UFC fans we are in for a treat this week and I am excited to watch this card as the UFC heads back to Canada. We have former champions at the top of this card still trying to climb back to the top with hungry contenders trying to make their own path. A good handful of the main fights seem to be younger contenders lined up with seasoned vets and that always makes for a good night! I give my breakdown in
When you lose the way Mike Malott did in his last fight, you wonder if you can really trust a fighter. But, being KO’d by Neal Magny within the last minute of the fight isn’t the worst blemish on a fighters record. I love to back a fighter coming off some adversity and Malott is that perfect example.
Malott had won his first 3 UFC fights by KO/TKO, submission, and submission. Malott is 10-2-1 with all 10 wins coming by finish. He can beat you with striking both hands and kicks, and he can also take you down and control you for three rounds. Malott should get the victory with a much less skilled grappler.
Youssef Zalal has returned to the UFC with vengeance on his mind. When you get cut from the UFC and get a second chance, you hope they make the best of it. He is 2-0 with 2 submission wins and looks to have a new leash on his career.
Zalal can beat Shore anywhere in this fight. I don’t expect Jack to want to grapple much with Zalal. Zalal is patient, picks his shots, and finds his path then takes it. I trust him in this spot to keep impressing in his return.
Listen, Aiemann Zahabi may not be the most impressive UFC fighter, but I have liked what I have seen from him in multiple fights. His first round finishes of Rodriguez and Aoriqileng were slick and he has that in the bag any moment. He is 36 years old, fighting a 38 year old Munoz, but in terms of fighting miles, Zahabi has 13 professional fights to Munoz 29.
Munoz is durable, he has never been finished in those 29 fights, and though I do not expect a finish here, it is possible with Munoz wear and tear. Every other fight Zahabi seems to find another gear and this is his next fight to give us a spectacular finish. Just like Max this past weekend, every fighter gets finished eventually.
I see this fight staying on the feet for the most part as both fighters have solid takedown defense and neither have a high volume of takedowns per fight. Zahabi’s power is going to be the difference here, he will find the bigger shots and create the bigger moments to win a decision in his home country.
Best Bets:
2-Leg (-105) Bet365
M. Malott ML + Y. Zalal ML
A. Zahabi ML (-110) Bet365
Bonus Bet:
Rose Namajunas ML (+110) DraftKings