UFC 294: Said Nurmagomedov vs Muin Gafurov Prediction, Odds and AI Picks
The UFC is back again this weekend with a stacked card at the historic Fight Island property in Abu Dhabi. Even with two mega fights headlining the event, there are plenty of elite matchups taking place on the undercard. This UFC 294 matchup, in particular, is an interesting one. Bantamweights Said Nurmagomedov and Muin Gafurov will square off in front of a packed crowd to showcase their world-class mixed martial arts talents. With both fighters showcasing their elite mixed martial arts skills, the focus is on the Nurmagomedov vs Gafurov prediction.
Nurmagomedov is a UFC veteran now after a handful or two of fights under his belt, and he gets to perform in front of his people for the first time in the UFC–even though he fought on Fight Island before, it didn’t have a crowd.
Gafurov is looking to earn his first UFC win and shock a lot of oddsmakers in the process. He has a lot of experience in other elite organizations and will be looking to have a coming-out party on the biggest stage in the sport of MMA.
Let’s take a closer look at this fight and find the best AI Nurmagomedov vs Gafurov prediction to make.
Said Nurmagomedov vs Muin Gafurov Odds
| FIGHTER | MONEYLINE | OVER/UNDER |
| NURMAGOMEDOV | -225 | O 2.5 |
| GUFAROV | +185 | U 2.5 |
In this main card bantamweight bout, Nurmagomedov is coming into fight week as the -225 betting favorite over Gafurov, who is currently the +190 underdog. The only other betting line available this early on in the week is the over/under. That line is set at 2.5 rounds, with the ‘under’ being favored at -135 odds.
According to the past Nurmagomedov odds, this fight is the 7th in a row where Nurmagomedov has been the betting favorite in his career. Gafurov has now been the underdog in both of his UFC bouts.
Make sure to check sportsbooks throughout the week for any changes in the lines and for any Nurmagomedov vs Gafurov betting prop bets being released as fight night creeps closer.
Bout Information
| SAID NURMAGOMEDOV vs MUIN GUFAROV |
| Location of the Bout: Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Date and Time: October 21st, 2023 – 2 PM ET main card start |
| Reason: Bantamweight Division Bout |
| How to watch: ESPN+ PPV |
Nurmagomedov vs Gafurov Betting Preview
Said Nurmagomedov
Nurmagomedov has some of the most impressive all-around skills on the entire UFC roster. Standing at 5’8” and having a 70” reach, the Dagestani is a lengthy bantamweight fighting out of mainly the orthodox stance. He has a professional MMA record of 17-3 with 4 TKO/KO wins and five submissions.
Nurmagomedov has eight fights in his UFC career and has averaged 3.54 significant strikes landed per minute in that time. He has also only absorbed 2.15 significant strikes per minute while averaging 1.03 takedowns landed per 15 minutes spent inside the octagon.
Muin Gafurov
Gafurov is a 5’7” southpaw with a 68” reach, training out of his home country of Tajikistan. He has a professional MMA record of 18-5 with 10 TKO/KO victories and seven submissions. He has yet to win inside the UFC octagon–dating back to his DWCS fight, where he lost via split decision.
In the two bouts that Gafurov has been inside an octagon thus far. He averages 3.07 significant strikes landed and 2,90 significant strikes absorbed per minute. Along with those striking numbers, Gafurov averages an impressive 2.50 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Nurmagomedov vs Gafurov AI Betting Picks
- Over/Under – Over 2.5 rounds (+105)
- Moneyline – Said Nurmagomedov (-225)
This UFC 294 bantamweight bout is going to go Nurmagomedov’s way because his all-around skill set is superior to Gafurov. The length and creativity of Nurmagomedov are the deciding factors in this Nurmagomedov vs Gafurov prediction.
On top of the creativity and striking, Nurmagomedov also has elite wrestling defense and offensive Combat Sambo skills that he has been fine-tuning since being a young boy in the Dagestan mountains.
This Nurmagomedov vs Gafurov fight will be a competitive one. This goes the distance and lets the judge make the final verdict.
As for the final AI Nurmagomedov vs Gafurov prediction – 30-27 Said Nurmagomedov.
