MMA Preview – Said Nurmagomedov vs Muin Gafurov at UFC 294
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
SAID NURMAGOMEDOV VS MUIN GAFUROV FACTS
When is UFC 294? Saturday 21st October, 2023 - 17:00 (UK)
Where is UFC 294? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 294? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 294
What channel is UFC 294 on? TNT Sports 2
Where can I stream UFC 294? TNT Sports subscribers can stream the fight online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+
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!
SAID NURMAGOMEDOV VS MUIN GAFUROV LOWDOWN
Said Nurmagomedov (17-3) was building some serious momentum before running into Jonathan Martinez back at UFC Fight Night 221 in March. He was riding a four-fight win streak including a knockout over Mark Streigl (2020), submission over Cody Stamann (2022), unanimous decision over Douglas Silva de Andrade (2022) and submission over Saidyokub Kakhramonov (2022). However, Martinez was a bridge too far losing a unanimous decision to go 6-2 in the UFC.
Now, he welcomes Muin Gafurov (18-5) who is searching for his first UFC win. He went into his UFC debut coming off two superb knockouts over Herbeth Reis de Sousa (2022) and Diego Silva (2022) for LFA. He was assigned John Castaneda (2023) who was not about letting a debutant inflict a two-fight skid earning a unanimous decision and now Gafurov has another tough match-up.
SAID NURMAGOMEDOV VS MUIN GAFUROV PREDICTION
This is an interesting match-up as Nurmagomedov is a flashy striker with an array of techniques and Gafurov is a wrestler who has a penchant for a brawl.
He is heavy handed, but if he wants to have any shelf-life in the UFC, he needs to call upon his strengths and wrestle for three rounds. Nurmagomedov got taken down five times by Kakramonov before submitting him, and it is the obvious strategy.
The only problem is that Gafurov’s window is always wide open to throw a strategy out of. We can see him failing with the first couple takedown attempts and then deciding to throw down which will be a death sentence.
We feel Gafurov will not be persistent enough with his takedowns allowing Nurmagomedov to pick him apart on the feet and earning a decision or even a late submission when the Tajikistani tires.
Prediction: Nurmagomedov via Decision
Value bet: Nurmagomedov via Submission
