UFC Abu Dhabi Odds, Predictions & Props to Bet: Sandhagen vs Nurmagomedov
- UFC heads to Abu Dhabi this Saturday (Aug. 3) for an afternoon Fight Night card
- Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov headlines the main event at bantamweight
- Read on for UFC Abu Dhabi odds, predictions and best bets for August 3rd
UFC Fight Night returns to Abu Dhabi this Saturday, August 3rd with an afternoon of enticing fights live from the Etihad Arena. The event is headlined by a pivotal bantamweight clash between top contenders Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov that could determine the next title challenger at 135 pounds.
The main card starts at 3pm ET/12pm PT and will air on ABC and ESPN+, while the preliminary card begins at 12pm ET/9am PT on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
As always, we’ve got you covered with a full betting preview, including analysis and picks for the biggest fights on the card.
UFC Abu Dhabi Odds- Main Card
| Fighter | Odds | Over/Under Rounds |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Alvarez | -166 | O 1.5 -166 |
| Elves Brener | +140 | U 1.5 +130 |
| Fighter | Odds | Over/Under Rounds |
| Mackenzie Dern | -120 | O 2.5 -260 |
| Loopy Godinez | +100 | U 2.5 +195 |
| Fighter | Odds | Over/Under Rounds |
| Tony Ferguson | +440 | O 2.5 -120 |
| Michael Chiesa | -600 | U 2.5 -110 |
| Fighter | Odds | Over/Under Rounds |
| Marlon Vera | +120 | O 2.5 -298 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | -142 | U 2.5 +220 |
| Fighter | Odds | Over/Under Rounds |
| Shara Magomedov | -258 | O 1.5 -130 |
| Michal Oleksiejczuk | +210 | U 1.5 +100 |
| Fighter | Odds | Over/Under Rounds |
| Cory Sandhagen | +270 | O 4.5 -140 |
| Umar Nurmagomedov | -340 | U 4.5 +110 |
The latest UFC Abu Dhabi odds show Michael Chiesa as the heaviest favorite on the main card with -600 odds in his bout with Tony Ferguson. That’s a strong 85.7% implied chance of winning.
Odds as of August 2, 2024, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out the best betting promo codes for UFC Abu Dhabi.
Cory Sandhagen vs Umar Nurmagomedov Prediction
This is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup between two of the best bantamweights in the world. Cory Sandhagen (#2) is a dynamic kickboxer with a varied arsenal of strikes and slick footwork. He’s coming off impressive decision wins over Rob Font, Marlon Vera and Song Yadong.
However, Sandhagen has had some trouble with high-level wrestlers in the past, suffering losses to Petr Yan and TJ Dillashaw. That could spell trouble against Umar Nurmagomedov (#10), a dominant grappler with a relentless pace and pressure. The cousin of UFC legend Khabib is undefeated at 17-0 with five straight wins in the Octagon.
The oddsmakers have Nurmagomedov as a sizeable -340 favorite, with Sandhagen coming back at +250. While I give Sandhagen a chance to keep this standing with his technical striking and movement, Nurmagomedov’s wrestling will likely be too much over five rounds. The pick is Nurmy by unanimous decision.
Shara Magomedov vs Michal Oleksiejczuk Prediction
Undefeated middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov (13-0) looks to continue his rise up the rankings against battle-tested veteran Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-8).
Magomedov is a dangerous striker with 10 KOs on his record, but he’s shown some holes in his takedown defense. Oleksiejczuk is a powerful puncher in his own right but has been submitted in five of his eight losses.
This feels like a fight where Magomedov’s speed and technique on the feet will be the difference. He’s the deserved -260 favorite, and I expect him to snag a TKO victory in the second half of the bout as he drags Oleksiejczuk into deep waters.
Tony Ferguson vs Michael Chiesa Prediction
It’s do-or-die time for Tony Ferguson as the former interim lightweight champ tries to snap a seven-fight skid against Michael Chiesa in a welterweight contest.
Islam Makhachev on Tony Ferguson:
"It's time for him to retire, this guy is crazy, I wish him all the best and I hope he wins tomorrow" pic.twitter.com/zkeCwBw1J6
— 𝕽𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖒𝖆𝖐𝖊𝖗❂ (@Sa_Gwang) August 2, 2024
At age 40, Ferguson has taken a worrying amount of damage in recent years and you have to wonder how much he has left. The move to 170 pounds could help his durability, but Chiesa will have significant size and grappling advantages.
I hate to say it, but this feels like the end of the road for El Cucuy. Chiesa’s not the most exciting fighter but he’s durable and savvy enough to get Ferguson to the mat and find a submission. The price is steep at -600 but Chiesa to win inside the distance at +275 looks like a solid bet.
Other Main Card Picks
- Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo: Figueiredo by late submission (+700)
- Makhmud Muradov vs. Gerald Meerschaert: Muradov by decision (-140)
- Adam Fugitt vs. Karol Rosa: Fugitt inside the distance (+135)
Best Bets for the Prelims
The undercard has some intriguing matchups for dedicated degenerates. Here are a few spots I’m eyeing:
- Azim Nurov ML (-250): Hyped debutant has legit wrestling chops but is untested against UFC competition
- Ilya Kotov (+210): Live dog with slick submissions if he can drag Nurov into his world
- Viktoriia Dudakova ML (-175): Undefeated Russian is a physical beast for the division
- Jai Herbert-Rolando Bedoya Over 2.5 Rounds (-180): Expect a technical kickboxing match that hits the cards
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Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.
