UFC Vegas 58 Main Card Predictions: Dos Anjos vs Fiziev
Pintsized Background
It ain’t much, but it’s honest scheduling for the UFC Vegas 58 Main Card. A top-end Lightweight bout features as the UFC Vegas 58 main event. RDA has rebuilt exceptionally well after suffering a 1-4 period over 2018-2020. Can the Brazilian’s high-pressure approach wear on the explosive speed of Rafael Fiziev?
Where/When is UFC Vegas 58 Main Card taking place:
July 10, 2022. UFC Apex. Nevada, United States.
What time does UFC Vegas 58 Main Card start:
🇬🇧 UK: 2am / 🇺🇸 US ET: 9pm
What channel is UFC Vegas 58 Main Card on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
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UFC Vegas 58 Main Card Picks & Odds
| UFC Vegas 58 Main Card Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael dos Anjos (+180) Rafael Fiziev (-210) | dos Anjos | Decision | / |
| Armen Petrosyan (+175) Caio Borralho (-205) | Borralho | Decision | / |
| Douglas Silva de Andrade (+230) Said Nurmagomedov (-275) | Nurmagomedov | TKO | 3 |
| Jared Vanderaa (-180) Chase Sherman (+155) | Vanderaa | TKO | 2 |
| Cynthia Calvillo (-155) Nina Nunes (+145) | Nunes | Decision | / |
| Jamie Mullarkey (-230) Michael Johnson (+195) | Mullarkey | TKO | 3 |
UFC Vegas 58 Main Card: Main Event
Rafael Dos Anjos vs Rafael Fiziev
Lightweight (155)
Rafael Dos Anjos (31-13)
Be honest, you all forgot that Dos Anjos fought Renato Moicano to a decision earlier this year. Somehow, the fight had totally slipped my mind. Perhaps years of pushing back bitter memories of the Brazilian being out-wrestled in brutal match-ups has had an effect. I felt that the thirty-seven-year-old would fall off an athletic cliff at some point over the last few years. The crafty former champion has managed to outfox Father Time so far.
Wrestling has to be a key part of RDA’s game. Fiziev was taken down by Brad Riddell late in their fight after the Kyrgyzstan fighter had started to slow. I’m not sure that Dos Anjos’ chin can afford to allow a fresh Fiziev to dictate proceedings on the feet. It’s a stellar chin, don’t get me wrong, but Fiziev possesses freakish speed. If RDA hungrily devours the centre of the octagon, the Brazilian can more effectively set about an attrition-based attack.
Rafael Fiziev (11-1)
Insanely fast on the outside and in the pocket, Rafael Fiziev manages to balance offence and defence expertly. In a tit-for-tat match with his former sparring partner, Brad Riddell, Fiziev was constantly first to the punch (or kicK). Marc Diakiese is an athletic specimen himself, yet Fiziev pulled off superhero-level defensive weaves to protect himself.
Worryingly, Fiziev has a very questionable gas tank. Bobby Green ate a fair bit of punishment, but he also slipped and rolled with several of Fiziev’s explosive shots. By the mid-point, there was a clear dropoff in output for the Kyrgyzstani. Over five rounds against a pressure, volume fighter in RDA, Fiziev is certain to struggle with the pace by the championship rounds.
Predicted Result: RDA Decision
Insanely fast on the outside and in the pocket, Rafael Fiziev manages to balance offence and defence expertly. In a tit-for-tat match with his former sparring partner, Brad Riddell, Fiziev was constantly first to the punch (or kicK). While Dos Anjos owns a stellar chin, it would be unwise for the thirty-seven-year-old to contemplate anything other than an early grappling-centric approach.
The major concern resides with Fiziev’s questionable gas tank. Bobby Green ate a fair bit of punishment, but he also slipped and rolled with several of Fiziev’s explosive shots. By the mid-point, there was a clear dropoff in output for the Kyrgyzstani. Over five rounds against a consistent pressure fighter in RDA, Fiziev is certain to struggle with the pace by the championship rounds.
UFC Vegas 58 Main Card: Co-Main Event
Caio Borralho vs Armen Petrosyan
Middleweight (185)
Caio Borralho (11-1)
How does this man keep earning co-main event slots? I quite enjoy watching the Brazilian, but he barely owns the credentials to have earnt it. Borralho could certainly out-grapple Petrosyan, but he rarely pursues takedowns himself. Even if the Armenian is peppered on the feet, the thought of a takedown will not grace his mind. Aside from a few tricks on the feet, Borralho is predominantly a slower-paced, single-shot kickboxer.
Armen Petrosyan (7-1)
Fair play to Petrosyan, he beat my boy, Gregory Rodrigues. The Armenian scrambled well at times with the Brazilian, yet Robocop is an ambitious grappler. Borralho is a more consistent, methodical grappler. In the same scenario, it’s difficult to see Petrosyan return to his feet. Natural power and an entertaining array of knockout shots ensure that this will be a tasty affair early, however.
Predicted Result: Borralho Decision
Petrosyan showed decent TDD and effective scrambles against Gregory Rodrigues last time out. The Armenian also possesses natural power and an entertaining array of knockout shots that will ensure it is a tasty affair early. Borralho is a consistent, methodical grappler, however. There is a high chance that Borralho finds Petrosyan’s back and rides out the later rounds.
UFC Vegas 58: Main Card
Said Nurmagomedov vs Douglas Silva de Andrade
Bantamweight (135)
Said Nurmagomedov (15-2)
Not just another Dagestani grappling clone, Said Nurmagomedov is an electric striker with a ferocious bag of kicks. Said’s control of range is exceptional, an area that Silva de Andrade regularly struggles with. While the Brazilian will remain an explosive threat throughout, it’s unlikely that he will be able to lull Said into any fight-changing tricks.
Douglas Silva de Andrade (28-4)
Douglas Silva de Andrade continues to pick up hilarious knockout highlight reels, but it all stems from his physicality. Athletically matched by Nurmagomedov, this could be a punishing affair for the Brazilian as he is pieced apart on the outside. Without consistent cage-cutting to drag the fight on to the inside, this may be the breakout performance that pushes Said into bigger fights.
Predicted Result: Nurmagomedov TKO Round 3
Said Nurmagomedov is an electric striker with a ferocious bag of kicks. Said’s control of range is exceptional, an area that Silva de Andrade regularly struggles with. While the Brazilian will remain an explosive threat throughout, it’s unlikely that he will be able to lull Said into his third highlight reel KO in a row. Without consistent cage-cutting to drag the fight on to the inside, this may well be the breakout performance that pushes Said into bigger fights.
Cynthia Calvillo vs Nina Nunes
Women’s Flyweight (125)
Cynthia Calvillo (9-4-1)
A loser leaves town sort of fight. From the main event victory over Jessica Eye to a three-fight slide. You have to strain to remember a time when Calvillo was considered a lukewarm prospect, but hey, it happened! There has been no improvement to Calvillo’s game, with the blueprint truly figured out by not. Calvillo can be dragged into a war on the feet and will ignore her strong grappling base.
Nina Nunes (10-7)
Nina Nunes has faced difficult stylistic match-ups in her past two fights. Nunes has always suffered on the mat and it just so happens that the UFC has chucked her in with two of the best on the mat. If Calvillo opts to pursue a ground-based war, it could be interesting. As Calvillo is adamant about striking her way back to form, it’ll make it a more equal affair with Nunes’ pressure and volume likely to claim rounds on the scorecards.
Predicted Result: Nunes Decision
Calvillo can be dragged into a war on the feet and will ignore her strong grappling base. Nunes has always suffered on the mat and it just so happens that the UFC has chucked her in with two of the best on the mat. If Calvillo pursues aims to grapple, this could be interesting. Recent fights indicate that Calvillo is adamant about striking her way back to form, allowing Nunes’ pressure and volume to claim rounds on the scorecards.
Michael Johnson vs Jamie Mullarkey
Lightweight (155)
Michael Johnson (20-17)
It felt so damn good to see Michael Johnson break his slide and earn a classic KO victory over Alan Patrick. There is no denying that The Menace has a vital yard of pace. Johnson still possesses blistering hand speed, but his defensive awareness appears to have degraded further. Mullarkey is happy to trade 50/50, but once the Australian has been tagged enough times, he will shoot. If the fight hits the mat, it could be a classic Michael Johnson capitulation.
Jamie Mullarkey (14-5)
The Australian is best advised to keep his mitts up and expect to eat a healthy serving of punishment in the opening trades. Mullarkey is used to eating shots, however, and has shown exceptional recovery throughout his career. A reactive wrestler, Mullarkey will eventually hit a snap takedown that ends the fun on the feet.
Predicted Result: Mullarkey TKO Round 3
Johnson still possesses blistering hand speed, but his defensive awareness appears to have degraded further. Mullarkey is happy to trade 50/50, but once the Australian has been tagged enough times, he will shoot. If the fight hits the mat, it could be a classic Michael Johnson capitulation. As the Aussie has shown exceptional recovery over his career, and Johnson often finds a perfect way to lose, Mullarkey has to be considered the safer back.
Chase Sherman vs Jared Vanderaa
Heavyweight (265)
Chase Sherman (15-10)
A four-fight loss streak. Mentally broken. Sat on a merry-go-round of being cut by the UFC before scampering back with a late notice call. The submission loss to Jake Collier was damning. Sherman doesn’t look comfortable fighting anymore. It’s such a shame as Sherman can be an entertaining counter-puncher, he battered Ike Villanueva to a bloody pulp just two years ago.
Jared Vanderaa (12-8)
Vanderaa is far worse in every department when compared to Sherman apart from mental fortitude. Sherman is a broken husk of a fighter while Vanderaa is consistently durable. As long as the thirty-year-old continues to plod forward and press an uncomfortable pace, he will eventually break Sherman’s waning confidence.
Predicted Result: Vanderaa TKO Round 2
Vanderaa is far worse in every department when compared to Sherman apart from mental fortitude. Sherman is a broken husk of a fighter while Vanderaa is consistently durable. As long as the thirty-year-old continues to plod forward and press an uncomfortable pace, he will eventually break Sherman’s waning confidence.
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