The exciting heavyweight showdown between known knockout artists Kennedy Nzechukwu and Shamil Gaziev will be part of the UFC Sacramento card on Saturday inside Golden 1 Center.
Despite his two-fight losing skid, Gaziev is going to be the betting favorite with -135 UFC odds, while Nzechukwu, who had a draw result in his previous outing, will be the slight betting underdog with +110 odds.
UFC Sacramento: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Shamil Gaziev Fight Odds
- Kennedy Nzechukwu: +110
- Shamil Gaziev: -135
UFC Sacramento: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Shamil Gaziev: Tale of the Tape
| Kennedy Nzechukwu | Shamil Gaziev | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 34 | 36 |
| Height | 6’5” | 6’4” |
| Reach | 83 inches | 78.5 inches |
| Leg Reach | 47 inches | 45 inches |
| Record | 14-6-1 | 14-3 |
| Fighting Style | Wrestler | MMA |
| Finishing Rate | 79% | 86% |
UFC Sacramento: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Shamil Gaziev: Prediction
My prediction is a decision win for Nzechukwu over Gaziev, as he’ll have the significant reach advantage, which will be vital in telegraphing and defending takedowns. Nzechukwu is very good at managing his distance against opponents.
His defense of having his hands down is effective because he can quickly fire counters and defend takedowns. Additionally, he uses a lot of kicks to keep his opponents at bay and maintain a safe distance during striking exchanges.
Furthermore, Nzechukwu has more gas in his tank in his cardio because Gaziev has been visibly slowed down, especially when the fight goes past one round. Gaziev prefers an early finish because he goes all out in his offense in the opening round, but I don’t think he’ll get the first-round finish over Nzechukwu.
Kennedy Nzechukwu’s Recent Fight Results
Nzechukwu has been with the promotion since 2019. However, he has recorded two wins (Chris Barnett and Lukasz Brzeski), two losses (Ovince Saint Preux and Valter Walker) and one draw (Marcus Buchecha) in his last five bouts.
Shamil Gaziev’s Recent Fight Results
Gaziev secured a UFC contract in 2023 with a first-round submission win over Greg Velasco at Dana White’s Contender Series. Since then, he has split his six bouts inside the octagon with three wins (Martin Buday, Don’Tale Mayes, and Thomas Petersen) and three losses (Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Waldo Cortes Acosta, and Brando Pericic).
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