Preview: UFC Fight Night 241 Prelims

Middleweights

Abusupiyan Magomedov (25-6-1, 1-2 UFC) vs. Warlley Alves (14-7, 8-7 UFC)

ODDS: Magomedov (-285), Alves (+230)

When Magomedov got the call to headline a card against Sean Strickland in July, he was one of the more unlikely main eventers in UFC history. Plagued by injuries and visa issues during his two years on the roster, Magomedov’s entire UFC career to that point consisted of a 19-second knockout victory over Dustin Stoltzfus. However, there was at least some logic in throwing Magomedov into the deep end. Already a well-traveled veteran prior to his signing, there was little sense in waiting for the Russian-born German to work his way up the ladder. Magomedov got off to his usual hot start against Strickland. Tall and lanky for the division, Magomedov’s usually able to catch his opponents unawares when he starts throwing out offense at the beginning of his fights. Yet he also fades. That was eventually the case against Strickland, and his loss to Caio Borralho in November followed a similar pattern. Magomedov looks to get back in the win column against Alves—one of the UFC’s most frustrating talents during his decade with the promotion. Alves won the third season of “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” and looked like a future champion while doing so, only to have some of that hype die down with his first UFC fight proper against Alan Jouban. Alves earned a decision victory but only after gassing terribly in a manner that suggested his ceiling was as a one-round fighter. Still, Alves was really good for that one round and even scored a submission win over Colby Covington before his record finally came back to earth. Alves has put some obvious work in to try and attempt to pace himself, but he has never quite found a consistently winning formula. When he’s patient, he loses his effectiveness, and when he’s aggressive, he often just burns himself out. Alves still shows enough flashes that he’s still worth being regarded as dangerous, and a full-time move up to middleweight might help some of those cardio issues. With that said, he looked physically overmatched in his first fight back up at 185 pounds against Ikram Aliskerov, enough so that he might not survive Magomedov’s usual early barrage. This fight could go any number of ways if it lasts any length of time, but the pick is Magomedov via first-round knockout.

Jump To »
Martinez vs. Nolan
Sy vs. Tokkos
Gatto vs. Vidal
Magomedov vs. Alves
Rodriguez vs. Carnelossi
Rodrigues vs. Alateng
Ducote vs. Demopoulos