UFC Fight Night: Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui Preview & Prediction
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Middleweight prospects are on deck for the second fight on the main card, with Mansur Abdul-Malik putting his undefeated record on the line against Yousri Belgaroui.
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui facts
What time are Mansur Abdul-Malik and Yousri Belgaroui expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 270
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer main card
Israel Adesanya vs Joe Pyfer (Middleweight)
Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber (Women’s Flyweight)
Michael Chiesa vs Niko Price (Welterweight)
Julian Erosa vs Lerryan Douglas (Featherweight)
Mansur Abdul Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui (Middleweight)
Terrance McKinney vs Kyle Nelson (Lightweight)
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer prelims
Ignacio Bahamondes vs Tofiq Musayev (Lightweight)
Chase Hooper vs Lance Gibson Jr (Lightweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Tyrell Fortune (Heavyweight)
Casey ONeill vs Gabriella Fernandes (Women’s Flyweight)
Navajo Stirling vs Bruno Lopes (Light Heavyweight)
Ricky Simon vs Adrian Yanez (Bantamweight)
Alexia Thainara vs Bruna Brasil (Women’s Strawweight)
Mansur Abdul-Malik: The undefeated prospect looks to score his fourth UFC victory
Undefeated in his 10 professional MMA bouts to date, Mansur Abdul-Malik (9-0-1) would be perfect in his career were it not for what seemed to be a TKO victory over Cody Brundage being overturned to a draw. A wrestling standout with ever-improving striking ability, the American earned his spot on the roster after scoring a TKO over Wes Schultz on the Contender Series and is 3-0-1 since, finishing all three of his wins inside of two rounds. With that being said, he’s hardly had the stiffest strength of schedule; Abdul-Malik’s best win is over Nick Klein, with his other victories coming over Dusko Todorovic and Antonio Trocoli.
Yousri Belgaroui: Can "Poatan's" training partner cash in as the underdog once again?
Former Glory kickboxing standout, Yousri Belgaroui (9-3), makes his sophomore bow in the promotion after an impressive debut saw him TKO Azamat Bekoev as a sizable underdog. A former opponent and current training partner of UFC mega star, Alex Pereira, the stars didn’t look to be aligning for Belgaroui in the first instance after he lost his first audition on the Contender Series to Marco Tulio. However, he made good on his second attempt, stopping Taiga Iwasaki with third round punches to earn a shot at the big leagues. One of the biggest middleweights on the UFC roster, “The Baby Face Assassin” stands 6’5 and has an enormous reach at 79”.
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui prediction
Abdul-Malik is a slight favorite heading into this one, but I actually like Belgaroui’s chances here.
The undefeated American undoubtedly has the better wrestling chops, but Belgaroui was consistently able to regain his feet even after being grounded by Azamat Bekoev in his UFC debut, an impressive achievement given the Russian’s prowess on the ground.
Abdul-Malik may have the edge in power, speed, and overall athleticism, but “The Baby Face Assassin” is decidedly the more technical striker of two men. He’s unlikely to be as willing to open up as he was in his debut against a puncher of Abdul-Malik’s power, but it’s easy to envision a scenario where he keeps the American at range behind a stiff jab and chopping low kicks, landing well timed elbows if they engage in the clinch to allow him to step away and resume peppering at range.
Both men are really exciting additions to the 185 pound shark tank, but Belgaroui’s edge in the striking department and overall experience leads me to believe that he’s good value to spring the moderate upset. The Glory kickboxing export counters Abdul-Malik’s blitzes and takedown attempts, building effective combinations off his jab across three rounds to gradually build in momentum and earn a close decision victory.
Prediction: Yousri Belgaroui to win by decision
