UFC Fight Night: Abubakar Vagaev vs Saygid Izagakhmaev Preview & Prediction
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Two fellow Russians, both experienced welterweights, open up the main card in Abu Dhabi, ACA champion Abubakar Vagaev makes his octagon debut against Saygid Izagakhmaev.
Abubakar Vagaev vs Saygid Izagakhmaev facts
What time are Abubakar Vagaev and Saygid Izagakhmaev expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 282
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov main card
Magomed Ankalaev vs Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
Steve Erceg vs Ramazan Temirov (Flyweight)
Islam Dulatov vs Wellington Turman (Welterweight)
Magomed Zaynukov vs Damian Rzepecki (Lightweight)
Rizvan Kuniev vs Tyrell Fortune (Heavyweight)
Abubakar Vagaev vs Saygid Izagakhmaev (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov prelims
Valter Walker vs Thomas Petersen (Heavyweight)
Dustin Jacoby vs Muhammad Said (Light Heavyweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Sam Patterson (Welterweight)
Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola (Lightweight)
Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs Mike Davis (Lightweight)
Cody Gibson vs Abdul Hussein (Bantamweight)
Abubakar Vagaev: Khabib protégé looking to avoid an 0-2 start
Saygid Izagakhmaev (22-3) arrived in the UFC with serious hype as a Team Khabib product, he rode a five fight win streak with 12 submissions to his name. That hype unfortunately took a dent in his last outing where Nicolas Dalby handed a split decision defeat on his UFC debut. In that fight Izagakhmaev showed sharp takedown timing and strong entries, but he just couldn’t deal with Dalby’s pace and pressure, couldn’t control him when he had him down, and was reversed and stuck on bottom in the second.
Saygid Izagakhmaev: ACA champion makes the step up into the UFC
Abubakar Vagaev (24-4) comes into his debut as a welterweight champion from ACA. A pro since 2012 and a regular training partner of Khamzat Chimaev, Vagaev does his best work in the grappling department, with strong takedown timing and entries, heavy knees and elbows in the clinch, and active ground and pound once he gets on top. He’s also a dynamic striker, with a clean, well-mixed stand-up game.
Abubakar Vagaev vs Saygid Izagakhmaev prediction
Dalby was able to defend takedowns and reverse position on the mat, and Vagaev has both better control and a stronger top game than Dalby. If the Chechen gets him down, the job should be easier and last longer.
The counterpoint to that is Izagakhmaev’s second-round struggles off his back may have been fatigue rather than a glaring weakness. He’s also unquestionably the superior submission artist in this matchup with 12 wins by submission, so Vagaev can’t afford to be careless in transitions or show the neck in a scramble.
Everywhere else I see the edge belongs to Vagaev – better control, better clinch work, more urgency on top, and a stand-up game varied enough to show Izagakhmaev problems. The pace and cardio points the same way, Dalby proved that pressure can disrupt Izagakhmaev’s rhythm, and Vagaev pushes well. Neither guys are easy to finish, so I see the debutant winning it on the scorecards.
Prediction: Abubakar Vagaev to win by decision
