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BLAGOY IVANOV VS MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA FACTS
When is UFC 274? Sunday 8th May, 2022 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 274? Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 274? Click here to buy tickets for UFC 274
What channel is UFC 274 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 274? 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!
BLAGOY IVANOV VS MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA LOWDOWN
Blagoy Ivanov (18-4 (1)) has only fought once since 2019 which was a decent year for the Bulgarian. He was coming off a unanimous decision loss to Junior dos Santos but racked up two unanimous decisions over Ben Rothwell and Tai Tuivasa. He then met Derrick Lewis at the end of the year, and it seemed he was cruising to another decision although two judges ended up giving Lewis the nod. Ivanov returned six months later and came up just short again losing another split decision, this time to Augusto Sakai.
Marcos Rogerio de Lima (19-7-1) is coming off two wins on the bounce for the second time in the UFC. Last time he managed the feat was on his first two UFC appearances all the way back in 2014 and then had a 10-fight run of consecutive wins and loss floating between light heavyweight and heavyweight. After earning a unanimous decision over Maurice Green last year it seemed a given that he would lose to Ben Rothwell, but he upset the odds to earn a first-round TKO.
BLAGOY IVANOV VS MARCOS ROGERIO DE LIMA PREDICTION
In my opinion Ivanov has one of the best chins in MMA having eaten clean shots from the likes of dos Santos, Tuivasa and Lewis. De Lima is a very dangerous striker, but we do not feel he will be able to knock Ivanov out, so in all likelihood, he is going to get man handled.
The worry for Ivanov is that he has not fought in two years and will be giving up a significant speed advantage. The Brazilian can chop the legs down and pepper the granite chin, but we feel Ivanov can absorb it, walk into range and clinch up subduing de Lima for as long as he wants and once he gets him to the ground a submission will open itself up.
Prediction: Ivanov via Decision - CLICK HERE FOR PARIMATCH'S WELCOME OFFER (BET £5, GET £30 IN BONUSES!)
Value Bet: Ivanov via Submission