worry, but he can get away with it with his style. He enforces a suffocating pressure, taking the fight to the mat as soon as possible, closing any distance, smothering his opponents until they wilt from strikes or submissions.
If Buckley can keep the fight on the feet, Duraev’s rustiness will show as he will struggle with Buckley’s timing and the American only needs one strike to close the show. As we have seen, Buckley has a variety of fight-ending strikes so we can fully expect the Russian to try and get the fight to the canvas as soon as possible to avoid getting clipped.
Buckley can wrestle but worryingly, he only has a 40% takedown defence which were mainly Alhassan’s attempts. Unless he can catch Duraev early, he is going to have a miserable night and will do well to survive the pressure cooker.
Prediction: Duraev via Submission - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Buckley via KO/TKO