UFC on ESPN 39: Dos Anjos vs. Fiziev Odds, Schedule, Predictions
At UFC on ESPN 39, we will finally figure out who the best Rafael is in the UFC when Rafael Fiziev and Rafael dos Anjos meet up in the main event.
Dumb names jokes aside (the two pronounce their names differently), it's a lightweight matchup that will tell us a lot about where Fiziev ranks among the best fighters in the division.
That's a hot question right now as the 29-year-old has torn through five fights in a row and has earned a shot at the spotlight.
He'll get it against a cagey veteran in Dos Anjos. The 37-year-old has fought some of the biggest names in the division and is a former champion.
The card comes to the UFC APEX with a slew of interesting fights featuring plenty of prospects trying to make a name for themselves.
Fight Card, Schedule and Odds
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Main Card (ESPN/ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)
- Rafael dos Anjos (+175, bet $100 to win $175) vs. Rafael Fiziev (-205, bet $205 to win $100)
- Caio Borralho (-240) vs. Armen Petrosyan (+200)
- Said Nurmagomedov (-360) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (+295)
- Chase Sherman (+165) vs. Jared Vanderaa (-195)
- Cynthia Calvillo (-145) vs. Nina Nunes (+125)
- Michael Johnson (+195) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (-230)
Prelims (ESPN/ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
- Ricky Turcios (-190) vs. Aiemann Zahabi (+160)
- Cortney Casey (+145) vs. Antonina Shevchenko (-170)
- Cody Brundage (+110) vs. Tresean Gore (-130)
- Garrett Armfield (+575) vs. David Onama (-800)
- Kennedy Nzechukwu (-145) vs. Karl Roberson (+125)
- Saidyokub Kakhramonov (+100) vs. Ronnie Lawrence (-120)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Dos Anjos vs. Fiziev
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The main event is a matchup that's more fascinating than the betting line would indicate.
Obviously, Fiziev is the fighter who's "supposed" to win. He's the young up-and-comer with the flashy striking and the knockout power.
But Dos Anjos is not someone to be taken lightly. He still has good pressure wrestling and enough boxing to hold his own in the striking department. He's a strong lightweight with experience fighting as a 170-pounder.
Then there's the cardio factor. Seven of Dos Anjos' last eight fights have at least gone into the fourth round. Fiziev has never fought in a five-rounder. While the fight might not make it that far, it's a development to keep an eye on.
In all likelihood, Fiziev's aggression and willingness to create a firefight are going to be enough to set a fast pace early on.
It's a dangerous game. If RDA survives the early rounds, watch for a late surge from him. That's a big if, though. Fiziev could prove he's a legitimate threat in the division with an early finish.
Prediction: Fiziev via second-round TKO
Borralho vs. Petrosyan
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Caio Borralho and Armen Petrosyan might not have the typical name recognition of co-main event fighters, but they both have the potential to get there.
The two Dana White's Contender Series alumni are coming off wins in their UFC debuts. Now, they begin the real work of climbing up the rankings.
Petrosyan is the more effective striker. He's won six of his eight fights by knockout, with just one win by decision and a knockout loss rounding out his record.
But his kickboxing was somewhat stifled by Gregory Rodrigues in his UFC debut. Rodrigues was able to take him down multiple times and muddy up the scorecards, even though Petrosyan won by a split decision.
That could present a problem as Borralho is adept on the ground. He has multiple submission victories, so Petrosyan will need to show improved takedown defense to get a win.
Prediction: Borralho via third-round submission
Nurmagomedov vs. Silva de Andrade
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The bantamweights typically bring the action, and that should continue to be true with Douglas Silva de Andrade and Said Nurmagomedov on the main card.
Silva de Andrade continues to put on good performances when he's not facing the upper echelon of the division. For instance, he has two finishes in back-to-back fights against Gaetano Pirrello and Sergey Morozov.
But when given the opportunity to fight Petr Yan and Rob Font, he fell short.
That makes this a good measuring stick fight for Nurmagomedov. The 30-year-old has won four of his five UFC fights, but Silva de Andrade could be a step up in competition for him.
Nurmagomedov is a well-rounded fighter. He is not related to Khabib or Umar Nurmagomedov, and there's not a clear comparison in fighting styles.
This Nurmagomedov will sprinkle in takedowns but isn't fixated on getting them to the ground. He's a fun striker who can most likely just keep this one standing and outscore his opponent.
Prediction: Nurmagomedov via decision
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