ESPN
Jun 20, 2024, 10:00 AM ET
Fight fans will get a triple-serving of action, as UFC, Bellator and PFL put their acts on the road this weekend.
The PFL goes first as their regular season is in full swing with the lightweights and light heavyweights on the marquee at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday (8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, with prelims at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN+).
On Saturday, Bellator MMA takes the baton as their Champions Series heads to 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland (Noon ET on Max). The main event will feature Jason Jackson defending his welterweight title against Ramazan Kuramagomedov.
Also on Saturday, the UFC touches down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with an 11-fight card featuring a former champion and multiple title contenders (3 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+, with prelims at 12 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN+). The main event will pit former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker against Ikram Aliskerov, who is stepping in on short notice for Khamzat Chimaev who was forced out due to illness.
Andreas Hale spoke to MMA coach and ESPN MMA analyst Din Thomas to get his perspective on the Bellator title fight and UFC main event in Riyadh this weekend. ESPN betting expert Ian Parker adds his insights and analysis on the two marquee fights and other intriguing bets he likes throughout the weekend.
Editor's note: Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.
UFC Saudi Arabia main event: Middleweight: Robert Whittaker vs. Ikram Aliskerov
Din Thomas, MMA coach and ESPN MMA analyst
How Whittaker wins: Using his legs. That means he's going to have to use his foot speed and his kicks to stay in front of Aliskerov. Additionally, Whittaker has to rely on his five-round fight experience. He has that advantage over Aliskerov and a clear speed advantage. It will be Whittaker's speed, using his kicks and experience that should carry him to victory.
How Aliskerov wins: For Aliskerov, it is his power. He hits really hard. We know that Whittaker sometimes can get clipped. We've seen him get clipped before, so Aliskerov has to try to find that shot that breaks through. We know that he is durable and has good power. The way he wins this fight is to try to keep Whittaker in front of him and to land a big shot. If not to knock him out, at least to stun him enough to where it could change the course of the fight and then put together a finishing combination.
X factor: Whittaker's mentality going into this fight. Whittaker is an extremely intelligent fighter. He's very cerebral. And when you're dealing with fighters like that, they have to be in the right mindset. Whittaker doesn't always seem like he has been in that right mindset in certain fights. He could let this one get away from him if he's not in the right mindset. But, based on everything I've heard in his interviews, I think will be in the right mindset.
Prediction: Whittaker to win by decision.
Parker's betting analysis
Whittaker to win (-155). Whittaker must avoid the power of Aliskerov and control the pace of the fight. Whittaker has been training for a five-round fight against a monster, while his opponent has been training for a three-round fight. As dangerous as Aliskerov is, he has only beaten guys such as Phil Hawes and Warley Alves, who aren't in the top 15. Aliskerov also has good grappling but nothing Whittaker hasn't seen before. At these odds give me "Bobby Knuckles" here, however, if you feel that Whittaker is a risky play but can avoid the knockout loss, then take the over 2.5 rounds.
Bellator welterweight title fight: Jason Jackson vs. Ramazan Kuramagomedov
How Jackson wins: I've seen Jackson grow since the amateurs. I remember him in his first couple of fights just coming up and he called himself "The Ass Kicking Machine" and he has always been one of the most talented, physically gifted and best fighters around. If you talk to the people in the gym (Kill Cliff FC), he's the best welterweight in the world. And I fully believe that. So for him to win this fight, he's got to be physical, he's got to be athletic and he's got to do damage. He's just got to keep moving and doing as much damage as possible to prevent Kuramagomedov from getting into his fighting systems.
How Kuramagomedov wins: He's skilled and he's smooth, but it doesn't seem like he ever gets out of that third gear. So for him to win this fight, he's got to be able to keep it at his pace. He's got to be able to get into his system. He will have to get some takedowns and just control the pace of this fight.
X factor: The power of Kuramagomedov and his ability to feint takedowns. His power is good when he throws with aggression but he doesn't do it enough from a striking perspective. He is more dangerous when he is faking a takedown, and then comes back up and starts punching. Kuramagomedov can catch Jackson slipping with a punch if he has Jackson thinking about wrestling. Jackson may eat one that he can't recover from. But Jackson may be too physical and frustrate Kuramagomedov by preventing him from getting too close to attempt one of those takedowns.
Prediction: Jackson to win by decision.
Parker's betting analysis
Jackson to win. Getting Jackson at -200 (via ESPN BET) is a steal. His opponent might be a great wrestler and grappler, but he has not fought a top-20 fighter in Bellator and he isn't anything Jackson hasn't seen or trained with. Look for Jackson to keep this fight on the feet and dominate from bell-to-bell. I believe Jackson is an underrated welterweight and will get a chance to showcase his skills this week in Ireland.
Parker's best bets for this weekend
PFL lightweight: Clay Collard vs. Mads Burnell
Collard to win. Burnell will have a tall task on his hands. Not only is Collard a handful, but for Burnell to get to the playoffs he needs to finish Collard in the first round. To be fair to Burnell, I don't see that happening. We saw in his last fight Burnell engaging in a striking brawl which is not his style. Normally he is a ground specialist, and if he doesn't get Collard down, expect Collard to have his way on the feet and eventually KO Burnell.
PFL light heavyweight: Impa Kasanganay vs. Jakob Nedoh
Kasanganay to win by KO/TKO. Coming off an impressive knockout victory over Alex Polizzi, last season's champ Kasanganay looks to get another quick finish and cement his top-ranked status heading into the playoffs. His opponent, Nedoh, will need a first-round finish to have a chance at the playoffs. Once Nedoh gasses trying to get the finish, look for Kasanganay to take over and get this fight done inside the distance.
Bellator lightweight: Paul Hughes vs. Bobby King
Hughes to win inside the distance. This appears to be a showcase fight for the blue-chip prospect Hughes. Hughes currently sits as a heavy favorite and should have no issue getting King out of there before the last bell rings. Hughes is well-rounded with a 68% finish rate and I expect that rate to jump up with another dominant win here.
UFC heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
Pavlovich to win (-220). Volkov is riding a three-fight win streak. With a potential win over Pavlovich, Volkov could be in talks to be a title contender soon. However, that will be much easier said than done, as Pavlovich has a Sambo background with great takedown defense and is easily one of the most powerful KO artists in MMA history. Unless Volkov can get Pavlovich out of the first round and exhaust him, I don't see where or how he wins this fight.
