Middleweights
Joe Pyfer (14-3, 5-1 UFC) vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov (28-6-1, 4-2 UFC)BETTING ODDS: Pyfer (-238), Magomedov (+195)
Pyfer should remain relevant in the middleweight division for the next few years, but it’s currently unclear if he can make the breakthrough to top contender status. Pyfer’s first shot at the UFC came on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2020, which went about as poorly as possible, as he suffered a broken arm before the proceedings truly got going. Upon his recovery, he quickly found himself back on the Contender Series and earned a contract in 2022, after which he quickly established himself as a prospect to watch. A clean and powerful puncher with some strong wrestling and grappling in his back pocket, Pyfer had the tools to run over a lot of his opposition on paper and in practice, eventually earning his first big shot—and first UFC main event—against Jack Hermansson early in 2024. Pyfer suffered his first UFC loss, but it was a promising performance on which he could build. Pyfer got off to a hot start but seemingly just ran out of ideas once Hermansson survived the first two rounds and started picking up steam. Given that Pyfer showed the requisite toughness to survive adversity down the stretch, it generally came off as a showing in which Pyfer had all the necessary talent but just needed experience. A year and a half later, things still appear to be in the same spot. Pyfer quickly obliterated Marc-Andre Barriault to rebound, then got paired with Kelvin Gastelum in June for a fight that followed much the same script as the one against Hermansson. Pyfer looked dominant early but eventually petered out once he was unable to find a knockout, though this time he had more than enough offense banked to win a three-round fight instead of a five-rounder. Pyfer now looks to impress against Magomedov, who seems to be somewhat in the same boat.
Russian-born and fighting out of Germany, Magomedov came to the UFC after a long career that saw him run over a lot of regional competition. A hot starter blessed with size and power, Magomedov could typically find a way to quickly overwhelm opponents who couldn’t match up to his size or athleticism. That was also the case in his UFC debut against Dustin Stoltzfus, but it was still a bit shocking that the promotion then put Magomedov in a main event for his next fight, as he took on Sean Strickland. Magomedov had a strong round against Strickland before crumbling and getting finished in the second, but it does seem like he has at least learned from the defeat. Magomedov’s last three fights haven’t been particularly pretty, but he has been content to pace himself and gut out victories, even if he still tends to tire out down the stretch. This seems to set up fairly well for Pyfer, even if he doesn’t resolve his issues. He still has a better gas tank than Magomedov down the stretch and does appear to be the fighter with more horsepower. As a result, he should be able to effectively lock horns with Magomedov even while “Abus” is at his best early on. The pick is Pyfer via first-round knockout.
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Ankalaev vs. Pereira
Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen
Prochazka vs. Rountree
Zalal vs. Emmett
Pyfer vs. Magomedov
The Prelims