MMA Preview – Alex Oliveira vs Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 254
ALEX OLIVEIRA VS SHAVKAT RAKHMONOV FACTS
When is UFC 254? Saturday 24th September, 2020 - 17:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 254? Flash Forum, Fight Island, Abu Dhabi (UAE)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 254? No tickets are available as this event will take place without spectators
What channel is UFC 254 on? BT Sport 2
Where can I stream UFC 254? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
ALEX OLIVEIRA VS SHAVKAT RAKHMONOV LOWDOWN
Alex Olveira (22-8-1(2)) steps in for Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos who will be on the side lines for a while requiring knee surgery. Oliveira is always game and is coming off two much-need wins. The vet lost three in a row to: Gunnar Nelson (submission), Mike Perry (unanimous decision) and Nicolas Dalby (unanimous decision) which is unknown territory for the Brazilian who had not even lost two in a row before. However, he has responded with a split decision over Max Griffin and a unanimous decision over Peter Sobotta which both came this year.
No one is more grateful for Oliveira stepping up than Shavkat Rakhmonov (12-0) as he still gets to make his UFC debut. A long-awaited debut as he has blitzed through all of his opponents so far finishing all of them (seven knockouts and five submissions). The majority of his fights have under the M-1 banner and he is coming off knockouts over Danila Prikaza and Tiago Varejao Lacerda both last year.
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ALEX OLIVEIRA VS SHAVKAT RAKHMONOV PREDICTION
Oliveira has all the experience and fought twice this year including his last fight on Fight Island whereas Rakhmonov makes his debut on the big stage and has not fought for 16 months. There is a lot of hype around Rakhmonov but this is a huge test for him.
Oliveira is a seasoned weapon on the feet and a very strong grappler, dangerous everywhere. Rakhmonov is a beast and unknown entity in the UFC which makes him very dangerous and if Oliveira is complacent, he will have a rude awakening.
Rakhmonov is also a dangerous striker and has a slick submission game so this will be a compelling battle wherever it goes. Oliveira is the slight favourite, but we are backing Rakhmonov to shine on his debut. He has finished all of his opponents, but Oliveira has only been knocked out once and only submitted by high-level black belts. A finish would be incredible, but a decision would still be the biggest highlight of his career.
Prediction: Rakhmonov via Decision