Will Alexander Volkanovski become a dual champ at Islam Makhachev’s expense?

The UFC returns to the Middle East this week with high stakes at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. The event will take place at Etihad Arena, with the main card airing on pay-per-view at 2 p.m. ET. Get a PDF of the staff picks grid here to see the predictions from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts, and videographers, along with additional analysis.

Muin Gafurov will face Said Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight bout. Gafurov holds a record of 18-5 MMA, with 0-1 in the UFC, while Nurmagomedov has a record of 17-3 MMA, with 6-2 in the UFC. Nurmagomedov is the favorite with odds of -220, while Gafurov is the underdog with odds of +180. The Junkie pick results heavily favor Nurmagomedov, with 11 picks in his favor and none for Gafurov.

In the middleweight division, Ikram Aliskerov will take on Warlley Alves. Aliskerov has a record of 14-1 MMA, with 1-0 in the UFC, while Alves has a record of 14-6 MMA, with 8-6 in the UFC. Aliskerov is the favorite with odds of -470, while Alves is the underdog with odds of +360. Just like the previous bout, all 11 Junkie picks are in favor of Aliskerov.

Magomed Ankalaev will go up against Johnny Walker in a light heavyweight bout. Ankalaev holds a record of 18-1-1 MMA, with 9-1-1 in the UFC, while Walker has a record of 21-7 MMA, with 7-4 in the UFC. Ankalaev is the favorite with odds of -350, while Walker is the underdog with odds of +275. The Junkie pick results favor Ankalaev with 8 picks to Walker’s 3.

The highly anticipated fight between Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman will take place in the middleweight division. Chimaev has a perfect record of 12-0 MMA, with 6-0 in the UFC, while Usman holds a record of 20-3 MMA, with 15-2 in the UFC. Chimaev is the favorite with odds of -250, while Usman is the underdog with odds of +200. The Junkie pick results heavily favor Chimaev, with 10 picks in his favor and just 1 for Usman.

In the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev will face Alexander Volkanovski. Makhachev has a record of 24-1 MMA, with 13-1 in the UFC, while Volkanovski holds a record of 26-2 MMA, with 13-1 in the UFC. Makhachev is the favorite with odds of -350, while Volkanovski is the underdog with odds of +205. The Junkie pick results are in favor of Makhachev with 8 picks to Volkanovski’s 3.

On the preliminary card, there are some key picks to note. Javid Basharat is the unanimous pick with 11 in favor for his bantamweight fight against Victor Henry. Basharat is the second biggest favorite on the card with odds of 6-1. Victoria Dudakova is a unanimous pick, despite missing weight, with more than a 5-1 favorite against Jinh Yu Frey.

While not unanimous, there were some other dominant picks on the prelims. Abu Azaitar is a 10-1 pick over Sedriques Dumas, despite Dumas being the favorite. Mohammad Yahya has a 9-2 edge over Trevor Peek, while Muhammad Mokaev is an 8-3 pick over Tim Elliott. Anshul Jubli, Shara Magomedov, and Victoria Dudakova are also favored in their respective bouts.

Check out all the main card picks below and visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for more information on UFC 294.

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Sarah Foster

Sarah Foster is your guide to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. With a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies and a passion for the sport, she offers comprehensive coverage of MMA events, fighter profiles, and in-depth analysis of fights. Sarah’s commitment to the octagon ensures that readers stay engaged with the latest developments in the MMA world.