NEW BOUTS ADDED TO UFC RUSSIA INCLUDING RETURN OF ISLAM MAKHACHEV

UFC Russia takes place April 20 at Yubileyny Sports Palace at St. Petersburg, Russia, and the following bouts have been added to the card.

Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan, UFC Fight Night 149
Lightweight contender Islam Makhachev returns to the Octagon when he takes on UFC newcomer Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Fight Night 149. Igor Lazorin broke the information. Makhachev (16-1) has gone 5-1 complete from the Octagon and is currently riding a four-fight win series that includes back-to-back stoppage wins over Gleison Tibau and Kajan Johnson. Tsarukyan (13-1) is only 22 and has finished 10 fights, including a brutal head kick KO win over former UFC fighter Felipe Olivieri in his final outing. He has won 12 straight fights including victories along with other former UFC fighters Junior Assuncao and Takenori Sato. Though Makhachev is a tremendous gift and will surely be a significant favorite here, I had been amazed appearing into Tsarukyan and give him a decent chance of making this battle competitive.
Gadzhimurad Antigulov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk , UFC Fight Night 149
Light heavyweights Gadzhimurad Antigulov and Michal Oleksiejczuk will meet at a struggle that is not likely to go three complete rounds. Antigulov (20-5) is 2-1 at the UFC but has been knocked out in brutal manner by Ion Cutelaba in his final outing. Oleksiejczuk (13-2, 1 NC) recently returned from a yearlong USADA suspension to score a TKO win over Gian Villante. Both men are dangerous fighters, but I expect Oleksiejczuk to be heavily favored here.
Magomed Mustafaev vs Rafael Fiziev, UFC Fight Night 149
Lightweights Magomed Mustafaev and Rafael Fiziev are put to battle at this function. Mustafaev (13-2) won his first two fights in the UFC but was filed by Kevin Lee back in November 2016 and has not fought since. Fiziev (6-0) has finished all six of his expert bouts including a head kick KO win in Titan FC his last time out. Although Russian fighters always get respect from bettors, based on Mustafaev’s extended layoff and Fiziev’s undefeated record, I anticipate Fiziev to be a big favorite here.
Movsar Evloev vs. Seung Woo Choi, UFC Fight Night 149
Bantamweight prospects Movsar Evloev and Seung Woo Choi will also be set to battle. Evloev (10-0) was a winner in M-1 and seems to be on the Petr Yan fast-track to the UFC’s top-15 rankings. Choi (7-1) has won five of his pro fights by knockout and is making his UFC debut. Both men seem to be solid prospects but awarded Evloev’s undefeated record he is going to be the favorite here.
Krzysztof Jotko vs. Alen Amedovski
Middleweights Krzysztof Jotko and Alen Amedovski are set to fight. Denis Geyko broke the news. Jotko (19-4) was at one time an up-and-coming middleweight competition but has fallen on hard times as of late with three consecutive losses, such as successive TKO defeats to Brad Tavares and Uriah Hall. Amedovski (8-0) is fighting out of Macedonia and has won eight of his pro fights by knockout with his last two wins coming in Bellator. Amedovski seems like quite a promising prospect and given the deteriorating condition of Jotko’s chin, I’d go with the newcomer .
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