Coming off a legendary event and fight week like UFC 244, there’s always a bit of a hangover and burnout, but this Saturday, the UFC is right back at it with a fight card in Moscow, Russia.
It’s not the deepest card by any stretch of the imagination, but UFC Moscow, which airs on ESPN+ starting at 11 AM ET, 8 AM PT (main card starts at 2PM ET, 11 AM Pacific time), has some intriguing fights and fighters. There are stakes and there are storylines.
Read on for the skinny …
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar in the UFC Moscow Main Event
The most interesting fight on the UFC Moscow card is the main event between fifth ranked featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov and eleventh ranked Calvin Kattar.
Due to scheduling changes, this Zabit vs. Kattar main event will only be three rounds, but that’s easily enough time to become enamored with Zabit’s wild style, full of kicks, spins, tricks, and wizardry.
For his part, Kattar is no slouch. Dude has done it the old fashion way, with his hands, and is 4-1 inside the Octagon since signing with the UFC in 2017.
It’s an important fight because many believe that Zabit could earn the next title shot at featherweight, should Max Holloway successfully defend his belt against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 245. It’s also of note that the fight is a tailor made showcase for Zabit, who is headlining a fight in his native Russia against Kattar, who is visiting from the Boston area.
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NFL All-Pro Greg Hardy Steps Up to Fight Alexander Volkov in Moscow
Less than a month after his most recent win was overturned, tarnished by the inhalergate incident that voided a unanimous decision at UFC Boston, former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy is in Moscow, fighting in the Octagon for the fifth time in 2019.
Making a huge leap from the handpicked cans he’s faced thus far in the UFC, Hardy is stepping up on short notice to face seventh ranked heavyweight Alexander Volkov. Many believe it’s too far up the pecking order for Hardy, who has only been fighting as a pro since last year. Volkov on the other hand has 37 professional fights dating back to 2009, including four wins inside the Octagon, even a win over former heavyweight champ Fabricio Werdum.
It’s okay to root against Hardy here. He’s the most hated man in the UFC (top three at least). But he’s embraced the villain role perfectly, and Hardy has two good rushes to get Volkov’s attention and touch the Russian’s chin. After that, Volkov should be able to get a read on Hardy’s game and tag up the disgraced football star with strikes.
Khabilov Not Khabib, the Other Russian Fifty-Fiver
There’s a funny story about Dagestani lightweight Rustam “Tiger” Khabilov.
After Benson Henderson signed his contract to main event against Khabilov in 2014, Henderson revealed that he was under the impression that he would be fighting Khabib. It was only after the contract was inked that Benson realized who he’d be fighting in Albuquerque.
All of that really has nothing to do with Khabilov, but he did enter the UFC right after Khabib in 2012, and he was highly touted for his massive suplexing ways.
His career trajectory has not been stellar, but Khabilov remains an interesting fighter and can be competitive with most guys on most nights. He fights Sergey Khandozhko on the UFC Moscow prelims.
Anthony Rocco Martin’s Modern Life
It’s all about perspective for UFC welterweight Anthony Rocco Martin. Sure, he lost his most recent fight against veteran Demian Maia, but Martin has really flourished in this second act of his career since moving up from lightweight in 2018.
A smart, young, well-rounded fighter in all aspects of MMA, Martin has been putting on a show at 170, and Ramzan Emeev, in Moscow, is no joke.
This is one of those fights that Martin will need to find a way to secure the finish. No American wants to go to the judges scorecards in Russia, and Martin can probably finish with a choke, somewhere inside the distance.
Just Because He’s Khabib’s Cousin Making His UFC Debut
If you’re into MMA and the UFC, it’s possible that you’ve heard the name Abubakar Nurmagomedov in some random chatter about the UFC 229 post-fight melee.
The cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov, Abubakar is making his UFC debut 14 months after he went for extra credit against Conor McGregor following the UFC 229 main event. Returning from a suspension that he received as a result of the incident, Abubakar faces Germany’s David Zawada, who’s riding a two fight losing streak.
This is a great showcase for Nurmagomedov. Hopefully, cousin Khabib will show up. And after Donald Trump attended UFC 244, who knows, maybe Russian President Vladimir Putin will be at UFC Moscow.
UFC Moscow Main Card on ESPN+ (11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST)
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar (three round main event)
Alexander Volkov vs. Greg Hardy
Danny Roberts vs. Zelim Imadaev
Ed Herman vs. Khadis Ibragimov
Anthony Rocco Martin vs. Ramzan Emeev
Shamil Gamzatov vs. Klidson Abreu
UFC Moscow Prelims on ESPN+ (8 a.m. PST / 11 a.m. EST)
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Dalcha Lungiambula
Rustam Khabilov vs. Sergey Khandozhko
Karl Roberson vs. Roman Kopylov
Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. David Zawada
Roosevelt Roberts vs. Alexander Yakovlev
Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Pannie Kianzad
Grigorii Popov vs. Davey Grant
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