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UFC Fight Night: Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro Preview & Prediction

by Gabriel Sheehan ·
Updated
UFC Fight Night: Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro Preview & Prediction

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Magomed Tuchalov and Brendson Ribeiro collide at 205 pounds on the prelims, facing off in a bout that is unlikely to require the judges' intervention.

Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro facts

What time are Magomed Tuchalov and Brendson Ribeiro 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)

Magomed Tuchalov: The undefeated prospect looks to make a splash in his UFC debut

Undefeated with a 100% finish rate across six fights, it’s not surprising that many are excited about the UFC debut of Magomed Tuchalov (6-0). He’s an enormous light heavyweight standing 6’3” with a dynamic kickboxing game and Russian pedigree wrestling, with plenty of room to grow and improve at the tender age of 26. Fighting out of the United Arab Emirates, Tuchalov has fought most of his career in UAE Warriors, winning the light heavyweight strap with a thunderous one punch KO over UFC veteran, Caio Machado, in his most recent appearance. His strength of schedule outside of Machado isn’t much to write home about, but the brutal manner in which he’s pulverized them decidedly is.

Brendson Ribeiro: Can "The Gorilla" avoid being put on another upcoming prospect's highlight reel?

Posting a 2-5 record since graduating to the promotion via the Contender Series in 2023, a loss for Brendson Ribeiro (17-10) on Saturday would mark his fourth straight defeat. In fairness to “The Gorilla,” he’s had some absolutely brutal matchups, sharing the cage with heavy hitters like Azamat Murzakhanov, Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev, and Zhang Mingyang in less than ten fights with the UFC, but the book is out on him; he’s the light heavyweight who gets called up to the plate when the the promotion need somebody put on a highlight reel. Ribeiro has power and is a big light heavyweight, but his striking and defence are dismal. More pressingly, with five losses by KO in ten defeats, his chin appears to irreparably compromised.

Magomed Tuchalov vs Brendson Ribeiro prediction

It’s not hard to see what the UFC want to happen here. Despite being born in Russia, Tuchalov fights out of Dubai and will be the hometown favorite in Abu Dhabi. He’s a big, marketable finisher with an extensive highlight reel who has never seen a third round, facing a professional can with a 2-5 UFC record who is coming off three consecutive first round stoppage losses.

To put things into perspective, Ribeiro’s only UFC wins are over Diyar Nurgozhay and Caio Machado. Nurgozhay has non-existent grappling and was submitted with ease, while “The Gorilla’s” split decision over Machado was a borderline robbery considering that he was outlanded by 76-49 across three rounds in a sloppy contest where both fighters spent extended periods of time swinging at the air. That’s not a good sign, particularly considering that Tuchalov is fresh off flatlining Machado with a one-hitter quitter in just under two minutes.

Whether Tuchalov has what it takes to cut it at the top of the light heavyweight division remains to be seen, but he should have enough to get this one done here. “Tiger” lands a bomb somewhere in the first two rounds to send Ribeiro astral traveling and hand “The Gorilla” his walking papers.

Prediction: Magomed Tuchalov to win by KO

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