In a 3-round lightweight bout on the main card, Rafael Fiziev and Ignacio Bahamondes meet Saturday at UFC on ABC 8 at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. The fight is expected to start approximately at 5:15 p.m. ET, following the prelims scheduled to kick off at noon ET (ESPN/ESPN+) with the main card set for 3 p.m. ET (ABC / ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC on ABC 8: Fiziev vs. Bahamondes odds, and make our expert UFC picks and predictions.
Records: Fiziev (12-4-0) | Bahamondes (17-5-0)
The 32-year-old Azerbaijan switch-stance fighter gets a chance to fight in his homeland, and the Team Tiger Muay Thai fighter is looking to halt a 3-bout skid. However, the losses are against Justin Gaethje, twice, while also falling to Mateusz Gamrot.
For Fiziev, you needn’t worry about a submission ending, as he has just 1 victory by way of submission in his entire career, while he has 10 KO/TKO results, winning 8 times via the method. He has ended up going the distance 5 times in the past 9 bouts since Oct. 26, 2019, losing via decision both times against Gaethje.
For Bahamondes, he is coming off a Round 1 submission victory against Jalin Turner at UFC 313, and he has 3 straight victories, all in Round 1. Before the win over Turner, he had KO/TKO victories over Manuel Torres at UFC 306 – Riyadh Season Noche UFC, and against Christos Giagos in April 2024.
Bahamondes will be towering over Fiziev in the octagon, as he stands 7 inches taller. Bahamondes also holds a 4-inch reach advantage, and he has a 7.09-to-4.85 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. The Azerbaijani fighter is a little more accurate on those strikes, landing 54.04%, to just 49.48% for the Chilean fighter.
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UFC on ABC 8: Fiziev vs. Bahamondes odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Fiziev +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Bahamondes -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Total rounds: 2.5 rounds (Over -190 | Under +145)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -160 | No +120)
UFC on ABC 8: Fiziev vs. Bahamondes picks and predictions
BAHAMONDES (-135) is worth a look as a moderate favorite. While he’ll likely feel like Rocky when he traveled to the Soviet Union for a fight on Christmas Day, with the crowd fully in support of Fiziev, don’t be surprised if the Azerbaijani crowd comes around at some point.
The Chilean fighter is a punching machine, and he has all of the physical advantages in this fight, too. He is 7 inches taller, and he has the 4-inch reach advantage to push and pull Fiziev in and out at his choosing. Bahamondes is on the fast track toward the top of the division, while Fiziev is looking to halt a 3-bout skid, while simply trying to hang on in the UFC.
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UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (+145) is worth a look at plus-money.
Fiziev was knocked out by Gamrot in Sept. 2023, 2 fights ago. Bahamondes will likely throw a flurry of punches early and often, trying to end Fiziev’s night early, trying to keep the crowd from spurring the hometown fighter on.
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