February 2, 2024 9: 20 pm ET
MMA Junkie expert Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we appearance at the primary card for UFC Fight Night 235.
UFC Fight Night 235 (ESPN+) takes location Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Last occasion’s results: 1-4
Overall chooses for UFC primary cards in 2024: 4-5
Welcome to MMA Junkie’s Quick Picks and Prognostications, where I’ll be providing quick, fight-day breakdowns for UFC primary cards.
With that in mind, I hope these reviews wear’t come off as curt or dismissive, as my objective here is to deal fast chooses and analysis in a absorbable format. All chances noted are offered by FanDuel.
If you’d like more comprehensive analysis from me, then feel complimentary to check out my weekly program, The Protect Ya’ Neck Podcast.
So, without evenmore ado…
Gilbert Urbina (-200) vs. Charles Radtke (+168)
Kicking off the primary card on ESPN+ is a welterweight match inbetween Gilbert Urbina and Charles Radtke.
I’m not sure why this battle is on the primary card, however it oughtto be amusing for as long as it lasts.
Radtke revealed off brand-new wrinkles to his videogame in his last outing, however I’m not sure that the previous light-weight will be able to enforce his strength versus a previous middleweight like Urbina.
Add in Urbina’s enhanced front teeps from variety, and I’ll side with the Mexican-American to edge out the scorecards of a competitive battle.
Aliaskhab Khizriev (-158) vs. Makhmud Muradov (+128)
Filling out the primary card is a middleweight match inbetween Aliaskhab Khizriev and Makhmud Muradov.
Even though Khizriev is perhaps combating in the incorrect department, I suspect that the designs match and combating surface prefers him more than it does Muradov.
Muradov might have muchbetter motion and more tested endurance, however the smallersized cage of the UFC Apex will mostlikely limitation the Uzbek’s footwork and motivate grappling situations.
For that factor, I’ll side with Khizriev to get his videogame going in the little octagon by protecting a submission in round 2.
Viviane Araujo (+270) vs. Natalia Silva (-355)
In a battle that must be more competitive than the chances let on, Viviane Araujo looks to stop the momentum of Natalia Silva.
Although I wear’t disagree with Silva being the designated preferred, I caution anybody who is totally markingdown Araujo in this area.
Araujo hasactually been far from constant giventhat stepping onto the UFC scene, however she’ll perhaps be the finest professionalathlete Silva hasactually dealtwith to date.
It’s appealing to take a stab at Araujo at the rate noted above, however I’ll stick with my choice of Silva by choice giventhat I see speed playing the greatest differentiator.
Randy Brown (-290) vs. Muslim Salikhov(+225)
Serving as an intriguing offering at welterweight is a fight inbetween Randy Brown and Muslim Salikhov.
Despite Brown’s tendency to insomecases play with his food, I wear’t disagree with “Rude Boy” being the designated preferred in this area.
Aside from the apparent on-paper benefits, Salikhov hasactually been looking more slow in this advanced phase of his profession, proving trouble keeping speed in torrid affairs.
Add in Brown’s current grappling enhancements under the care of Marquez MMA (home to fighters like Sean Brady and Joe Pyfer), and I suspect that the Jamaican-American can discover a submission before the last bell.
Drew Dober (+152) vs. Renato Moicano (-188)
The co-main occasion for UFC Fight Night 235 includes capacity fireworks at light-weight inbetween Drew Dober and Renato Moicano.
Despite both fighters being stealthily well-rounded, this eventually feels like a battle that can go one of 2 methods: either Dober ratings an early and emphatic knockout or Moicano can get to his grappling videogame and safe a submission.
Although a Dober win wouldn’t surprise me, I’ll choice Moicano to endure the early storm in order to nab up a submission in round 2.
Roman Dolidze (+138) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (-170)
The primary occasion in the Apex functions a middleweight match inbetween Roman Dolidze and Nassourdine Imavov.
As mentioned in my extensive breakdown, I’m not shocked to see Imavov setup as the preferred in this area.
Not just is Imavov the more process-based fighter, however the native of France likewise has a exceptional variety videogame to his Georgian equivalent. That stated, Dolidze is the much more hazardous fighter, which has me leaning in his instructions.
Aside from having more methods to win on paper, Dolidze is the remarkable submission grappler inbetween the 2. Couple that with the reality that this battle will be taking location in the little cage, and I can’t aid however take a flier on the underdog to