UFC Fight Night: Shane Collins vs Otari Tanzilovi Preview & Prediction
Two debutants open up the card as A1 Combat boxer Shane Collins welcomes Georgian knockout artist Otari Tanzilovi to the octagon.
Shane Collins vs Otari Tanzilovi facts
What time are Shane Collins and Otari Tanzilovi 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)
Shane Collins: “Hollywood” brings polished boxing to his octagon entrance
Shane Collins (7-0) makes his UFC debut as one of the more refined boxing prospects to come off Urijah Faber’s A1 Combat pipeline, building his unbeaten record against regional competition, and doing exactly what he should against that level, dominantly. The 26-year-old Californian does his best work with his hands, behind a sharp jab and a crisp looking cross he can fire around the guard, mixing in some kicks and clean pocket combinations. He’s shown solid takedown defence, though the real level of it is hard to gauge given the competition. Five of his seven wins have come by finish.
Otari Tanzilovi: Georgian finisher steps up to featherweight
Otari Tanzilovi (10-1) also debuts here, arriving from Georgia with a 70% knockout rate and a decorated striking pedigree as a five-time kickboxing and two-time boxing national champion. His only blemish on record is a contentious split-decision loss on the 2024 Contender Series, which he answered by headlining Fury FC 101 and outpointing Memo Torres months later. He now moves up to featherweight after a bantamweight career, and it’s his first fight in over 16 months. He’s a patient counter-striker who whips out fast, powerful shots and can do so with his hands, knees, and feet.
Shane Collins vs Otari Tanzilovi prediction
This shapes up as a striking match up, and on paper it’s far closer than the market suggests. Collins has the cleaner boxing, more jab volume, tighter combinations, and that cross he can fire around the guard, while Tanzilovi is the more well-rounded, faster striker who sits back to counter and mixes his attack to the head and body. The reach advantage belongs to the Georgian, but Collins’ superior hands should keep him from being picked off at range too often. Tanzilovi should come into this match up with more power too, moving up a division and being drained less from a weight cut.
The danger for Collins is in his entries. Tanzilovi hunts for counters and can unload fast shots the moment his opponent steps in, so disciplined timing will be everything. Worth noting too that when Tanzilovi met a rangier striker on the Contender Series, he leaned on his clinch and wrestling more than his usual stand up, here with the reach advantage, he’ll probably keep it on the feet.
Two debutants who both like to swing makes this a coin flip, but the value sits on Tanzilovi. He’s done more, against better, on bigger stages, and the main reason he’s the underdog is the disappearance of the O on his record. The layoff could become something to keep note of, but at plus money, the Georgian is the side to be on.
Prediction: Otari Tanzilovi to win
