UFC Vegas 85 full card analysis

UFC Vegas 85 Full Card Analysis

UFC Vegas 85: Dolidze vs Imavov – 2.3.2024 – Fight Predictions and Analysis

   Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Vegas 85: Dolidze vs Imavov. Fights this weekend come from The Apex with thirteen bouts scheduled in Las Vegas. Our analysis includes a pick for every bout from Dynes Sports contributors Anthony Marro and Nicholas Marro.

   As coverage continues, we will keep our records up to date below. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick though as records will not reflect confidence. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.

Current Record

  • Anthony: 14-9-0 (Last Year 307-199-6, 61%)
  • Nick: 13-10-0 (Last Year 324-182-6, 64%)

*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 2-2-2024 at 10pm EST

Preliminary Card- Starts 4:00pm EST

Thomas Petersen -180 vs Jamal Pogues +155

  • Anthony: The card today begins with heavyweights Thomas Petersen and Jamal Pogues. This is a very low-level matchup opening an event that may end up being one of the year’s worst. Both men looked awful on the scales. Pogues had competed previously at 205 pounds before returning to the sport in 2022 at heavyweight. Carrying so much extra mass has caused Pogues to fight slower and less efficiently than he had in his early career. He still fights behind a solid jab but I think Petersen can navigate the standup here and outwork Pogues over the course of fifteen minutes. Petersen can implement offensive wrestling when needed and I think bringing Pogues to the mat may be the path of least resistance here today. He is the better offensive grappler by far and certainly at a cardio advantage over Pogues. I do not recommend betting this sloppy fight but if you are I advise taking Petersen. The resume he has built is decent and his ceiling is much higher than that of Pogues. Thomas Petersen by Decision
  • Nick: This is a low level heavyweight match-up, but both of these guys are more athletic than they look. Pogues is athletic for a heavyweight. He works well behind his jab, and he’s shown in certain match-ups he is more than willing to lean on his solid wrestling base. He’s 10-3 professionally, coming off a hard fought but convincing decision loss to Mick Parkin. Thomas Petersen will be making his UFC debut in this spot, coming off a win via submission over Chandler Cole on Contender Series. He’s 8-1 professionally, and at 28-years old he’s one of the younger heavyweights on the roster. Peterson is relatively well-rounded for the division, and his only loss came to another UFC fighter in Waldo Cortes-Acosta. He’s still raw in his abilities, but it seems he does have enough skill/ability to develop into a borderline ranked fighter in a very shallow division. The key to this matchup will be Petersen’s ability to take Pogues to the mat. Pogues will be the better striker, but Peterson’s advantages if he could ground his opponent here should be far more significant. This is a low confidence play as it is a low level matchup, but I like Peterson to score a submission after wearing Pogues down early. Thomas Petersen by Round Two Submission

Marquel Mederos -130 vs Landon Quinones +110

  • Anthony: Next is a fight at lightweight between Marquel Mederos and Landon Quinones. I find this bout incredibly hard to handicap with both fighters rather green and prone to making mistakes. Both men are rather flashy in terms of their offensive striking while lacking in most other areas needed to compete at this level. Mederos seems further from his finished product training with a great team now at factoryX Muay Thai. He has six knockout wins to his credit and very good power for a 155er. Mederos does well timing his killshots and landing on his opponents when they are over exposed. Quinones is an effective boxer who will oblige Mederos here in a striking heavy match. I expect Quinones to keep the more consistent volume here if this were a fight to see the scorecards. However, these two lightweights can be expected to throw down here for what would be their first promotional win. Mederos seems like the more potent finisher to me and I like his chances of landing an early knockout. Marquel Mederos by Round Two KO
  • Nick: Marquel Mederos will be making his UFC debut here, coming off an impressive KO win via knee over Issa Isakov on Contender Series. Mederos is 8-1 professionally, coming into this fight on a six fight win streak. He’s fought a decent level of competition regionally, primarily fighting for Fury FC. Six of his eight professional wins have come via KO and he certainly prefers to fight on the feet at striking range. Landon Quinones is coming off a loss in his UFC debut, but he gave a good showing of himself against a tough opponent in Nasrat Haqparast. He is 7-2-1 professionally and continues to show considerable improvements in each of his fights. Quinones carries power in his strikes, and he was once the Titan FC Lightweight Champion. He’s athletic and he shows flashes of upside as a prospect, but he’s still relatively raw in his abilities. This is a very tough fight to call as both fighters are mostly unproven at this level. I expect a competitive bout, but see Mederos securing the decision as he lands more volume and the more powerful strikes overall. Marquel Mederos by Decision

Julija Stoliarenko -150 vs Luana Carolina +125

  • Anthony: This is a women’s flyweight fight with Luana Carolina set to face Julija Stoliarenko. It is hard to take Stoliarenko as a favorite against anyone but Carolina seems like a great stylistic matchup for the judoka. Carolina has given up multiple takedowns in four straight UFC fights. I do not think of her in the highest of regard when it comes to any real skills. Her length is good for a flyweight but long limbs will play to a detriment here against a woman that is known for her armbar. This will be a boring fight likely to require a judge’s decision unless Stoliarenko can get off a few early submission attempts. The only way I feel comfortable betting this spot is Stoliarenko by way of submission. Carolina is a better striker without doubt but she cannot be trusted to defend takedowns and stay out Stoliarenko’s guard..Julija Stoliarenko by Round One Submission
  • Nick: Stoliarenko is an armbar specialist with good enough BJJ to score her favorite submission from a variety of positions. She is 11-7-1 professionally, but just 2-4 in the UFC. Stoliarenko is tough, but she really only has one path to victory. She manages to execute it to perfection her last time out against Molly McCann, and it’s safe to expect she’ll be looking to execute the exact same game plan here against Carolina. Luana Carolina does her best work striking at range. She’s going to have a considerable reach advantage here, but she doesn’t really carry the type of power it may take to keep Stoliarenko from closing distance. The key to this match-up will likely be Carolina’s ability to keep this fight standing and out of the clinch. She has decent takedown defense, but Stoliarenko is likely effective enough on the feet that she should be able to set up timely entries if she chooses to. Another low confidence play on a low level match-up, but I’m siding with Soliarenko. It should only take a single takedown to score her signature submission. Julija Stoliarenko by Round One Submission

Jeong Yeong Lee -165 vs Blake Bilder +130

  • Anthony: This featherweight fight really gets the prelims going with Jeong Yeong Lee facing off with Blake Bilder. I have been high on Jeong Yeong Lee after watching his ascension on Road to the UFC. He is a complete martial artist turning pro ten years ago and now coming into his own at age 28. Not only does Lee do very well striking but he has proven capable of wrestling and defending opposing shots. Bilder will almost certainly look to grapple in this fight and position himself to win. Bilder may have the cardio to box with Lee for fifteen minutes but I do not think he will like absorbing a lot of the straight shots I am sure he will eat. Jeong Yeong Lee is very quick, stepping into his punches and landing flush. He does not often put himself in positions to get beaten and I feel that is key in a fight with Blake Bilder. I am expecting the sharper fighter to be Lee and an early win to materialize if Bilder cannot fight through early adversity. It is hard to get to the window with him at -165. Jeong Yeong Lee by Round Two KO
  • Nick: Jeong Yeong Lee is 10-1 professionally, and one of the more promising young prospects fighting out of Korea. Lee is an aggressive striker who likes to walk down his opponents and back them against the cage. He fights out of a traditional Muay Thai stance, throws all of his limbs well, and his grappling has come a long way since he debuted professionally. He’s coming off a win over Yizha via decision, a victory that landed him a UFC contract as that match-up represented the finals of last years’ Road to UFC tournament. Lee fought well in that spot to secure a decision. Prior to that fight he had strung together three straight wins via first round KO. He’s relatively well-rounded and hasn’t lost 2017, but this match-up represents a considerable step up in competition for him here. Bilder is well-rounded as a powerful puncher with advanced BJJ. He’s coming off the first loss of his career, falling via decision to a tough out in Kyle Nelson. Bilder fights aggressively, and he’s known to put out a lot of volume on the feet. He’s very dangerous if he can take his opponents to the mat, but he struggles at times to find clear entries for takedowns. This is another match-up that could go either way, but I find myself siding with Lee. He’s the more aggressive fighter and the more potent finisher on the feet. Jeong Yeong Lee by Round Two KO

Themba Gorimbo -240 vs Pete Rodriguez +190

  • Anthony: This is a matchup at welterweight between Themba Gorimbo and Pete Rodgriguez. While neither of these two men are the highest caliber fighters, this is a solid piece of matchmaking to test the skills of both. The jury is still out on Pete Roriguez who is thus far 1-1 in the UFC. Rodriguez lost to Jack Della Maddalena in his short notice debut but bounced back with a win over Mike Jackson his last time out. His boxing is crisp but Rodriguez does not have the best striking defense or durability in general. Gorimbo has proven that he belongs in the promotion despite being 1-1 just like Pete. Gorimbo mixes his martial arts well and seems to have what it takes to win fights that get into the latter rounds. While his striking is not as technical as Rodriguez, Gorimbo does have the advantage of reach for this affair. His long range weapons are better than that of his opponent, specifically with Gorimbo throwing good kicks. Gorimbo is also much more effective at grappling compared to Rodriguez who is a boxer by trade. Gorimbo will look to use his jiu jitsu often and win this fight thanks to a convincing amount of control time. Themba Gorimbo by Decision
  • Nick: Themba Gorimbo is a powerful striker, capable of throwing a wide range of creative attacks offensively. That being said his defense and durability have shown to be weaknesses rather than strengths so far in his professional career. He likes to wrestle, but his takedown entries are not technically sound which makes it easy for most of his opponents to stay standing. He has been showing considerable improvements over his last few fights, but there is no denying he is still raw in his abilities. Pete Rodriguez is just 5-1 professionally, with all of his wins coming against questionable competition. It’s difficult to gauge if he should be fighting in the UFC. However, he has at least shown KO power and he recently shifted to a solid camp in the MMA Lab in Arizona. Rodriguez is primarily a striker and he seems mostly one dimensional. Gorimbo will have a reach advantage here, which will be important in making sure he doesn’t leave himself open to counters in exchanges. The price is out of hand, but I do expect Gorimbo to win via submission as he leans on a grappling heavy game plan. Themba Gorimbo by Round Three Submission

Azat Maksum -240 vs Charles Johnson +190

  • Anthony: Next should be a good scrap at flyweight between Charles Johnson and Azat Maksum. This is a short notice appearance for Johnson who agreed to this bout with less than a month’s notice. While Johnson fights hard and can go with anybody in this division, some clear deficiencies in his skillset may result in another defeat here. Through six UFC appearances he has been successfully taken down 31 times. Johnson struggles to defend against chain wrestling sequences and never works back to his feet quickly enough. Maksum should take full advantage of this in tonight’s matchup, limiting any of Johnson’s offensive rallies. Maksum hails from Kazakhstan and boasts a perfect record of 17-0. Certainly I find his resume to be a bit padded but the quality of competition these past few years make me feel confident in Maksum’s potential. He is the rightful favorite in this spot with a clear advantage over Johnson when this fight hits the mat. Azat Maksum by Decision
  • Nick: Azat Maksum makes his return here off an impressive UFC debut win over Tyson Nam. He is 17-0 professionally, with most of those wins coming for respectable regional promotions via Octagon and Brave CF. He’s 28-years old and his skills are already developed both on the mat and on the feet. He has five wins via KO and six via submission. Charles Johnson is a former LFA flyweight champion, but he’s been struggling since he was promoted to the UFC. He’s a technically skilled boxer, but his defensive wrestling and grappling has proven to be a massive hole in his overall game. He is 2-4 in the UFC, coming off three-straight losses for this first time in his career. If he can’t get back into the win column here, there is a decent chance he’ll be cut from the roster. Johnson will be dangerous on the feet here, but Maksum’s pressure grappling style has proven a difficult puzzle for him to solve at this level. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Johnson pull off an upset via KO, but Maksum’s grappling advantage seems more significant than Johnson’s will on the feet. Azat Maksum by Decision

Molly McCann -270 vs Diana Belbita +210

  • Anthony: The featured prelim comes at strawweight with Molly McCann set to face Diana Belbita. The move to 115 pounds has been a long time coming for McCann who has always been a bit undersized at flyweight. She will cede some length to Belbita in this spot but McCann is rightfully favored here thanks to her great hands and natural power. If McCann can keep the same pace she employed up at 125 pounds, I see her really putting the hurt on some girls here down at strawweight. Belbita is an interesting opponent as she will likely oblige McCann for long periods on the feet. Belbita has an output that may match McCann early but as damage starts to accrue I see her workrate declining fast. She oftentimes will look to work in the clinch with opponents and Molly often does her best work in close. While I do believe this fight to be much closer than the odds imply I am confident taking McCann here to get a much needed victory. Molly McCann by Decision
  • Nick: McCann does a good job working behind her jab. She is an extremely aggressive brawler with crisp boxing ability, decent defensive grappling ability and excellent cardio. She is capable of leaning on her wrestling against inferior grapplers but there’s certainly no denying that she prefers to stand and swing. Her durability and grit are amongst her better qualities, but she’s coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in her career – most recently losing via arm bar to Julija Stoliarenko. When Diana Belbita is at her best, she works well behind her jab and uses it to set up straight shots. She’s relatively well-rounded, with six of her fourteen professional wins coming via KO and four coming via submission. Belbita averages more than six significant strikes landed per minute, but she absorbs more than six per minute as well. She’s coming off a hard fought loss to Karolina Kowalkiewicz, but she gave a decent showing of herself in that spot. This is a low confidence play, but I find myself siding with McCann here. She’s the more powerful striker, the better wrestler, and she seems focused coming into this match-up. The price is completely out of hand, but I expect she can get back in the win column in this one. Molly McCann by Decision

Main Card- Starts 7:00pm EST

Gilbert Urbina -200 vs Charles Radtke +160

  • Anthony: Tonight’s main card begins with the welterweight matchup of Charles Radtke and Gilbert Urbina. Radtke has thus far made just one UFC appearance, beating Blood Diamond in his promotional debut. The performance from Radtke was not very inspiring as he only secured one of six attempted takedowns against Diamond. A large portion of that bout was spent with Radtke accruing control time on the fence. Urbina may not be very comfortable in a similar style fight but for as long as these two are standing he will surely have the edge here today. Radtke is not very quick with his reactions or the best in terms of defensive awareness. Urbina’s crisp hands and more diverse striking attacks will give Radtke fits at kickboxing range. He looked great in his last appearance against Orion Cosce and I feel Radtke is another opponent he will be able to handle rather comfortably. Gilbert Urbina by Decision
  • Nick: This is a low level match-up between two welterweights that are mostly unproven in the division.Gilbert Urbina is a decent striker who works well behind his jab. He’s capable of changing stances and while it doesn’t seem to be a strength, he’s certainly more than competent on the mat as well. He’s coming off an impressive win via KO over Orion Cosce, and he looked better in that fight than we’ve ever seen him before. Radtke is a relatively well-rounded fighter who does a good job honing in on the weaknesses of his opponents. He is 8-3 professionally, coming off a narrow decision win over Mike Mathetha in his UFC debut. A former CFFC Welterweight Champion, Radtke really hasn’t been tested against a high level of opponent and there is no denying he is breaking into the promotion somewhat late in his career. These are two relatively unproven fighters, but it seems Urbina is the one still making major improvements. I expect he can secure a KO here before this one is through. Gilbert Urbina by Round Two KO

Aliaskhab Khizriev -150 vs Makhmud Muradov +125

  • Anthony: Next is a middleweight bout between Aliaskhab Khizriev and Makhmud Muradov. These final five fights feature quality fighters and much better matchups than the bouts that precede them on the prelims. Khizriev is an undefeated Russian fighter who won impressively in his promotional debut last year. The Black Wolf has an aggressive style of striking with a lot of shots coming from his big right hand. Khizriev fights out of the southpaw stance but largely uses that positioning to open up shots on his opponents legs. Khizriev does great work with his offensive wrestling and likely looks to implement those skills here facing Muradov. While Muradov has gotten better in terms of his takedown defense, he is a boxer who will always perform best when able to let his hands fly. Khizriev should do well controlling Muradov in this spot and limiting those offensive spurts. Muradov could pay off as an underdog here if those combinations do start to connect. His hand speed and precision is miles ahead of Khizriev’s. However, the gap between these two grappling is even wider than the divide between them on the feet. Aliaskhab Khizriev by Decision
  • Nick: Aliaskhab Khizriev is an extremely talented grappler with excellent takedown entries and advanced submission ability once he gets his fights to the mat. He does an excellent job advancing position on grounded opponents. He’s competent on the feet, but most of his success comes via his dangerous ground game. He’s coming off a solid win via submission over Denis Tiuliulin in his UFC debut. Makmud Muradov has excellent footwork, which he uses to stay out of his opponent’s striking range. He’s a highly technical boxer, as a former member of Floyd Mayweather’s Money Team. He’s going to be the more powerful and accurate striker in this match-up, but he has faded at times so he’ll need to be careful with his pacing as a means to manage his gas tank. This is a tough fight to call as Khizriev is still mostly unproven. He could dominate if he can get his wrestling going, but I prefer to back the more proven commodity in the underdog here. Muradov will be the much better striker in this match-up and his takedown defense continues to improve. Makhmud Muradov by Round Two KO

Natalia Silva -370 vs Viviane Araujo +290

  • Anthony: This should be a good bout at women’s flyweight between Natalia Silva and Viviane Araujo. Silva has become one of the most promising young prospects in the women’s ranks. The Brazilian is 4-0 thus far in the UFC with impressive wins over Andrea Lee, Victoria Leonardo, Tereza Bleda and Jasmine Jasudavicius. She is now 27 with her most recent loss coming seven years ago against another established talent in Marina Rodriguez. I am very impressed with her technical striking skills and the power she is generating out of the southpaw stance. Silva is reliable in terms of her defense and very deliberate in offensive attacks. Compared to Araujo you will notice a decisive advantage for Silva in terms of both speed and power here. We will likely see Araujo desperately searching for takedowns here in order to limit Silva’s striking offense. I think Araujo really wears it in this spot, unable to effectively keep Silva grounded and in control for long. I won’t be betting on Silva with these odds but she is as sure a pick as there is on this card. I see a bright future for Silva with fights down the line inside the division’s top ten. Natalia Silva by Decision
  • Nick: Natalia Silva is primarily a grappler, with seven of her sixteen professional wins coming via submission. She is coming off four-straight wins under the UFC banner and ten consecutive wins overall. She most recently secured an impressive win via decision over Andrea Lee, a fight in which she showcased dramatic improvements in her striking abilities. Lately, her shots have been more powerful, and her footwork is developing into a major strength for her when she’s striking at range. Araujo should have a power advantage here. Her strikes are explosive, she has an excellent front kick and throws powerful combinations. She works well behind her jab and her footwork is advanced. She is a talented offensive grappler as a BJJ black belt, but she doesn’t really have the wrestling base or takedown ability to get the fight to the mat consistently. Araujo has a considerable advantage in experience here, but this feels like two fighters’ who are seeing their careers head in opposite directions. The line is far too wide, but Silva’s skills should be enough to pass this litmus test. Natalia Silva by Decision

Randy Brown -270 vs Muslim Salikhov +210

  • Anthony: The featured bout comes at welterweight between Randy Brown and Muslim Salikhov. This fight had originally been scheduled to take place at UFC 296 this fall before Brown had been forced to withdraw. It is not the most compelling of matchups with two aging veterans set to go head to head. Salikhov has always been a volatile fighter but his previous two losses came by rather nasty knockouts. It does not appear that Salikhov is getting much better here as he approaches the age of 40. Salikhov is moving slower than before and seems not as willing to return fire after eating clean shots. The King of Kung Fu will look to open up here against Brown and land single shots with fight ending intentions. I do not feel that chasing the knockout is wise facing Brown who is much quicker and too good at controlling his distance. Brown has eight-inches of reach on Salikhov and a much more consistent offensive output. It would not surprise me to see Brown finished here but he should be winning most of the minutes he’s in the cage with Salikhov. Randy Brown by Decision
  • Nick: Randy Brown is extremely well-rounded with KO power and underrated BJJ ability. He’s very light on his feet, with excellent head movement and solid overall striking defense. He works well behind his jab, and he uses his length more effectively than most other fighters with his frame. Muslim Salikhov is an excellent striker with a solid chin and a lot of power behind his shots. He’s a former kickboxer and fairly one-dimensional, but he’s good enough on the feet to hang with almost anyone in the division. He throws a wide-range of diverse strikes, including a lot of spinning attacks and high kicks. He recently changed camps to the American Top Team to focus more on his wrestling. He’s still dangerous offensively, but there is no denying that he has been slowing down at 39-years old, as one of the older fighters in the division. Salikhov can keep this close, but Brown’s range speed and overall athleticism should allow him to stay a step ahead here. Randy Brown by Decision

Renato Moicano -180 vs Drew Dober +155

  • Anthony: The co-main event is a compelling matchup at lightweight between Renato Moicano and Drew Dober. These are two men that deserve their spots in the 155-pound rankings with each fighting in main events and on high profile cards. Moicano has really come into his own as of late, winning three of his previous four octagon appearances. Moicano’s only loss since 2020 came in a short notice appearance to face Rafael dos Anjos. He has made immense strides in his striking as he trains with the gym at American Top Team. Now Moicano pairs his great jiu jitsu with some lethal boxing and reach that he knows how to use. He will have the size advantage over Dober and a likely edge in most areas of this bout. Dober is extremely dangerous when he corks back that left hand, but apart from power punching there is not much that he does better than Moicano. I worry about betting on the Brazilian in this spot as power punchers have certainly caught him before. However, Moicano can likely win this fight rather comfortably if he does elect to grapple rather than stand.Dober has lost four times previously by submission and only defends about half of his opponent’s takedown attempts.. Renato Moicano by Round Two Submission
  • Nick: Moiciano is an advanced BJJ black belt. He has outstanding offensive grappling and he does a good job scrambling into favorable positions against a wide-range of opponents. His greatest strengths are definitely shown on the mat, but he is comfortable striking both in the clinch and in open space. Drew Dober throws extremely powerful and precise strikes, his timing is excellent offensively, and the power in his counters make him a threat against almost anyone on the feet. He’s coming off a solid win via KO of Ricky Glenn, and he’s secured a win via KO in four of his last five fights under the UFC banner. As dangerous as Dober is on the feet, his grappling ability leaves a lot to be desired. Four of his six UFC losses have come via submission. This fight is another great example of a striker vs. a grappler. Dober is live to pull off the upset via KO, but it seems far more likely we see Moicano drag this fight to the mat where he can secure a submission. Renato Moicano by Round One Submission

Nassourdine Imavov -180 vs Roman Dolidze +155

  • Anthony: The main event comes at middleweight with Roman Dolidze facing Nassourdine Imavov. This is a great tilt between contenders looking to earn a big name fight with a victory today. The five round atmosphere provides a welcome test for two prospects that have not yet proven capable of treading those deeper waters. Imavov shared the cage with Sean Strickland for five rounds but that was a bout that saw him rather convincingly beaten. Imavov is a great striker who is light on his feet and very effective at touching opponents from long range. His hands are extremely quick and I have to admit that his feints and footwork are a bit overwhelming to gameplan against. Dolidze will not be able to keep pace with Imavov for five rounds in a fight that is strictly contested standing. Dolidze has serious power but it will be very difficult for him to find Imavov’s chin. He will need to make this fight dirty to win, initiating exchanges in the clinch and forcing Imavov to the mat whenever possible. I give him three rounds to work for a finish here or otherwise Imavov will likely take over late. He should have the strength to control Imavov on the mat, deciding this is just a matter of whether or not Dolidze will fight smart and shoot. I think his jiu jitsu ends up deciding this one. I have been impressed with him in each UFC fight and his accolades really supersede those of Imavov. Beating Jack Hermansson is an impressive feat but the manner that Dolidze has been winning fights is key. He seems like a good pick here as the betting underdog. Roman Dolidze by Round Three Submission
  • Nick: Imavov is well-rounded, with a solid wrestling base and dangerous ground and pound. He does a good job circling away from the strengths of his opponents on the feet. He moves well, swinging out of his wide stance and utilizing his solid understanding of angles. He’s a quality wrestler, but more often than not he seems content to stand and trade. Dolidze packs a lot of power in his strikes, but he’s also a decorated grappler as an ADCC Asia & Oceania Champion. Dolidze has recently begun training at Xtreme Couture. As a fighter who was the owner of his own small gym before the move, this camp shift should help him improve considerably in each fight moving forward. He’s now training with tougher partners and learning new techniques he wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. This was evident in his most recent fights, an upset of Jack Hermannson via submission and a narrow loss via decision to Marvin Vettori. Imavov is the higher volume striker in this match-up and likely the more well-rounded fighter here overall. However, Dolidze’s ability to finish fights could prove to be an equalizer. I do expect Imavov to win if he can survive until the scorecards. However, I feel Dolidze’s ability to either ground Imavov for a submission or catch him on the feet is more likely than not in the small UFC Apex cage. Roman Dolidze by Round Two Submission

-Nick Marro

Twitter: @NickMarroDFS

-Anthony Marro

Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_

Photo: UFC.com