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Lightweights
NR | Damir Ismagulov (19-1, 3-0 UFC) vs. NR | Rafael Alves (19-9, 0-0 UFC)ODDS: Ismagulov (-550), Alves (+425)
Alves’ UFC career did not get off to the best start. The Brazilian has not fought since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, but he was scheduled to face fellow newcomer Patrick Sabatini in a featherweight bout in February. That wound up not happening after Alves somehow weighed in at 157.5, marking the largest weight miss in UFC history before the fight was scrapped. As a result, Alves now makes his UFC debut as a lightweight, and he draws a tough matchup. Russia’s Ismagulov might be the UFC’s most underrated talent, since he checks all of the boxes to fly under the radar: his fights have typically been on prelims, he is not a particularly exciting finisher and he is returning from an 18-month layoff. Ismagulov is skilled as both a striker and a wrestler, but he mostly uses his ability and size to neutralize his opponents and coast to a measured victory. That makes for an interesting contrast here, given that Alves is a ball of muscle who almost entirely depends on bursts of offense and an ability to find a finish. Ismagulov does not figure to put himself in a position to be caught, and he should both control and outlast Alves over the course of three rounds. The pick is Ismagulov via decision.
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