Preview: UFC 294 Prelims

Middleweights

Sharabutdin Magomedov (11-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Bruno Silva (23-9, 4-3 UFC)

ODDS: Magomedov (-250), Silva (+205)

It is finally time for Magomedov’s long-awaited UFC debut. “Shara Bullet” has not always made news for the best reasons, but he is a clear talent inside the cage. Magomedov has one of the best kicking games in recent memory, as he combines speed and power with an impressive level of versatility, making for an outstanding highlight reel thus far. Add in a fairly brutal clinch game, and Magomedov figures to be an offensive terror going forward even with this step up in competition. Magomedov’s fared well against a solid level of opposition on the regional scene, so he should stick on the UFC roster unless something goes horribly wrong. Silva makes for a solid litmus test to see exactly how prepared Magomedov is for a rise through the middleweight ranks. Brazil’s “Blindado” found his own success on the Russian scene, leading to a UFC run that has been mixed results but all excitement. Silva is a berserker of a fighter, picking his spots to blitz forward with wild power in the name of hunting for a knockout. That has led to his imploding against the likes of Gerald Meerschaert and Brendan Allen, but an interesting wrinkle is that Silva has somehow never been knocked out despite feeling like a fighter who certainly should have charged into danger at some point. Opponents have only finished Silva via submission, and he did manage to last three rounds against Alex Pereira’s knockout power in his run to the title. There is still a chance that Magomedov is the man both skilled and creative enough to finally put Silva's lights out. With that said, even if Silva does not go away quickly, the Russian looks more than capable of winning this fight through three rounds of hard work. The pick is Magomedov via decision.

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