Abubakar Vagaev vs Jacob Malkoun Fight Day Final Prediction
FightIQ rating gap 29 points. Abubakar Vagaev rates 59 and Jacob Malkoun rates 88.
Jacob Malkoun enters the cage as the selected winner for this middleweight clash at UFC 333. The fight is projected to reach the final bell with Jacob Malkoun emerging victorious by decision.
The Numbers
Abubakar Vagaev carries a FightIQ rating of 59 and Jacob Malkoun sits at 88, a gap of 29 points. The model win probability for Jacob Malkoun stands at 59%, rated Medium confidence.
Setting the stage for middleweights
UFC 333 brings a fascinating middleweight matchup between Abubakar Vagaev and Jacob Malkoun. Both men possess traditional orthodox stances and look to assert their specific game plans early in the night. The atmosphere is electric as these two competitors prepare to test their skills inside the octagon.
Comparing the primary fighter skillsets
Abubakar Vagaev brings a 25-4-0 record into this contest and relies on a measured pace with 1.8 significant strikes per minute. His takedown defense sits at 71% which will be put to the test against a high volume wrestler. Jacob Malkoun holds a 10-3-0 record and averages 5.39 takedowns per 15 minutes. He also lands strikes with higher accuracy at 56% compared to the 38% accuracy of his opponent.
The path to victory
Jacob Malkoun needs to control the pace of the grappling exchanges to keep the momentum on his side. By utilizing his superior takedown frequency, he can neutralize the striking output of Abubakar Vagaev over the course of 3 rounds. Our analysis points to Jacob Malkoun securing the win by decision once the final horn sounds.
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