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In a featherweight bout that is serving as the co-main event for UFC Fight Island 5, #14 Edson Barboza will take on Makwan Amirkhani live this Saturday from Fight Island in Abu Dhabi and also available on ESPN+.
Barboza enters as the favorite with a 20-9 MMA record. One of the more experienced featherweight fighters, he’s lost three straight including several lightweight bouts in which he was defeated by #7 Paul Felder, #1 Justin Gaethje and the reigning featherweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The 34-year-old is now looking to rise through the ranks at 145 lbs., and he’ll do it on the back of his striking. He throws 4.08 significant strikes per minute, landing on 43 percent. He does take 4.22, defending just 59 percent.
Barboza has just .46 takedowns per 15 minutes, so expect him to veer away from takedowns especially since that’s the exact way his opponent will want the bout fought.
Amirkhani, who is 6-2 in the UFC and 16-4 in MMA, averages 3.45 takedowns per 15 minutes and most-recently defeated Danny Henry with a first-round anaconda choke. Without too much experience against top-tier fighters, this bout will really show where Amirkhani ranks in the hierarchy. He’s aggressive and can take punches, having been out-hit 105 to 22 just two fights ago. That’s how he fights, and if he can land some takedowns, he might be able to defeat the older Barboza.
Here are the betting odds at DraftKings Sportsbook for Edson Barbosa vs. Makwan Amirkhani at UFC Fight Island 5 on October 10th.
Money line odds
Edson Barbosa: -265 (69% of action, 77% of bets)
Makwan Amirkhani: +210 (31% of action, 23% of bets)
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