Phillip Hawes vs Nassourdine Imavov is currently scheduled as the sole middleweight bout on the main card for UFC Fight Night 185. Hawes has opened as the betting favorite, but the margin is thin, as oddsmakers think this fight could go either way. In that case, it’s better to bank on Imavov who’s physical advantage may play a big role in how he fares against Hawes.
The men’s middleweight division is set to make an appearance on the main card with Phillip Hawes vs Nassourdine Imavov on UFC Fight Night 185. Both fighters are fresh faces in the UFC, and each is riding a win streak five or more, which is why NJ online sportsbook reviews and the best online sports betting sites in NJ are listing close odds. The fight is a toss-up. Each fighter is 9-2 in their professional MMA record, but MMA betting sites and UFC predictions give Hawes a slight edge. You’ll find the best odds for Hawes on FanDuel at -110. If you want to roll with Imavov, you’ll get the best betting value at either 888sport or BetMGM at -105 odds on the moneyline. The last time we saw Hawes, he earned an impressive KO/TKO victory against Jacob Malkoun. He’s on a two-fight winning streak and is looking to make it three against Imavov on Saturday night. Imavov made his UFC debut on October 3, 2020, against Jordan Williams and won that bout on points after landing 68 strikes. He’s a scrappy young fighter who’s looking to make a splash in the UFC. Imavov has a bit of a height advantage over Hawes, but his reach is shorter, which bodes well for Hawes. On the other side of things, though, Imavov is an incredibly accurate striker, landing 61% of the time as opposed to Hawes, who lands 49% of his strikes. The Frenchman’s defense is also much better as he absorbs 2.00 strikes per minute, while Hawes absorbs more than twice that amount at 4.81 strikes per minute. It’ll be a close match, but I’ll take Imavov on the moneyline at slightly better odds to win via KO/TKO in the 3nd round.
This is the one fight on the main card for UFC Fight Night 185 that seems like a real toss-up, but I like Imavov here due to his superior striking and also his striking defense. My prediction: Imavov takes out Hawes in the 3rd round.
