- No. 8-ranked middleweight contender Roman Dolidze faces No. 11-ranked Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Fight Night this weekend.
- Dolidze is coming off a loss from his previous fight, while Imavov had a no-contest result.
- Dolidze is the betting underdog at +130, while Imavov is the betting favorite at -160
The second fight night in 2024 inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas goes down this weekend as two ranked middleweight contenders headline the card. No. 8 contender Roman Dolidze will put his ranking on the line against No. 11 Nassourdine Imavov.
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Both fighters are coming off unfavorable results from their previous fights, with Dolidze sustaining a decision loss and Imavov absorbing a no-contest conclusion. Despite those tough results, their numbers in online sports betting are still close.
Imavov is the slight betting favorite in UFC odds at -160, and Dolidze is tagged as the +130 betting underdog. It is also a pivotal match because its outcome can have major implications for the 185-pound rankings.
Roman Dolidze Recent Fight Results
Dolidze was a former WWFC champion when he was signed by the UFC in 2019. He made his promotional debut in July 2020 and scored a first-round TKO over Khadis Ibragimov. Since then, he has won five of his seven fights.
He keeps adding impressive finishes to his highlight reel 💥@RomanDolidzeUFC is headlining #UFCVegas85 this Saturday pic.twitter.com/trtyy6YAKd
— UFC (@ufc) January 29, 2024
The Georgian scored wins against John Allan, Laureano Staropoli, Kyle Daukaus, Phil Hawes, and Jack Hermansson. His two losses were courtesy of Trevin Giles and Marvin Vettori, who dealt him unanimous decision defeats.
Nassourdine Imavov Recent Fight Results
Imavov was a household name in the European MMA circuit after competing in various organizations. He amassed a professional record of eight wins and two losses, which was enough to earn a spot on the UFC roster in 2020.
With a win this weekend, @Imavov1 could find himself in the top 10 middleweight rankings 🇫🇷
You can watch him in action this Saturday at #UFCVegas85! pic.twitter.com/MORum83aiv
— UFC (@ufc) January 30, 2024
The French athlete had a successful debut by beating Jordan Williams in October 2020. Following that win, Imavov recorded three wins and two losses before the no-contest result from his fight with Chris Curtis in June at UFC 289, which was caused by an accidental headbutt in the second round.
Roman Dolidze vs. Nassourdine Imavov: Tale of the Tape
| Roman Dolidze | Nassourdine Imavov | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 35 | 28 |
| Height | 6’2” | 6’3” |
| Reach | 76 inches | 75 inches |
| Leg Reach | 41 inches | 42 inches |
| Record | 12-2 | 12-4, 1 NC |
| Fighting Style | MMA | Striker |
| Finishing Rate | 83% | 75% |
Roman Dolidze vs. Nassourdine Imavov: Fight Analysis
The tale of the tape between Dolidze and Imavov is almost identical because they are only separated by an inch in height, reach, and leg reach. Age is the only major discrepancy among them, as Dolidze is seven years older than Imavov.
This element is a double-edged sword because Dolidze will have the advantage of experience and maturity compared to Imavov. However, the Frenchman will have the youth superiority that can be an edge in terms of speed and athleticism.
Stylistically, both slightly differ as Dolidze has a well-rounded approach and mixes up his attack in the striking and grappling departments. He has 3.02 significant strikes landed per minute (44%) and 3.01 significant strikes absorbed per minute (55%).
On the other hand, Imavov is the superior striker, with 4.55 significant strikes landed per minute (53%) and 3.76 significant strikes absorbed per minute (58%).
Moving to the grappling numbers, Dolidze also has better numbers in grappling with a 1.72 takedown average per 15 minutes (50% accuracy), 33% takedown defense, and 1.72 submission average per 15 minutes compared to Imavov’s 1.09 takedown average per 15 minutes (31% accuracy), 72% takedown defense, and 1.72 submission average per 15 minutes.
The primary key for Dolidze is to use his grappling skills to try and nullify Imavov’s striking. Make him try to defend takedown attempts, and time the level change perfectly. This way, he can avoid the power from him and potentially gas him out.
Meanwhile, Imavov needs to keep the fight on the feet and throw his power punches and kicks. This is his best chance of inflicting damage. Although he has a decent takedown defense, he should still stop Dolidze’s takedown attempts and prevent him from draining his energy, especially since it is a five-round showdown.
Official Prediction: Unanimous decision victory for Nassourdine Imavov.
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