Abu Dhabi in the UAE welcomes octagon violence this weekend, and we’re covering all your betting needs for an Arabic-located fight card stacked with top-ranked talent from top to bottom.
Let’s waste no more time and dive right into my favorite betting picks for the UFC Abu Dhabi preliminary card lineup.
Picks Summary
- Menifield/Murzakanov Under 2.5 Rounds (-165)
- Dudakova by Decision (-110)
*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)Â
Alonzo Menifield vs. Azamat Murzakanov
UFC Abu Dhabi Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, August 03, 2024 – 12:00 PM ET at Etihad Arena
Alonzo Menifield
Alonzo Menifield isn’t the most technical mixed martial artist; he’s previously displayed signs of untrustworthy cardio, and an 8-4-1 promotional record isn’t the prettiest. However, the perfect equalizer for ‘Atomic’ has been his fight-ending power.
It’s worrisome that Menifield is returning so quickly after suffering a vicious 12-second knockout at the hands of Carlos Ulberg, but prior to this, he was riding a five-fight unbeaten run, and most of those victories were thanks to his blistering punch power.
- Menifield Pro Record: 15-4-1
- Menifield KO/TKO Wins: 9
- Menifield Submission Wins: 4
Azamat Murzakanov
Azamat Murzakanov is undefeated and undoubtedly dangerous, with 10 of his 13 pro career wins ending by knockout or submission. That said, aged 35 and joining the UFC just two years hasn’t presented the most active fighters, with injuries plaguing his octagon presence and, in turn, failing to give us a clear read of his potential ceiling at 205lbs.
- Murzakanov Pro Record: 13-0-0
- Murzakanov KO/TKO Wins: 9
- Murzakanov Submission Wins: 1
UFC 2 Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC pricing with top-rated sportsbooks has Murzakanov as a -200 favorite, and this isn’t surprising when a 0 is attached to his record. What isn’t considered is that he’s only three fights into his UFC tenure, and his experience level has been mediocre.
I get it, though. Menifield lacks volume and cardio and is returning from a brutal KO defeat. Also, his most notable path to victory—knockouts—is faced with an unbeaten opponent whose durability has looked solid thus far.
I don’t fancy approaching the moneyline markets, but I’m looking at the under 2.5 rounds for a -165 price. Considering the brutality both fighters have delivered, and for Menifield, received throughout their respective careers, I’m surprised this isn’t lined with more juice.
Not only has Murzakanov gone the distance in just three of his 13 pro-MMA bouts to date, but Menifield has also avoided the judges in 4 of his 6 most recent contests. We have two men capable of finishing fights, so I’m hitting the under and not thinking twice.
UFC Pick: Under 2.5 Rounds (-165) [1.65u returns 1u profit] at Bet365
Under 2.5 Rounds: Supporting UFC Abu Dhabi Facts
- Menifield has gone the distance in just 4 of his 21 pro-MMA bouts.
- Murzakanov has won 10 of his 13 pro-MMA bouts via KO/TKO.
- Murzakanov has won 4 of his last 5 fights via knockout.
Viktoriia Dudakova vs. Sam Hughes
UFC Abu Dhabi Women’s Strawweight Preliminary Bout
Saturday, August 03, 2024 – 06:00 PM ET at the Etihad Arena
Viktoriia Dudakova
We know the UFC loves to protect unblemished records, and Viktoriia Dudakova is no exception. This isn’t a knock on her skillset; she’s a versatile martial artist who has won all eight professional cage appearances since 2020.
I don’t envision Dudakova reaching the heights of the women’s strawweight rankings, and the fraud check will arrive sooner or later. That said, Saturday’s bout is perfect matchmaking, and there are many reasons why she’s the betting favorite.
- Dudakova Pro Record: 8-0-0
- Dudakova KO/TKO Wins: 2
- Dudakova Submission Wins: 4
Sam Hughes
Sam Hughes is 3-5 in the UFC, and her most notable attribute is toughness.
When given the opportunity, she’ll walk forward and attempt to engage, and although her record is ugly to the eye, her heart and durability inside the cage are always something to consider.
- Hughes Pro Record: 8-6-0
- Hughes KO/TKO Wins: 2
- Hughes Submission Wins: 3
Dudakova vs. Hughes: Fight Tape Analysis
The primary path to victory for Dudakova during her career has been takedowns. Is she a savage wrestler like most Russians? No, she certainly isn’t, but I believe this opponent style favors her because Hughes has historically struggled with defending such positions.
There are concerns, of course… Dudakova looked sloppy and delivered low volume in her last bout with Jihn Yu Frey, an opponent who should’ve been one of the easiest layups in the strawweight division. That said, Hughes will need to keep this fight standing but doesn’t have the grappling capabilities to do so, so it’s difficult to ignore Dudakova’s potential of claiming yet another dub inside the octagon.
UFC Abu Dhabi Preliminary Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC odds have listed Dudakova as a 2-to-1 favorite. These are insane odds, in my opinion, but yes, I agree that she does hold a greater chance of victory.
Good luck finding judges who will go against the Russian fighters in Abu Dhabi. As I expect three sloppy rounds without much significant damage, falling back on Dudakova and the wrestling upside to snatch a decision win for near-plus money isn’t a bad wagering position at all.
UFC Pick: Dudakova by Decision (-110) [1.10u returns 1u profit] at Bet365
Dudakova by Decision: Supporting UFC Abu Dhabi Facts
- Sam Hughes’ lone career defeat by KO/TKO was due to an eye injury.
- Dudakova has won 2 of her last 3 pro-MMA bouts by decision.
- Hughes has gone the distance in 6 of her previous 7 UFC bouts.
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