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After taking a week off following UFC 311, UFC returns to Riyadh for its second visit with a stacked card, this time headlined by a middleweight matchup between former two-time champion Israel Adesanya and rising contender Nassourdine Imavov. The co-main event is also a middleweight matchup between undefeated Shara Magomedov and Michael Page, who is moving up a weight class.
Also on the main card, Sergei Pavlovich is set to face off against Jairzinho Rozenstruik in an exciting heavyweight matchup. Before the heavyweight bout, we'll get a bantamweight fight pitting Said Nurmagomedov against Vinicius Oliveira and a lightweight bout between Fares Ziam and Mike Davis. UFC Saudi Arabia’s prelims are headlined by Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli.
In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Saudi Arabia: Adesanya vs. Imavov on 02/01/25. Give me a follow on X @sumpor5. Good luck!
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DraftKings MMA Middleweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Israel Adesanya, $8.6K - vs. Nassourdine Imavov
The former two-time middleweight champion is scheduled to take on Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Adesanya has lost three out of his last four bouts, but those were all title fights, while Imavov has won three fights in a row and is ranked in the top five of the middleweight division.
The wait is almost over.. ⏳@StyleBender vs @Imavov1 is happening tomorrow!
[ #UFCSaudiArabia is LIVE on @ESPNPlus PPV | 12pmET | @RiyadhSeason | #RiyadhSeason ] pic.twitter.com/Goc8odfOoV
— UFC (@ufc) January 31, 2025
The fight against Imavov will be Adesanya’s first non-title fight since 2019, when he defeated middleweight legend and former middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
His last 13 fights saw Adesanya as champion or challenger, competing with UFC gold on the line. Adesanya is on the brink of slipping down the rankings should he lose to Imavov. He has lost his last two fights, dropping his title via unanimous decision to Sean Strickland and then being submitted by Dricus du Plessis in a bid to regain that title.
Since joining the UFC in 2020, Imavov has a 7-2 record with one no-contest.
Following a loss to Strickland and a ‘no contest' against Chris Curtis, Imavov enters this fight having won three straight over top-10-ranked opposition and is currently riding a fantastic three-fight winning streak, including impressive victories over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen. Other names on Imavov’s resume include Joaquin Buckley, Edmen Shahbazyan, and Ian Heinisch.
Adesanya enters this fight with an MMA record of 24-4 and 13-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.00 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 48%. Adesanya is absorbing 3.21 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 56%. Regarding his grappling, Adesanya's averaging 0.05 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 12%, and his takedown defense is 75%.
Imavov enters this fight with an MMA record of 15-4. He is averaging 4.51 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 55%. Imavov is absorbing 3.20 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 59%. His grappling is solid, averaging 0.98 takedowns every 15 minutes and 1.2 submission attempts over the same period. Imavov has a takedown accuracy of 36%, and his takedown defense is 78%.
It will ultimately come down to which version of Adesanya shows up He'll also be fighting a pure striker in Imavov, so he likely won't have to worry much about the takedowns. Should it enter the third round and beyond, Adesanya, with his experience, will have an advantage. My prediction is that Adesanya will be able to pick him apart and score a third or fourth-round TKO victory.
DraftKings MMA Middleweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Shara Magomedov, $8.8K - vs. Michael Page
The co-main event features undefeated Russian middleweight striker Shara Magomedov clashing with Michael ‘Venom’ Page. Magomedov will look to extend his win streak to 16, meanwhile, Page suffered his first defeat in his UFC career his last time out and will look to get back in the win column.
Magomedov has 12 knockout wins across his 15-fight unbeaten streak. Since making his debut in 2023, Magomedov has put together a flawless 4-0 record, defeating opponents like Bruno Silva, Antonio Trocoli, Michal Oleksiejczuk, and Armen Petrosyan.
Magomedov was last seen in action at UFC 308, where he scored arguably the most impressive highlight of his career when he knocked out Petrosyan with a double spinning back fist.
Page, a career welterweight, offered to jump to middleweight for this match-up. His UFC debut saw him outclass Kevin Holland in a dominant decision win. In his last bout, Page suffered his first defeat to Ian Machado Garry in a forgettable unanimous decision. With 14 knockouts and three submissions among his 23 career wins, Page has shown he’s a dangerous and unpredictable fighter.
Magomedov is averaging 6.82 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 65%. He absorbs 4.49 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 42%. While Magomedov has not shown any grappling ability in the UFC, He has a takedown defense of 71%.
Page enters this fight with an MMA record of 22-3. He is averaging 2.38 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 65%. He absorbs 1.45 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 54%. In regards to his grappling, averaging 0.44 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 25% and a takedown defense of 63%.
Fans can expect little to no grappling in this fight as both strikers prefer exchanging on the feet. Magomedov has been on an absolute tear showcasing his striking prowess, especially in his last win with that brutal double back-fist knockout.
Plus, he's a natural middleweight, much younger, as opposed to Page, who is moving up a weight class and is 37 years old. My prediction is that this will be a striking matchup, with Magomedov out landing Page, and winning a unanimous decision.
DraftKings MMA Heavyweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Sergei Pavlovich, $9.1K - vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik are scheduled to face off in a heavyweight bout on the main card of UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Rozenstruik enters this bout on a two-fight winning streak, while Pavlovich, who is coming from a unanimous decision loss to Alexander Volkov, is looking to get back in the win column.
Pavlovich last appeared at UFC on ABC 6, where he dropped a unanimous verdict to former training partner Alexander Volkov, which marked his second consecutive loss. Before facing Volkov, Pavlovich lost to Tom Aspinall in an interim heavyweight title bout at UFC 295 last November. Prior to that, Pavlovich was on a six-fight winning streak, winning all six fights by first-round knockout.
On the other hand, Rozenstruik is on a two-fight winning streak. He most recently beat Tai Tuivasa in a split decision for his second-straight win. Prior to that, he defeated Shamil Gaziev and won the fight by TKO at the end of the fourth round, as Gaziev was unable to see.
Since signing with the UFC, Rozenstruik has gone 9-5 and has claimed victories over Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, and Augusto Sakai, and all three came via knockout.
Pavlovich enters this fight with an MMA record of 18-3 and 6-3 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.86 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 44%. Pavlovich is absorbing 5.03 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 51%. His takedown defense is 75%.
Rozenstruik enters this fight with an MMA record of 15-5. He is averaging 3.75 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 49%. Rozenstruik is absorbing 2.74 strikes, and he has a striking defense of 51%. Like Pavlovich's, Rozenstruik's takedown defense is 75%
Pavlovich is the better fighter in just about every regard that matters. He's more aggressive, punches harder, carries more weight, and has a six-inch reach advantage over Rozenstruik. This fight will not go the distance and my prediction is that Pavlovich will get back in the win column by knocking out Rozenstruik in the second round.
