UFC Fight Night 163 Previews & Predictions
I wrote these kinda last minute, so they are short and rushed. I forgot that the event is in Moscow so it will start earlier than usual.
That being said he probably needs a finish towards the end of the fight, since Zabit will probably snatch the first couple of rounds. Kattar has great stand-up, perhaps even good enough to have slight advantage on the feet, but if there is any advantage it is the slightest possible, and even then it will be hard for him to keep the fight at the kind of range that he could have prolonged success.
He does hit hard though, and Zabit is human, so he is live dog here, but all things considered, you have to go with Zabit here, Kattar has lost to worse guys in recent memory.
Zabit via UD.
Hardy is at least close to having same power as Lewis, but more athletic. However he also has less experience out there. It is very soon for him to be facing top tier heavyweight. His technical advancements looked good in his last fight, but at the same time he was still facing just a solid regional guy and did not really convince, let alone one of world's top-10 guys like Volkov.
Volkov via 3rd round KO.
Danny Roberts vs. Zelim Imadaev
Very close match-up, one of many ones like this on the card. However, stylistically it should be good one for Imadaev, for I think he is the one with the better boxing, and that also is Roberts' strength. Roberts also is unlikely to be big enough of a grappling threat to bother Zelim.
Imadaev via UD.
Khadis Ibragimov vs. Ed Herman
Ibragimov is young which might explain his over-excitement in the cage. He always gasses, but it is not really a gas tank issue - I am sure guy is in great shape - but rather issue in energy management. You can't sprint 3 minutes straight in start of the match and then be gassed for the remaining 12 minutes.
So expect Ibragimov come out with all piss and vinegar and expect the more experienced Herman to keep his composure, ride out the storm and then pick off the gassed Ibragimov. Herman is not exactly technical master himself, but he is alright for light heavyweight division, tough as nails and to be honest, Ibragimov gets really sloppy really fast.
Ed Herman via 2nd round KO.
Tony Martin vs. Ramazan Emeev
After surviving against Maia and having some good moments of his own, you would think Martin can go into a match against decent Russian grappler with a lot of confidence. Emeev is good on the ground, but no Maia he isn't for sure. Martin has the advantage on the feet and should be able to edge this one out, but realistically speaking, it is a close match and if Emeev can just get some ground control in couple of rounds, he could very well snatch a decision.
Tony Martin via SD.
Shamil Gamzatov vs. Klidson Abreu
Did not have much tape to study Gamzatov, but he actually seems quite similar to Abreu, who nominally is BJJ guy but also hits very hard and is very comfortable on the feet. Gamzatov is unbeaten, but Abreu will be a tough test. I suppose Gamzatov is slightly the better fighter, but for lack of quality info on him, I cannot be very confident in that assessment.
Gamzatov via UD.
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Dalcha Lungiambula
Close fight for sure, Dalcha the much more powerful guy, Ankalaev probably the one that can endure a little more grinding match. I don't know, I don't really feel confident either way here, Dalcha probably looked better in his last match, but his opponent seemed very low-level. Ankalaev has a stronger resume, even if he lost against Paul Craig, even in that match he was easily getting a decision without the fluke sub.
Lungiambula surprisingly big dog though, with a guy this powerful, it is worth a shot. Lungiambula via 1st round KO.
Rustam Khabilov vs. Sergey Khandozhko
Neither of these guys seem very high level. Khabilov has decent wrestling, just kind of low output. Khandozhko already struggled with Akman's wrestling, so I would imagine Khabilov can take him down and keep him down enough to get a close decision. That said, it was Khandozhko's debut so perhaps he did not look as good as he can look in that fight. So he might be able to put together better performance and keep the fight standing more. He should have some advantage on the feet.
Khabilov via UD.
Karl Robertson vs. Roman Kopylov
I watched Kopylov's last fight and liked a lot that I saw. Very technical striking and great footwork. He has gotten KOs in almost all of his fights. However, he is coming up against Karl Robertson who does no have a lot of fights either but he has already been thrown to the deep end in UFC, so it has been no wonder that he looked somewhat out of his depth at times - overall he does look like the bigger, more powerful man in this match-up with equally good striking and probably some more grappling ability as well.
It is technique against power on the feet, but it's not like Robertson is just a power guy either. As much as I love Kopylov, it is his debut and Robertson has much more experience at the highest level, so surprised to see him as underdog. Robertson via UD.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. David Zawada
I could not find a full fight to watch from Nurmagomedov so had to settle for highlight video, but it was pretty much as expected, similar fighting style to his brother. Obviously he has not been quite as successful, but Zawada is very limited fighter and was taken down my Li Jiangling who is not primarily grappler so I would expect Nurmagomedov to have a successful fight here. Zawada does his hard so he does have little bit better than a puncher's chance.
Nurmagomedov via TKO in 2nd round.
Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Pannie Kianzad
Clark has fought much the better opposition, only tightly lost to Jessica Eye who went on to get starched by Valentina. Kianzad has some skills but looks to fall a little short in every department here, except Clark to just outpoint her.
Clark via UD.
Alexander Yakovlev vs. Roosevelt Roberts
Very close fight, but Yakovlev being up there in age and Roberts being up and coming talent kinda makes me lean on the younger guy. Roberts has the better striking, I feel, but they both are very well rounded.
Roosevelt Roberts via UD.
Grigory Popov vs. Davey Grant
Two aging bantamweights with choppy chins. At least Popov should have the better striking, but he does not seem to me as particularly powerful guy.
Popov via 2nd round KO.
Main Event: Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar
Well we all know Zabit has been very hyped up while he has been in UFC, and with good reason, for he is so good in every aspect of MMA and blends them beautifully. The only hole really in his game is him fading a bit towards the ends of his matches, which I suppose does give Kattar a decent chance.That being said he probably needs a finish towards the end of the fight, since Zabit will probably snatch the first couple of rounds. Kattar has great stand-up, perhaps even good enough to have slight advantage on the feet, but if there is any advantage it is the slightest possible, and even then it will be hard for him to keep the fight at the kind of range that he could have prolonged success.
He does hit hard though, and Zabit is human, so he is live dog here, but all things considered, you have to go with Zabit here, Kattar has lost to worse guys in recent memory.
Zabit via UD.
Co-Main Event: Alexander Volkov vs. Greg Hardy
Well it is basically another edition of Volkov's last match - he will have advantage everywhere in skill, technique, cardio and tactics, but facing someone powerful enough to get him out of there in one shot. Volkov has taken a good while off after Lewis flatlined him, but you never know how much and how permanently shot like that can take your chin off.Hardy is at least close to having same power as Lewis, but more athletic. However he also has less experience out there. It is very soon for him to be facing top tier heavyweight. His technical advancements looked good in his last fight, but at the same time he was still facing just a solid regional guy and did not really convince, let alone one of world's top-10 guys like Volkov.
Volkov via 3rd round KO.
Danny Roberts vs. Zelim Imadaev
Very close match-up, one of many ones like this on the card. However, stylistically it should be good one for Imadaev, for I think he is the one with the better boxing, and that also is Roberts' strength. Roberts also is unlikely to be big enough of a grappling threat to bother Zelim.
Imadaev via UD.
Khadis Ibragimov vs. Ed Herman
Ibragimov is young which might explain his over-excitement in the cage. He always gasses, but it is not really a gas tank issue - I am sure guy is in great shape - but rather issue in energy management. You can't sprint 3 minutes straight in start of the match and then be gassed for the remaining 12 minutes.
So expect Ibragimov come out with all piss and vinegar and expect the more experienced Herman to keep his composure, ride out the storm and then pick off the gassed Ibragimov. Herman is not exactly technical master himself, but he is alright for light heavyweight division, tough as nails and to be honest, Ibragimov gets really sloppy really fast.
Ed Herman via 2nd round KO.
Tony Martin vs. Ramazan Emeev
After surviving against Maia and having some good moments of his own, you would think Martin can go into a match against decent Russian grappler with a lot of confidence. Emeev is good on the ground, but no Maia he isn't for sure. Martin has the advantage on the feet and should be able to edge this one out, but realistically speaking, it is a close match and if Emeev can just get some ground control in couple of rounds, he could very well snatch a decision.
Tony Martin via SD.
Shamil Gamzatov vs. Klidson Abreu
Did not have much tape to study Gamzatov, but he actually seems quite similar to Abreu, who nominally is BJJ guy but also hits very hard and is very comfortable on the feet. Gamzatov is unbeaten, but Abreu will be a tough test. I suppose Gamzatov is slightly the better fighter, but for lack of quality info on him, I cannot be very confident in that assessment.
Gamzatov via UD.
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Dalcha Lungiambula
Close fight for sure, Dalcha the much more powerful guy, Ankalaev probably the one that can endure a little more grinding match. I don't know, I don't really feel confident either way here, Dalcha probably looked better in his last match, but his opponent seemed very low-level. Ankalaev has a stronger resume, even if he lost against Paul Craig, even in that match he was easily getting a decision without the fluke sub.
Lungiambula surprisingly big dog though, with a guy this powerful, it is worth a shot. Lungiambula via 1st round KO.
Rustam Khabilov vs. Sergey Khandozhko
Neither of these guys seem very high level. Khabilov has decent wrestling, just kind of low output. Khandozhko already struggled with Akman's wrestling, so I would imagine Khabilov can take him down and keep him down enough to get a close decision. That said, it was Khandozhko's debut so perhaps he did not look as good as he can look in that fight. So he might be able to put together better performance and keep the fight standing more. He should have some advantage on the feet.
Khabilov via UD.
Karl Robertson vs. Roman Kopylov
I watched Kopylov's last fight and liked a lot that I saw. Very technical striking and great footwork. He has gotten KOs in almost all of his fights. However, he is coming up against Karl Robertson who does no have a lot of fights either but he has already been thrown to the deep end in UFC, so it has been no wonder that he looked somewhat out of his depth at times - overall he does look like the bigger, more powerful man in this match-up with equally good striking and probably some more grappling ability as well.
It is technique against power on the feet, but it's not like Robertson is just a power guy either. As much as I love Kopylov, it is his debut and Robertson has much more experience at the highest level, so surprised to see him as underdog. Robertson via UD.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. David Zawada
I could not find a full fight to watch from Nurmagomedov so had to settle for highlight video, but it was pretty much as expected, similar fighting style to his brother. Obviously he has not been quite as successful, but Zawada is very limited fighter and was taken down my Li Jiangling who is not primarily grappler so I would expect Nurmagomedov to have a successful fight here. Zawada does his hard so he does have little bit better than a puncher's chance.
Nurmagomedov via TKO in 2nd round.
Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Pannie Kianzad
Clark has fought much the better opposition, only tightly lost to Jessica Eye who went on to get starched by Valentina. Kianzad has some skills but looks to fall a little short in every department here, except Clark to just outpoint her.
Clark via UD.
Alexander Yakovlev vs. Roosevelt Roberts
Very close fight, but Yakovlev being up there in age and Roberts being up and coming talent kinda makes me lean on the younger guy. Roberts has the better striking, I feel, but they both are very well rounded.
Roosevelt Roberts via UD.
Grigory Popov vs. Davey Grant
Two aging bantamweights with choppy chins. At least Popov should have the better striking, but he does not seem to me as particularly powerful guy.
Popov via 2nd round KO.
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