Preview: UFC Fight Night ‘Volkov vs. Struve’

Middleweights

Siyar Bahadurzada (22-6-1) vs. Rob Wilkinson (11-0)

THE MATCHUP: Wilkinson has spent the last six years racking up 11 wins on the Australian regional circuit, earning finishes in 10 of those bouts. He is a big middleweight at 6-foot-2 and uses his frame to land piercing shots from the outside. The jab is a Wilkinson specialty. He throws it quick and straight, with very little telegraph, and knows how to fire it on the move. When given space, Wilkinson likes to put together combinations, often finishing with a quick kick. He does a reasonably good job of moving after landing each strike, but opponents who pressure heavily usually manage to put Wilkinson’s back to the fence within seconds.

Bahadurzada is one of the most peculiar fighters on the UFC roster. He stands upright, hardly ever moving his head, and keeps his feet close together, ready to fling himself into a power punch at any moment. Unsurprisingly, this is the style of fighting Bahadurzada prefers. Whether leading or on the counter, Bahadurzada puts together his punches well, attacking the body and legs as well as the head. Bahadurzada is a frightful hitter, though his unorthodox style has granted him only 11 career wins by knockout.

Bahadurzada has also never been knocked out, and that could be a problem for Wilkinson. Australian Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder Jamie Abdallah had Wilkinson in all sorts of trouble throughout their 2016 tilt, forcing him into the fence and beating him up with combinations. Wilkinson survived -- and won -- thanks to two factors: his toughness and his wrestling. Though Bahadurzada is not a great wrestler, he is on par with or superior to most of the men Wilkinson has faced in Australia; and if this becomes a war of attrition, Bahadurzada’s granite chin and brick fists could come in quite handy down the stretch.

THE ODDS: Bahadurzada (-150), Wilkinson (+120)

THE PICK: Bahadurzada has been out of the cage for over a year. That is an X-factor. Then again, Bahadurzada was out for over two years before that, and his return fight against Brandon Thatch resulted in an impressive win. Wilkinson’s speed and technical prowess will be a problem early, but if the pace wears on him and he continues to back himself into the fence, Bahadurzada’s aggression and power will be problematic. The pick is Bahadurzada by second-round TKO.

Next Fight » Edwards vs. Barberena