Strickland vs Imavov match during UFC Fight Night was a replacement after the organization canceled the original bout. So here is our betting pick for the main event of the first Fight Night of the year.
The main event, a middleweight bout between Imavov and Kelvin Gastelum, was canceled on Monday when Gastelum suffered an injury during training and was forced to withdraw.
Despite having just fought five rounds on the previous fight night, Strickland came in less than a month earlier to replace Gastelum. According to pay per head bookie sources, Strickland was initially a +100 underdog. However, it became a pick ’em as the fight neared. Also, it will be a light-heavyweight match. So if you are a bookie, make sure to prepare your sportsbook for the event. Also, managing sportsbook payments is vital for the success of the business.
Strickland vs Imavov UFC Fight Night Betting Pick Details
This battle will be held at 205 pounds despite Sean “Tarzan” Strickland being regarded as the No. 7 middleweight contender.
His most recent fight was a loss by decision against Jared Cannonier, but the score was close: one judge had it at 49-46 for Cannonier. That was a significant improvement over his previous fight, in which he was knocked out in the first round by the current champion, Alex Pereira.
According to gambling news reports, Nassourdine Imavov is currently ranked No. 12 in the middleweight division after a three-fight winning streak that included a September unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley.
His only defeat came through a majority decision to Phil Hawes in 2021. He has gone 9-1 in his past ten fights and 4-1 in the promotion. However, even though he was easily outmatched on the mat, he has shown remarkable improvement in his grappling since attempting six submissions in his previous two fights and finishing Edmen Shahbazyen from a mounted crucifix position in the latter.
And yet, Imavov shines when he’s required to think quickly on his feet. As a fighter, he can quickly switch directions, and land hits from all angles.
Date & time: January 14, 2023
Location: UFC Apex
TV Channel: ESPN
Our Prediction for this Matchup
Pick: Strickland by decision at +250
Strickland’s loss by decision against Cannonier was extremely tight, and six of his eight wins prior were also decided by points. The odds are in his favor for a decision victory over Imavov, who is fighting on a far different level of competition.
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