Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Edson Barboza Preview : The Eagle is landing!
UFC 219 rolls into Las Vegas to cap off a very successful 2017 for the UFC and the top of the card is full of intriguing bouts. In the main event, Cris Cyborg takes on one of two Ronda Rousey victors in Holly Holm and in the lightweight division, Khabib Nurmagomedov battles Edson Barboza with a view to fighting one of Ton Ferguson or Conor McGregor in the near future. The bout will be a direct route to a title shot, but while there is an interim champion, the lightweight division is living in murky waters.
Odds of evens are available with Coral for the fight to go the distance (£30 free bet)
The Eagle
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a 29-year-old Russian submission machine. He can tie his opponents up in knots before they realise it is happening and with a specialist background in judo, freestyle wrestling and kickboxing, there's not many better technicians in MMA right now. On top of that, he holds one of the longest winning streaks in the UFC and MMA at large at 24 in a row - with a perfect record of 24-0 - and his victories are perfectly split into eight KOs, eight submissions and eight decisions. He can beat his opponent in so many different ways and after beating Rafael dos Anjos via decision, he claimed his biggest scalp yet by submitting Michael Johnson with a kimura at UFC 205 just over a year ago. How the Russian hasn't had a title shot yet is quite extraordinary, but surely it is just a matter of time.
Get odds of 2/5 with Betfair for Nurmagomedov to win (£100 free bet)
Junior
The 31-year-old Brazilian - two years Khabib Nurmagomedov's senior - has had his moments in the lightweight division. He's currently on a three-fight winning streak, kickstarted by an impressive victory over Anthony Pettis. However, he has suffered defeats to lightweight mainstays like Donald Cerrone, Michael Johnson and current interim champion Tony Ferguson. Two of those losses came by submission, and none of them are as skilled technicians as Nurmagomedov, that's for sure. That's where the Brazilian will be vulnerable, but two of his last three victories have gone the distance and the other, his last outing against Beneil Dariush saw him win via a flying knee. His currently ranked third in the lightweight rankings, but should he suffer another loss in a high profile matchup like this, it's hard to imagine him getting in the frame for a title shot again. At 19-4, Barboza is still dangerous.
Coral are offering odds of 5/2 for Barboza to win (£20 free bet)
FREEbets.org.uk Prediction
The favourite is Nurmagomedov and given his continued ascension, rightfully so. Given their contrasting styles, the Russian will surely win out and a betting man can see Barboza getting tied up in a not and tapping out. Either way, it's hard to imagine someone who has lost nearly all of his big fights like Barboza finally stops Nurmagomedov.
Odds of 3/1 are available with William Hill for Nurmagomedov to win via submission (£30 free bet)
Statistics
- Khabib Nurmagomedov has won all 24 of his fights
- Khabib Nurmagomedov is the number 2 ranked lightweight in UFC, Edson Barboza is ranked 3rd
- Edson Barboza has lost to Michael Johnson, Tony Ferguson and Donald Cerrone in the past