After two weeks since the UFC's last event, the biggest MMA organisation returns with some interesting clashes at UFC Vegas 85. The eye-catcher which will have the full focus of this fight card is the Middleweight Bout between the #7 contender, Roman Dolidze, and the #12 contender, Nassourdine Imavov. Both men are looking to redeem their previous fight as they look to get back to winning ways so let's have a look into the main event.
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Roman Dolidze was unfortunate in his previous bout against Marvin Vettori after losing by a close unanimous decision at UFC 286.
The Georgian was on a four-fight winning streak before his recent loss as he earned three KO/TKO victories against the likes of Kyle Daukaus, Phil Hawes and the current #10 Middleweight contender, Jack Hermansson.
The Batumi-born fighter has proven to be a dangerous opponent as he has not been stopped in his MMA career despite having two decision losses. Dolidze has seven knockout wins along with 3 submission triumphs.
A victory for Dolidze could not only put him against a top Middleweight contender, but give him an opportunity to fight for the title if he does come up against a higher ranked opponent.
Nassourdine Imavov did not have a great run in 2023 as he lost to former UFC Middleweight Champion, Sean Strickland, in the beginning of the year and suffered a no contest against Chris Curtis at UFC 289.
The French fighter was on a three-fight winning streak before his last two unlucky fights as he earned two TKO victories against Ian Heinisch and Edmen Shahbazyan and a unanimous decision win over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Paris.
'The Sniper' has shown to be an all-round fighter in his MMA career with five of his twelve wins ending by KO/TKO and four of them finishing by submission.
A win for Imavov would be huge as he would boost up the Middleweight rankings and potentially matchup-up with a top five contender which could allow the Frenchman to show his full potential in the UFC.
Other Fights you should look forward to
Molly McCann vs Diana Belbita - McCann has had an unfortunate run in her last two fights, losing by submission twice in the first round at UFC 281 and UFC London. Meatball Molly did earn two knockout wins before her submissions losses as she looks to redeem her career with a win and on her UFC Strawweight debut. The former Cage Warriors Champion will look to take the victory and have the chance to enter the rankings.
Belbita has six fights in the UFC and has only been victorious twice with both wins ending by unanimous decision. The Warrior Princess' most recent bout ended with an unanimous decision loss against #13 Strawweight contender, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, as she had the opportunity to enter the rankings. The Romanian has fought McCann before and was defeated by unanimous decision so revenge will be prepared for at UFC Vegas 85.
Vivianne Araujo vs Natalia Silva - Araujo claimed redemption in her last fight with an unanimous decision win over Jennifer Maia at UFC Vegas 81 which stopped her two-fight losing streak. Vivi has only stopped one of her opponents in the organisation which was on her UFC debut when she knocked out Talita Bernardo at UFC 237. The #7 Flyweight contender looks to maintain her rank before facing a higher ranked opponent in the division.
Silva is currently on a 10-fight winning streak with four of those wins coming in the UFC. Last year, the Brazilian earned a unanimous decision win against Andrea Lee at UFC 292 and stopped Victoria Leonardo by first-round TKO at UFC Vegas 73. The #9 Flyweight contender will aim to continue her winning streak and rise up the rankings if she is successful in her upcoming fight.
Randy Brown vs Muslim Salikhov - Brown was successful in his last bout when he defeated Wellington Turman by unanimous decision at UFC Jacksonville despite losing to the current #11 Welterweight contender, Jack Della Maddalena, at UFC 284 in the same year. Rudeboy has fought in the organisation since 2016 and with 16 fights in the UFC, he has been triumphant in 11 of those. A victory at the UFC APEX could give him the opportunity to fight for a place in the Welterweight rankings.
Salikhov only had one fight in 2023 and it did not end in successful fashion as he lost by unanimous decision to Nicolas Dalby at UFC Vegas 75. The King of Kung Fu does have three knockout victories in the UFC out of thirteen he has achieved in his MMA career. Despite only one win in three fights, the Russian will look to get back to winning ways.
Renato Moicano vs Drew Dober - Moicano did not fight in 2023 due to a knee injury as he was scheduled to fight the current #4 Lightweight contender, Arman Tsarukyan, at UFC Vegas 72 before the injury occurred. The Brazilian has proven to be submission artist as all of his stoppage wins have ended by submission as he claimed two in 2022 with one against Brad Riddell at UFC 281 and one against Alexander Hernandez at UFC 271. The #13 Lightweight contender will look to begin a winning streak and gradually climb up the rankings.
Dober has been fighting in the UFC since 2013 and has the record for the most KO/TKO wins in the UFC Lightweight division. The Nebraska-born fighter has proven to be a knockout artist as his last seven successful fights have ended with a knockout. Despite getting knocked out by Matt Frevola at UFC 288, Dober did redeem himself in 2023 with a knockout win over Ricky Glenn at UFC Vegas 80. The #15 Lightweight contender has chance to move up the rankings if he is triumphant against Moicano.
Who will be successful at UFC Vegas 85? What are your predictions?
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
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