Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. Gadzhi Omargadzhiev Odds
Abubakar Nurmagomedov will look to build off his first UFC victory when he meets fellow welterweight Gadzhi Omargadzhiev on Saturday's UFC 280 preliminary card.
Nurmagomedov is a modest favorite in the fight, perhaps in part due to a famous last name he shares with cousin and former UFC champ Khabib.
He now meets Omargadzhiev, whose only career loss came to undefeated Caio Borralho.
Which 170-pounder has the edge in this one? Let's dig in.
Tale of the Tape
| Nurmagomedov | Omargadzhiev | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 16-3-1 | 13-1 |
| Avg. Fight Time | 8:55 | 9:08 |
| Height | 5'11" | 6'1" |
| Weight (pounds) | 170 lbs. | 170 lbs. |
| Reach (inches) | 72" | 71" |
| Stance | Orthodox | Switch |
| Date of birth | 11/13/1989 | 2/24/1993 |
| Sig Strikes Per Min | 3.59 | 1.21 |
| SS Accuracy | 49% | 41% |
| SS Absorbed Per Min | 2.52 | 1.81 |
| SS Defense | 69% | 38% |
| Take Down Avg | 1.68 | 1.64 |
| TD Acc | 33% | 66% |
| TD Def | 0% | 0% |
| Submission Avg | 0.0 | 0.8 |
I'm not exceptionally high on either of these two Russian fighters. Omargadzhiev is moving down from middleweight after losing his UFC debut to Caio Borralho – the first loss of his career – and he'll be the taller fighter (6'1" vs. 5'11") but will cede an inch of reach.
Nurmagomedov is typically overvalued on name recognition.
Both men have been underwhelming under the UFC banner, but I lean toward the underdog because he is four years younger and seemingly more durable. Still, cutting 15 extra pounds could take a toll on his chin.
Abubakar has some wonky submission losses on his record, and Gadzhi tends to hunt for finishes.
Nurmagomedov vs. Omargadzhiev Pick
As a result, I project value on the total (projected -194 to go the distance, listed -165 at DraftKings) and Omargadzhiev by decision (projected +321, listed +300 at BETRivers); I'm not thrilled about either bet.
I'll play the Goes to Decision or GTD prop at -165, but I'll keep the stake modest.
The Pick: Fight goes to Decision (-165, 0.25u at DraftKings), bet to -178
