Magomedov Vs. Page Betting Odds, Prediction | UFC Betting Sites

UFC 308: Magomedov v Petrosyan — Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight strikers Shara Magomedov and Michael Page will square off this weekend (Sat., Feb. 1, 2025) at UFC Saudi Arabia from anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

2024 was a breakout year for Shara “Bullet.” The Russian striker technically made his UFC debut a year prior, but that uneventful decision nod didn’t impress anyone. Conversely, it’s much harder to deny a 3-0 run that includes two knockouts and three post-fight bonuses. He might be a contender, but he’s guaranteed entertainment.

Page, a career Welterweight, enters in a similar position. His competitive loss to Ian Garry somewhat sealed the 37-year-old veteran’s fate in regards to fighting for UFC gold, but he’s one of the flashiest strikers in MMA history. He offered to jump to Middleweight specifically for this match up, and UFC couldn’t find a reason to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:

Magomedov vs. Page Betting Odds

Shara Magomedov victory: -192
Shara Magomedov via TKO/KO/DQ: +275
Shara Magomedov via submission: +2500
Shara Magomedov via decision: +130
Michael Page victory: +160
Michael Page via TKO/KO/DQ: +600
Michael Page via submission: +2000
Michael Page via decision: +275
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

How Magomedov Wins

Shara Magomedov is one of the more unique Middleweights on the roster. A stand up striker, “Bullet” expends massive amounts of energy by throwing a high-volume of power kicks and wild punches. Somehow, he emerges as the fresher fighter late, able to damage opponents faster than he fatigues from his absurd output.

It’s not likely to be so easy to land on Page. Not only can “Venom” match his height and reach — the Welterweight actually has a six inch reach advantage! — but he’s quite evasive and skilled at distance kicking himself. Unlike most of his recent bouts, Magomedov won’t have an opponent trying to track him down.

Magomedov will have to take the initiative carefully. He’ll want a steady output of round kicks to the legs, body, and even arms, which will serve the purpose of slowing “MVP.” I’d love to see him employ the classic anti-movement striker of pumping punches to get his foe moving into low kicks. Magomedov has also shown himself skilled in the clinch, so an effective way to use his size could involve crashing into the clinch then breaking with elbows and knees.

How Page Wins

Page is a sniper. He manages range exceptionally well, consistently creating exchanges where his opponents feel uncomfortable reaching him. Meanwhile, he’s able to leap forward and suddenly close distance, allowing him to initiate exchanges and counter to great effect because of that extra distance covered in his strikes.

Sniper vs. volume fights are fun because both men know what the other intends and how to stop it, even if it’s all easier said than done. In the case of Page, he has to ensure that his connections are powerful enough to prevent the Magomedov snowball from rolling. It’s a big question up at 185-pounds: can Page crack Magomedov hard enough to earn his respect?

His best chance to do so is by countering kicks. Nobody’s chin is quite as strong when tagged on one foot, and Page excels at sliding up the middle of kicks with a cracking straight. Stealing away a bit of Magomedov’s confidence and momentum is key, and it will help convince the Russian to hang back and play the distance point-fighting game that Page desires.

Magomedov vs. Page Prediction

Michael Page is an exceptional striker with a laundry list of Karate and kickboxing accomplishments. Generally, I won’t be picking against him in striking battles that take place in the Octagon. He’s exceptional at what he does, even if other areas of his MMA game are underdeveloped.

The way to beat Page is to wrestle, which is not at all Magomedov’s game. Alternatively, there’s a chance that Magomedov really wears on Page with his size and kicks, but again, Page is quite good at the point-fighting game. He knows how to make kicks miss, and he knows how to bait opponents into trying to kick him only to answer with heavy punches.

Maybe Magomedov is able to run over Page on sheer physicality and size, but otherwise, I expect Page to cleanly control exchanges and land the best shots over three rounds.

Prediction: Page via decision (+275)