MMA Preview – Rafael Alves vs Damir Ismagulov at UFC Vegas 27
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RAFAEL ALVES VS DAMIR ISMAGULOV FACTS
When is UFC Vegas 27? Sunday 23rd May, 2021 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC Vegas 27? UFC APEX, Enterprise, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC Vegas 27? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC events
What channel is UFC Vegas 27 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC Vegas 27? 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!
RAFAEL ALVES VS DAMIR ISMAGULOV LOWDOWN
After having a couple fights fall through, Rafael Alves (19-9) finally makes his UFC debut. He had two false starts at UFC Vegas 19 with Mike Trizano getting injured and then missing weight badly before fighting his replacement Pat Sabatini. This fight was also rescheduled and pushed forward a week so let’s hope this is not cursed. Alves captured the Titan FC interim lightweight champion during his five-fight win streak which included his last bout on the Contender Series back in August where he submitted Alejandro Flores.
Finally, Damir Ismagulov (19-1) is back. He has shown all of the promise of a future title contender, but we have not seen him since August 2019. It was his third UFC fight and third unanimous decision in a row after breezing through Alex Gorgees, Joel Alvarez and Thiago Moises. Those impressive wins capped off a 14-fight win streak and this is not a padded streak as he won the M-1 lightweight title and defended it twice before getting the call-up.
RAFAEL ALVES VS DAMIR ISMAGULOV PREDICTION
We have all been waiting a while for these guys to strap their UFC gloves on and it is likely to live up to expectation. Alves is very aggressive and can finish in a variety of ways illustrated by his seven knockouts and submissions.
Expect Alves to throw some flashy strikes, but he will need to be tactical as Ismagulov is a well-polished machine. He is a technically sound and powerful striker complimented by his wrestling.
If Alves, throws a lot of wild shots, Ismagulov will clinically counter, but he needs to keep his hands up more to avoid getting clipped. As long as the Russian can avoid Alves’ knockout power and does not leave his head in a guillotine, we expect him to put on a patient and well-rounded schooling. We completely understand why Ismagulov is the huge favourite but considering the odds and the Brazilian’s firepower, he is worth a small punt.
Prediction: Ismagulov via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Prediction: Alves via KO/TKO or Submission
