UFC Russia Occurs April 20 at Yubileyny Sports Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, and Also the following bouts have been added to the card.
Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan, UFC Fight Night 149
Lightweight contender Islam Makhachev returns to the Octagon when he takes on UFC newcomer Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Fight Night 149. Igor Lazorin broke the information. Makhachev (16-1) has gone 5-1 complete in the Octagon and is now riding a four-fight win streak that includes back-to-back stoppage wins over Gleison Tibau and Kajan Johnson. Tsarukyan (13-1) is only 22 and has finished 10 fights, including a brutal head kick KO win over former UFC fighter Felipe Olivieri in his last outing. He has won 12 straight fights including victories along with other former UFC fighters Junior Assuncao and Takenori Sato. Although Makhachev is a huge gift and will certainly be a significant favorite here, I had been amazed looking into Tsarukyan and give him a decent prospect of making this battle competitive.
Gadzhimurad Antigulov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk , UFC Fight Night 149
Light heavyweights Gadzhimurad Antigulov and Michal Oleksiejczuk will meet in a struggle that is unlikely to go three full rounds. Antigulov (20-5) is 2-1 at the UFC but was knocked out in brutal fashion by Ion Cutelaba in his last outing. Oleksiejczuk (13-2, 1 NC) recently returned from a year-long USADA suspension to score a TKO win over Gian Villante. Both men are treacherous fighters, but I expect Oleksiejczuk to be heavily favored here.
Magomed Mustafaev vs Rafael Fiziev, UFC Fight Night 149
Lightweights Magomed Mustafaev and Rafael Fiziev are set to fight at this event. Mustafaev (13-2) won his first two fights in the UFC but had been filed by Kevin Lee back in November 2016 and hasn’t fought since. Fiziev (6-0) has finished all six of his expert bouts such as a head kick KO win in Titan FC his last time out. Although Russian fighters get respect from bettors, dependent on Mustafaev’s extended layoff and Fiziev’s undefeated record, I anticipate Fiziev to be a big favorite here.
Movsar Evloev vs. Seung Woo Choi, UFC Fight Night 149
Bantamweight prospects Movsar Evloev and Seung Woo Choi will also be set to battle. Evloev (10-0) was a winner in M-1 and looks to be about the Petr Yan fast-track to the UFC’s top-15 ranks. Choi (7-1) has won five of his pro fights by knockout and is making his UFC debut. Both men seem to be solid prospects but awarded Evloev’s undefeated record he’s going to be the favorite here.
Krzysztof Jotko vs. Alen Amedovski
Middleweights Krzysztof Jotko and Alen Amedovski are set to fight. Denis Geyko broke the news. Jotko (19-4) was at once an up-and-coming middleweight contender but has really fallen on hard times as of late with three straight losses, including successive TKO defeats to Brad Tavares and Uriah Hall. Amedovski (8-0) is fighting from Macedonia and has won all eight of his pro fights by knockout with his past two wins coming in Bellator. Amedovski seems like a very promising prospect and given the deteriorating state of Jotko’s chin, I would go with the newcomer .
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