Preview: UFC on ABC 5 Prelims

Lightweights

Mateusz Rebecki (17-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Loik Radzhabov (17-4-1, 1-0 UFC)

ODDS: Rebecki (-155), Radzhabov (+135)

This is one of the hidden gems of this card, as two veteran lightweights look to build off successful UFC debuts earlier this year. Every year there are a few Dana White’s Contender Series fighters who are clearly too good for the show, and Poland’s Rebecki was one of them in 2022. A pro since 2014, Rebecki was already on a seven-year undefeated run against a strong level of competition. Thus far, Rebecki has held serve. He ran through his opponent on DWCS in about three minutes, and his UFC debut in January saw him lay a beating on a game Nick Fiore for three rounds. There are some concerns as far as Rebecki’s ceiling goes, if only because he is a stocky 5-foot-7 lightweight at his best when he can march down and bully his opponents, but he should still be able to wreck shop on a lot of the UFC roster even if he is undersized. Radzhabov is an interesting sophomore opponent for Rebecki, as the Tajik is another fighter who has been UFC-level for a while before finally getting the shot in March. Radzhabov was reportedly bumped from this season of “The Ultimate Fighter” at the last minute, though it all worked out for “Jaguar Paw.” The UFC needed a lightweight on late notice shortly thereafter, and Radzhabov stepped in for a successful UFC debut against Esteban Ribovics. Both men looked good in the fight, and it showed the positives and negatives of Radzhabov’s game at the moment. At his best, he is able to apply some powerful striking as a route to an effective wrestling game, but he does tend to get physically and mentally exhausted as his fights wear on, even if he does do a solid job of regrouping and getting back to work. Rebecki looks to have the better cardio and more consistent commitment to aggression and pace, so he gets the nod, but there is a decent chance that Radzhabov brings enough size and skill to the table to neutralize the Pole and grind out a win. Either way, this should be an entertaining war. The pick is Rebecki via decision.

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