Preview: UFC on ESPN 33 Prelims

Middleweights

NR | Aliaskhab Khizriev (13-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. NR | Denis Tiuliulin (9-5, 0-0 UFC)

ODDS: Khizriev (-590), Tiuliulin (+425)

Now over a year in the making, Khizriev’s UFC debut should hopefully be worth the wait. “The Black Wolf” was one of the standouts of the 2020 season of Dana White’s Contender Series, running through his opponent in just 50 seconds. That kept in line with most of Khizriev’s career thus far, as he is usually able to overwhelm his foes in short order on the back of an impressive grappling game. Khizriev looks like someone who can move up the division easily, but it will be interesting to see how his career develops as he gets tested. His striking has not looked particularly comfortable when he faces any sort of difficulty, and in general, it is unclear how he will fare against opponents who are able to match his athleticism and physicality. However, that does not figure to matter much against a fellow UFC newcomer and Russian countryman in Tiuliulin, who steps in on late notice. Tiuliulin is a fun fighter who is willing to throw down, but his signing comes as a bit of a surprise. He is not a high-upside prospect but a veteran with a middling record to date. Things tend to go south for Tiuliulin against opponents who can take him to the mat, which figures to happen in short order here. Tiuliulin has shown an ability to survive on the ground, but that alone should be enough for Khizriev to take over, even before you account for his finishing ability. The pick is Khizriev via second-round submission.

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