UFC Abu Dhabi Predictions

It's time for UFC Abu Dhabi predictions.

PRELIMS:

Sedriques Dumas(9-2) V Denis Tiuliulin(11-9)

The first fight of the night isn’t great. Dumas isn’t a terrible fighter, but he isn’t great. Tiuliulin is not good and has lost most of his fights, so the smart and safe prediction is Dumas.

Prediction: Dumas by Dec

Jai Herbert(12-5-1) V Rolando Bedoya(14-3)

This is a solid little fight for the prelims. Herbert is a skilled fighter whose weakness is how chinny he is. Bedoya is a solid fighter but hasn’t had much luck so far in the UFC. This is the type of fight where he might get lucky with how chinny Herbert is. If Herbert can stay smart and avoid big hits he should be able to win.

Prediction: Herbert by Dec

Victoria Dudakova(8-0) V Sam Hughes(8-6)

This feels like a very one sided fight. Dudakova hasn’t lost yet and is coming up against someone who isn’t very skilled. To Hughes credit she has beaten a few fighters who have been undefeated or the favourite in her UFC run so far so she could get the win.

Prediction: Dudakova by Dec

Guram Kutateladze(12-4) V Jordan Vucenic(13-2)

This is a proper scrap on the card. Kutateladze is a great fighter who has been unfortunate so far in the UFC but is still very talented. He is fighting a fun and up-and-coming fighter in Vucenic, who has proven he deserves the step up from Cage Warriors. I’d worry that he only fought a few weeks back, and he is going up a weight class against a fantastic opponent, but maybe he will thrive with this. The safe prediction is Kutateladze, but I feel Vucenic, even if he loses, will get another shot in the UFC.

Prediction: Kutateladze by Dec

Shamil Gaziev(12-1) V Don’Tale Mayes(11-6)

This feels like a lay-up for Gaziev after losing to Rozenstruik in his last fight. Mayes is not very good at all, but he is athletic, so if this fight goes past the first round, then he might have a chance on pure gas tank reasons.

Prediction: Gaziev by KO R1

Mohammad Yahya(12-4) V Kauê Fernandes(8-2)

I don’t know much about either guy, but Fernandes's UFC career in LFA gives me more trust for him in this one. He took Diakiese to a split decision in his first fight, which is a better result to me than Yahya, who lost to Trevor Peek.

Prediction: Fernandes by Dec

Alonzo Menifield(15-4-1) V Azamat Murzakanov(13-0)

This could be a fun scrap. Menifield is a solid athlete and usually goes for a finish, which is fun. Murzakanov is someone who even with wins in the UFC I still feel like theres ’s not much known about him. I feel he could darkhorse his way to the top 5.

Prediction: Murzakanov by KO R3

MAIN CARD:

Joel Alvarez(20-3) V Elves Brener(16-4)

This is my favourite fight on the card. Alvarez is one of my favourites, and I think if he fought more consistently, he could be in the rankings. Brener is a really fun fighter who has surprised me so far in the UFC. I feel Alvarez is the favourite, but Brener has every chance of winning.

Prediction: Alvarez by Dec

Mackenzie Dern(13-5) V Lupita Godinez(12-4)

This is a fight where I’m going to pick with my heart over my head. Dern is potentially the smarter pick even though she still has tons to work on, but Godinez is someone I really like and see potential in, and I think her game will annoy Dern and could beat her.

Prediction: Godinez by Dec

Tony Ferguson(25-10) V Michael Chiesa(16-7)

This is quite a sad fight really. Two guys who should probably retire with one more than the other. Ferguson is on a seven fight-losing streak and should’ve retired a few fights ago. Chiesa is still an alright fighter but should also think about retiring and transitioning into his analyst role full-time. Realistically, depending on how bad the fight is, both should retire after this.

Prediction: Chiesa by Dec

Marlon Vera(23-9-1) V Deiveson Figueiredo(23-3-1)

This could be a fun scrap with two high level guys. Vera is a fun fighter when he tries but is issues always tend to be not getting started in a fight until its too late. This is not a fight where he can start slow as he is facing Figueiredo who will start strong and stay strong. Figueiredo is a fantastic fighter who has been having success so far at bantamweight since moving up.

Prediction: Figueiredo by Dec

Shara Magomedov(13-0) V Michał Oleksiejczuk(19-8)

This is a solid step up in competition for Magomedov. It is still a favourable match-up as Oleksiejczuk has been losing recently, but he is still a competent fighter who could beat Magomedov.

Prediction: Magomedov by KO R3

Cory Sandhagen(17-4) V Umar Nurmagomedov(17-0)

This is a great fight and a really hard test for Umar. Sandhagen is the real deal and the only one willing to fight Umar, and he is doing it in Abu Dhabi, which you would tend to think will favour Umar. Sandhagen is another one of my favourites and a guy who I think we will see as a champion soon, and with a win in this, he deserves the next title fight. Umar has the perfect record, and even though the competition hasn’t been great, sometimes it’s been people not wanting to fight him, but there’s nothing he can do about that. It should be a great scrap between two great fighters.

Prediction: Sandhagen by Dec