UFC on ESPN 71: Nick Klein vs Andrey Pulyaev Preview & Prediction

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Nick Klein takes on Andrey Pulyaev in a middleweight showcase that is unlikely to require the judges’ scorecards.

Nick Klein vs Andrey Pulyaev facts

What time are Nick Klein and Andrey Pulyaev expected to walk out?

Where is UFC on ESPN: Taira vs Park? UFC Apex, Enterprise, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC on ESPN: Taira vs Park? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC on ESPN 71

What TV channel is UFC on ESPN: Taira vs Park on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+

Where can I stream UFC on ESPN: Taira vs Park? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC on ESPN: Taira vs Park main card

Tatsuro Taira vs Park Hyun-sung (Flyweight)

Mateusz Rebecki vs Chris Duncan (Lightweight)

Elves Brener vs Esteban Ribovics (Lightweight)

Karol Rosa vs Nora Cornolle (Women’s Bantamweight)

Neil Magny vs Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (Welterweight)

Danny Silva vs Kevin Vallejos (Featherweight)

UFC on ESPN: Taira vs Park prelims

Rinya Nakamura vs Nathan Fletcher (Bantamweight)

Rodolfo Vieira vs Tresean Gore (Middleweight)

Nick Klein vs Andrey Pulyaev (Middleweight)

Austin Bashi vs John Yannis (Featherweight)

Piera Rodriguez vs Ketlen Souza (Women’s Strawweight)

Rafael Estevam vs Felipe Bunes (Flyweight)

Nick Klein: “Blue Collar” looks to improve on an above-expectations debut defeat

Wisconsin native Nick Klein (6-2) is a kill or be killed brand of fighter. The 29 year old middleweight has only seen the judges’ scorecards once in eight professional contests, submitting Heraldo Souza on DWCS to stamp his ticket to the big leagues. The matchmakers decidedly didn’t do “Blue Collar” any favors in his first test, pitting him against the undefeated Mansur Abdul-Malik on short notice. However, Klein arguably exceeded expectations against the hyped prospect, even staggering the American with an outrageous spinning elbow early before ultimately being overwhelmed by TKO midway through the second round.

Andrey Pulyaev: A towering DWCS graduate in search of his first UFC win

Looking for his first UFC victory in his sophomore bow, Andrey Pulyaev (9-3) is a colossal middleweight. Standing at 6’4, the hulking Russian unsurprisingly does his best work when he is able to utilize his rangy striking, hurting his opponents at distance before smashing them into a pulp on the canvas with ground and pound for the vast majority of his finishes. His UFC debut saw him defeated by Christian Leroy Duncan via unanimous decision, with Pulyaev undoubtedly looking to put on a more convincing showing this time around after landing just 18 significant strikes in his last appearance.

Nick Klein vs Andrey Pulyaev prediction

The oddsmakers appear to be marginally siding with Pulyaev’s edge in size and experience to win through on this occasion, but the tight nature of the moneyline reflects Klein’s status as an extremely live underdog. While Pulyaev possesses a three inch height advantage in this contest, the pair are virtually identical when it comes to reach; a state of affairs that is reflected by borderline “flip-em” odds.

Unfortunately for “Blue Collar,” it’s difficult to shake the image of him essentially wilting and quitting against the cage when faced with the first real onslaught of a resurgent Abdul-Malik. By contrast, Pulyaev may have exhibited a notable degree of hesitancy in his last showing against “CLD,” but that is entirely understandable considering that he was faced with one of the more dynamic strikers that the middleweight division has to offer.

The American is a good grappler with sneaky power on the feet, but his Russian dance partner appears to possess a deeper tool bag and has never been submitted; Klein’s clearest path to a victory. Look for the American to gradually fade after a promising start, with Pulyaev potentially even pouring on the damage late for a TKO stoppage.