Debut In The Kingdom

via eurosport.com & bjpenn.com

For the first time in the company’s history, the UFC is heading to Saudi Arabia for a night of thrilling combat. Dana White continues his pursuit of global expansion for the company, and this is yet another example of barriers being broken. The Kingdom has been home to countless boxing spectacles, hosting boxing royalty such as Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez, and many more. In honor of the UFC’s debut in Saudi Arabia, the card is stacked from top to bottom, and we will start by breaking down the featured bout of the evening.

In a crucial fight for the landscape of the heavyweight division, former title challenger Sergei Pavlovich takes on Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Pavlovich is looking to re-insert himself into title contention following back-to-back losses to Alexander Volkov and current interim champion Tom Aspinall. Prior to the two losses, Pavlovich was regarded as the inevitable future heavyweight champion, steamrolling through the heavyweight division with highlights reel knockouts. The Russian burst onto the scene with consecutive first-round knockouts over Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa, and Curtis Blaydes. Following his victory over Blaydes, Pavlovich challenged for the interim heavyweight championship and was knocked out in nearly a minute. Many fans chalked this loss up as a fluke, simply that Aspinall was the first to land the punch. However, Pavlovich’s recent loss to Volkov highlighted glaring holes in his game. The Russian was predictable in the fight, utilizing only his boxing in his signature wide stance. Volkov stayed out of range, used teep kicks to maintain distance, and picked apart Pavlovich for three straight rounds. If Pavlovich looks to re-insert himself into title contention, he will need to mix up his attacks and incorporate unpredictably, as his opponent is no slouch on the feet. Jairzinho Rozenstruik has always remained a top heavyweight contender. With a recent dominant victory over Tai Tuivasa, Bigi Boy is looking for one more crack at the title. Rozenstruik’s biggest strength is his elite kickboxing, using his long frame to pick his opponents apart from outside range. This is a style that Pavlovich has struggled against, and the blueprint for victory is clear for Bigi Boy. In all likelihood, this fight will remain on the feet, and fans should expect wild exchanges with a significant chance of a knockout. Will Rozenstruik solidify his position as a top contender, or will Pavlovich achieve redemption? Whoever emerges victorious is sitting in an optimal position for a future title shot.

Next up, in the middleweight division, Shara Magomedov takes on Michael Venom Page. Magomedov has yet to meet his equal, holding a perfect record of fifteen wins, with twelve victories by finish. The Russian is truly one of one, containing a style that no one can replicate. His slick kickboxing makes him an unpredictable threat, with lightning-fast kicks and unorthodox boxing. Magomedov is coming off of a knockout-of-the-year contender victory, demonstrating his creativity on the feet, finishing his opponent with a double spinning back fist. However, if there’s anyone to give Magomedov trouble on the feet, it’s his opponent. Michael Venom Page is a kickboxing savant with unique, striking abilities that opponents cannot deal with. The UFC newcomer is one and one in the promotion, with a dominant victory over Kevin Holland in his debut. Page overwhelmed his opponent with his blistering speed, catching him with elbows, right hands, and body kicks. Page suffered a loss in his recent contest in a close decision to Ian Machado Garry. Despite Garry’s reputation as an excellent striker, Page forced the Irishman to shoot for takedowns, ultimately being controlled on the ground, which was his defeat. Despite the urgency for Page to address his weakness on the ground, it is doubtful his opponent will shoot for takedowns. This fight will be fireworks, with both fighters throwing wild, unorthodox strikes. Fans should expect a highlight-level knockout from one of these athletes, and they will undoubtedly be on their feet the entire time. Ultimately, the winner of this fight may not progress through the rankings significantly, but they certainly have the opportunity to add a spectacular finish to their resume.

Finally, in the main event of the evening, former middleweight champion Isreal Adesanya takes on rising contender Nassourdine Imavov. This is a massive fight for the middleweight division, with the winner sure to challenge for a title if victorious. For Adesanya, he is looking for one last shot at middleweight supremacy. The two-time middleweight champion is coming off back-to-back losses against Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. The former champion has only fought the best of the best throughout his UFC career, and despite his recent skid, he is still a top fighter in the division. Imavov is looking to carry recent momentum into a monumental victory over his opponent, riding an impressive three-fight win streak with wins over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen. Nonetheless, the Frenchman has never fought on as big of a stage as he will Saturday night, and he will need to show up under the bright lights while putting on a flawless performance if he looks to defeat the Last Stylebender. Stylistically, the fight will likely be a stand-up battle. Most MMA fans know Adesanya’s resume, dominating in the UFC and other kickboxing promotions in his early years. His kickboxing skills are parallel to none, often overwhelming his opponents with a diverse array of attacks, through leg kicks, body kicks, and creative boxing. On the other side, Imavov is no slouch on the feet. Despite the controversy surrounding the finish, Imavov was able to secure a knockout victory over Jared Cannonier, and his balanced style makes him a threat wherever the fight goes. It would be in the Frenchman’s best interest to take the fight to the ground, where he has a clear advantage in the wrestling department. Despite his improved striking, he should not rely on those skills to defeat Adesanya, who often picks his opponents apart before breaking their will and securing the finish. For the Last Stylebender, he will look to keep the fight standing, attacking Imavov from range, staying on the outside, and finding opportunities for the finish. The importance of this fight cannot be overstated for both fighters, and whoever suffers a loss on Saturday night may never have a crack at UFC middleweight gold again.

It all goes down on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. Fans should expect an absolute spectacle, and Dana White has promised fireworks from the opening bell. For a post-fight breakdown and analysis of the fights, head over to our post-fight breakdowns page next week for an analysis.