UFC 322: Baisangur Susurkaev vs Eric McConico Preview & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Middleweights are on deck for the second fight of the night, with Baisangur Susurkaev taking on Eric McConico at 185 pounds.
Baisangur Susurkaev vs Eric McConico facts
What time are Baisangur Susurkaev and Eric McConico expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev? Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 322
What TV channel is UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev main card
Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev (Welterweight)
Valentina Shevchenko vs Zhang Weili (Women’s Flyweight)
Sean Brady vs Michael Morales (Welterweight)
Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates (Welterweight)
Beneil Dariush vs Benoit Saint Denis (Lightweight)
UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev prelims
Bo Nickal vs Rodolfo Vieira (Middleweight)
Roman Kopylov vs Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight)
Erin Blanchfield vs Tracy Cortez (Women’s Flyweight)
Malcolm Wellmaker vs Ethyn Ewing (Featherweight)
Kyle Daukaus vs Gerald Meerschaert (Middleweight)
Pat Sabatini vs Chepe Mariscal (Featherweight)
Angela Hill vs Fatima Kline (Women’s Strawweight)
Baisangur Susurkaev vs Eric McConico (Middleweight)
Viacheslav Borshchev vs Matheus Camilo (Lightweight)
Baisangur Susurkaev: "Hunter" returns looking to make a statement after a mixed debut
Entering the UFC just four days after winning in spectacular fashion on the Contender Series, things didn't go exactly according to plan for hyped middleweight prospect, Baisangur Susurkaev (10-0) in his promotional debut. While the 24 year old Russian would eventually emerge victorious with a second round submission victory over Eric Nolan at UFC 319, Susurkaev found himself badly rocked by the underdog in the first round and was arguably saved by the bell. Nevertheless, Khamzat Chimaev's teammate remains one of the more exciting prospects that middleweight has to offer, courtesy of his well rounded skillset and his proclivity for finding brutal finishes.
Eric McConico: The MMA Lab representative looks to push his UFC record to 2-1
Eric McConico (10-3-1) has had mixed success since joining the promotion in February. The American suffered a nasty knockout loss in his debut at the hands of Nursulton Ruziboev, but has since rebounded somewhat with a decision victory over longtime UFC staple Cody Brundage. Unfortunately for McConico, the decision was viewed as highly controversial by large swathes of fans, meaning that he has yet to score a decisive victory in the promotion to date. The 35 year old American boasts seven finishes in his ten victories, although it's also worth noting that he's been knocked out in all three of his losses to date.
Baisangur Susurkaev vs Eric McConico prediction
With all due respect to the MMA Lab representative, it's hard to escape the sensation that McConico is getting fed to Susurkaev in the hopes that "Hunter" scores a vicious finish to get the night going in highlight reel fashion.
McConico has some power in his own right, but he's looked extremely susceptible to damage since joining the promotion; hardly surprising given that he is 35 and has been knocked out on multiple occasions throughout his career. The American was put down in short order when he engaged with Ruziboev in earnest, and getting wobbled on multiple occasions by a fighter of Cody Brundage's standing bodes ill in the face of a finisher like Susurkaev. "Hunter" doesn't even need to engage McConico on the feet; his exploits against Nolan in his debut proved that he's more than capable of dragging his opponent to the mat to score a submission.
In short, Susurkaev has an advantage everywhere the fight goes. He's a young, dangerous prospect who has considerable space to improve an already impressive skillset, while McConico is entering the twilight of his career and would arguably have struggled with "Hunter" even in his hey day.
The pick is Susurkaev by stoppage.
Prediction: Baisangur Susurkaev to win by stoppage
