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

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen v Nurmagomedov — Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight strikers Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan will duel this weekend (Sat., Oct. 26, 2024) at UFC 308 from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

On Saturday, Magomedov will make the walk as a UFC fighter for the fourth time in his 12 months on the roster. Activity is really the name of the game for “Bullet,” whose wild kickboxing output matches his fight scheduling. He’s subsequently made a name for himself in a short time, showing improvement each time out. Petrosyan is an expert striker himself, accomplished in Muay Thai prior to his MMA career. In the cage, he’s only really lost to top-tier grapplers, holding his own in several exciting firefights. All told, we’re lined up for a really fun striking showcase to kick off the main card.

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

Magomedov vs. Petrosyan Betting Odds

Shara Magomedov victory: -185
Shara Magomedov via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
Shara Magomedov via submission: TBD
Shara Magomedov via decision: TBD
Armen Petrosyan victory: +154
Armen Petrosyan via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
Armen Petrosyan via submission: TBD
Armen Petrosyan via decision: TBD
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

UFC Fight Night: Magomedov v Oleksiejczuk

How Magomedov Wins

Magomedov is a kicker more than anything else. A Russian champion in Muay Thai (like his opponent!), Magomedov wins fights by breaking opponents down with constant kick output. It’s an exhaustive style, but “Bullet” is nevertheless able to maintain a solid pace for 15 full minutes.

This bout will likely be decided by distance. Petrosyan can kick well himself, but Magomedov will still have the advantage in his preferred range. Conversely, Petrosyan’s boxing is a bit cleaner, so Magomedov will want to limit exchanges in the pocket, particularly if his back is to the fence.

Feints and variety will be key here for Magomedov. If his kicks are predictable, a trained Muay Thai fighter like Petrosyan should do well in checking/avoiding/countering them. Magomedov can improve his chances of landing those kicks if he’s digging deep into his bag of tricks and surprising Petrosyan with sheer versatility. Similarly, feinting one kick and throwing another or otherwise trying to punish Petrosyan’s defensive reactions could be really effective.

In previous fights, Magomedov’s back has hit the cage a bit too often. Against a solid knockout artist, Magomedov has to be a little more aware, because the margin for error is thinner.

How Petrosyan Wins

Petrosyan has proven himself to be an excellent striker in five trips to the Octagon. Again, it’s his defensive wrestling that has occasionally let him down, and that’s unlikely to be an issue here.

Ultimately, Petrosyan wants to work Magomedov towards the fence then drop heavy punches in his face. Three previous UFC opponents have found that easier said than done, however. In order to get to Magomedov, Petrosyan has to first kick with him to avoid giving up additional range — he’s a Muay Thai champion too after all!

The next step is countering kicks. There are all sorts of options to defend — parries, withdraws, checks etc — but Magomedov is winning when his opponents block kicks but don’t respond. Magomedov has to display that Thai boxing background by responding to every kick possible with a couple punches and a low kick to finish off.

If Magomedov cannot comfortably kick, he’s going to look a lot more ordinary and getting him to the fence will grow far easier. Then, Magomedov can attack with combinations and try to make his moments count.

Magomedov vs. Petrosyan Prediction

This should be a fun Muay Thai fight in four-ounce gloves.

Given their similar backgrounds and levels of experience, I’m expecting a fairly competitive fight. The most glaring difference, however, is the speed advantage of Magomedov. He’s going to be getting his shots off first, and the question becomes whether or not Petrosyan can break his stride with either pressure or counters. The former doesn’t really feel like his game, whereas the latter sounds difficult given Magomedov’s varied arsenal of strikes.

I’m sure Petrosyan will crack Magomedov a few times and put him in danger at least once, but speed and volume are tough factors to overcome.

Prediction: Magomedov via decision