UFC Fight Night: Melsik Baghdasaryan vs Murtazali Magomedov Preview & Prediction
Someone is likely going to sleep in the first fight on the main card, with Murtazali Magomedov debuting against Melsik Bagdhdasaryan in a featherweight showcase.
Melsik Baghdasaryan vs Murtazali Magomedov facts
What time are Melsik Baghdasaryan and Murtazali Magomedov expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Kape vs Horiguchi? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Kape vs Horiguchi? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 279
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Kape vs Horiguchi on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Kape vs Horiguchi? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Kape vs Horiguchi main card
Manel Kape vs Kyoji Horiguchi (Flyweight)
Ion Cutelaba vs Navajo Stirling (Light Heavyweight)
Hyder Amil vs Christian Rodriguez (Featherweight)
Melsik Baghdasaryan vs Murtazali Magomedov (Featherweight)
Andre Fili vs Vinicius Oliveira (Featherweight)
UFC Fight Night: Kape vs Horiguchi prelims
Andre Lima vs Kevin Borjas (Flyweight)
Beatriz Mesquita vs Melissa Mullins (Women's Bantamweight)
Allan Nascimento vs Mitch Raposo (Flyweight)
Gaston Bolanos vs Michael Aswell Jr. (Featherweight)
Leon Shahbazyan vs Levan Chokheli (Welterweight)
Karol Rosa vs Luana Santos (Women's Bantamweight)
Shane Collins vs Otari Tanzilovi (Featherweight)
Melsik Baghdasaryan: Can "The Gun" return to winning ways after an extended period on the shelf?
Former kickboxer, Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-3) makes his first appearance in over a year, returning after an extended lay-off following a highlight reel KO loss to Jean Silva in his last appearance. He's 3-2 under the UFC banner since making the jump to the promotion after earning a contract on the Contender Series, fighting just five times in a stretch that has seen him endure multiple fight cancellations. The 34 year old Armenian is at his best when he's swarming forward with tight combinations and blasting punishing kicks to the body, landing at a high clip and forcing his opponents back under his onslaught. However, despite his kickboxing credentials, he's also proven susceptible to getting hurt with counter shots as he moves forward.
Murtazali Magomedov: The undefeated "Highlight" touches down in the Octagon
Perfect through sixteen fights as an amateur and a professional, Murtazali Magomedov (10-0) looks to be one of the more promising graduates from the latest iteration of the Contender Series. Earning a contract with a brutal beatdown over the undefeated Brahyam Zurcher in just over 90 seconds, the Kyrgyzstan native is an athletic powerhouse, boasting a 100% finishing rate split evenly between KOs and submissions. At 26 years old, "The Highlight" looks to have considerable room to evolve as a prospect; a scary proposition given the success that he's achieved so far. With that being said, he has yet to be tested against a UFC caliber fighter; his win over the aforementioned Zurcher was easily the most impressive victory on his record.
Melsik Baghdasaryan vs Murtazali Magomedov prediction
The odds look to be a little steep here, given Magomedov's lack of top level experience.
"The Highlight" has looked extremely impressive throughout his young career, but he's only got three legitimate names on his resume; the rest of his record is made up of cans and journeymen. Baghdasaryan may have gotten pulverized by Jean Silva in his last outing, but he's no scrub. The Armenian is a crafty veteran with excellent kickboxing and underrated takedown defense; it's not outside the realms of possibility that he fraud checks the prospect here.
With that being said, I do think that Magomedov should take this one; Baghdasaryan has been out for more than a year and got brutally stopped in his last appearance. There's a solid chance that the manner of his first KO loss has affected his confidence on the feet moving forward, a worrying omen for a striker who relies heavily on his aggression, forward pressure, and output. Moreover, the fact that he's been put away by KO and submission already in his career proves that he usually gets finished when he loses; something that bodes ill when faced with an opponent who has ten stoppages evenly split between both methods of victory.
I wouldn't be surprised if Baghdasaryan lands a few clean punches and thudding liver kicks in the early goings here, but I don't think it's going to be enough to deter Magomedov. If he can't put "The Highlight's" lights out, then he's going to be in trouble in short order.
Prediction: Murtazali Magomedov to win by finish
