Sean Strickland vs. Abus Magomedov Prediction: Can Strickland Get it Done at UFC Fight Night?
Sean Strickland vs. Abus Magomedov Prediction: Can Strickland Get it Done at UFC Fight Night?
In what promises to be an interesting UFC main event, Sean Strickland and Abus Magomedov cap off the fight night card on Saturday night. The matchup presents an intriguing clash of styles and experience levels, with Sean Strickland, a seasoned veteran, facing off against the highly-touted prospect Abus Magomedov.
Sean Strickland is the seventh-ranked middleweight fighter in the UFC, which makes this a huge step up in competition for Abus and a high-risk, low-reward fight for Strickland, but he does not back down from fights and takes what the UFC gives him. Strickland opened around -150 and is now as high as -165 on books like FanDuel, but DraftKings has the best line at -155.
Sean Strickland vs. Abus Magomedov Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: Saturday, July 1, 2023
- Time: 7:00 pm ET
- Where: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, NV
- Where to Watch: ESPN/ESPN+
Sean Strickland vs. Abus Magomedov Prediction
Sean Strickland enters this fight with a professional record of 26 wins and five losses, including ten knockout victories and four submissions. After suffering back-to-back defeats to Alex Pereira and Jared Cannonier, Strickland rebounded strongly in his last outing against Nassourdine Imavov, showcasing his resilience and skill as an underdog with a notable victory.
Despite having only four submission wins under his belt, it is worth noting that Strickland has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Still, we rarely see his underrated grappling abilities. Utilizing his grappling defensively and displaying intelligent fighting tactics could prove to be the difference for Strickland in this fight.
Strickland's fighting style is heavily influenced by his boxing background, focusing on volume and damage accumulation rather than relying solely on power. The key for Strickland lies in fighting smart, as seen in his recent win over Imavov, where he avoided unnecessary risks and controlled the fight to secure a unanimous decision victory.
On the other hand, Strickland's loss to Alex Pereira serves as a reminder of the consequences of not fighting intelligently. If Strickland can replicate his strategic approach against Imavov, he stands a great chance of winning this fight with his experience advantage.
Abus Magomedov, a rising prospect with a record of 25 wins, four losses, and one draw, brings an explosive fighting style to the octagon. Having made a name for himself in the regional scene and a brief stint in the PFL, Magomedov earned an impressive win in his UFC debut by knocking out Dustin Stoltzfus in just 19 seconds. Magomedov possesses a wide array of striking techniques and has devastating power. It is interesting to see him in a main event with just one UFC fight under his belt, but that goes to show what the matchmakers think Abus is capable of.
At the end of the day, this fight comes down to what fight Sean Strickland tries to fight. The last opponent, Strickland, was faced with the devastating power of Alex Pereira. He did not fight smart and made it a firefight, which ended the night quickly with a KO loss. However, we have seen that when Strickland sticks to his game plan and fights smart, he can beat the best of the best.
He was a +120 underdog the last time out against a ranked opponent in Nassourdine Imavov, and he fought smart and picked him apart, winning the first four rounds of the fight and winning 49-46 on all three scorecards. If Strickland replicates that performance, this is his fight to lose. Based on his recent performance, I expect Strickland to fight smart and not give Abus the fight he wants as he did Pereira. This line involves a little juice, but Strickland should take care of business on Saturday night.
Sean Strickland vs. Abus Magomedov Pick
Pick: Sean Strickland ML -155 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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Article Author
Ben Rajavuori is a handicapper out of Minneapolis, MN. He has been creating sports content for almost four years now and is an expert in all things NFL, MLB, NBA, UFC, and NCAAB. Ben thrives on diving deep into statistics to find the best angle on every bet. You can follow him on Twitter @WeBeatTheSpread.