This weekend’s UFC Fight Night heads to Columbus, Ohio for another Fight Night card. In the main event Curtis Blaydes looks to move one step closer to the title shot when he faces rising Heavyweight Chris Daukaus.
In the co-main, Women’s Flyweight contenders Joanne Wood (formerly Joanne Calderwood) meets Alexa Grasso and Matt Brown and Bryan Barbarena meet in what should be an entertaining slug fest. We look at my three best bets on this weekend’s UFC card below.
UFC Fight Night Betting Tips
Curtis Blaydes vs Chris Daukaus
Originally a Light Heavyweight clash between Jan Blachowicz and Aleksandar Rakic was set to headline this card but instead we have a different Heavyweight headliner. Curtis Blaydes bounced back from a horrific knockout loss to Derrick Lewis, neutralising fellow power puncher Jairzinho Rozenstruik in his last fight, showing he is still a serious contender.
Chris Daukaus suffered defeat at the hands of Derrick Lewis at the end of 2022, snapping his four-fight knockout streak. My concern here for Daukaus is Blaydes is the current gatekeeper to the Heavyweight elite and Daukaus is not yet an elite Heavyweight nor has he fought a wrestler even close to the calibre of ‘Razor’.
The more I look at it the more I come to the conclusion that it really is Blaydes’ fight to lose. I don’t see Daukaus managing to catch him early and even if he does, I don’t see him having the power to lay him out with one shot. Ultimately Blaydes gets him down and brutalises him. Back Blaydes to finish Daukaus with some vicious ground and pound, probably late round 2 or 3.
Bryan Barberena vs Matt Brown
I am honestly stunned Barberena is the slight underdog going into this match up. Both men are sluggers, yet Matt Brown is has the chin of a man who has been in a few too many wars over the years.
Matt Brown is always fun to watch but is very chinny at this point of his career and doesn’t have the gas tank to drag Barberena into deep waters. He logically could outwrestle Barberena but that would sap his gas tank quicker and leave him a sitting shot in late round 2 and 3.
Brown is into his 40s now and Barbarena has the better output, knockout power and superior cardio. He comes out on top in what will be an entertaining clash.
Aliaskhab Khizriev vs Denis Tiuliulin
Aliaskhab Khizriev put together a flawless run under the Fight Nights Global banner which included a 58 second knockout of Rousimar Palhares.
“The Black Wolf” finished Henrique Shiguemoto in just 50 seconds on the Contender Series to earn a UFC contract. Some one and a half years and three bout cancellations later he meets Denis Tiuliulin.
Denis Tuiliulin steps in for Abusipyan Magomedov on less than three weeks’ notice and I would be completely stunned if he upsets Khizriev.
The Russian in my opinion is the best Heavyweight prospect to grace the UFC in many years, has smothering top control, relentless ground and pound and serious submission skills. Tuiliulin isn’t UFC calibre, struggles with takedown defense and doesn’t have much of a gas tank.
Simply put Khizriev drags him to the mat and secures a quick stoppage.
