UFC Vegas 44: Rafael Fiziev vs Brad Riddell Picks, Predictions, Odds

Brad Riddell and Rafael Fiziev fight Saturday in UFC Vegas 44 at the UFC Apex. Riddell enters this fight with a 10-1 record and has won 50 percent of his fights by knockout. Fiziev enters this fight with a 10-1 record and has won 60 percent of his fights by knockout. 

Riddell has won each of his last seven fights, and he’s coming off a June win over Drew Dober. He is averaging 4.75 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 53 percent. Riddell is averaging 2 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 42 percent. Riddell is coming off a decision win at UFC 263 where he landed 78 total strikes and produced one takedown. Riddell is now 4-0 under the UFC banner, and all four of those wins have come by decision. He is a purple belt in BJJ and comes from a kickboxing background, where he does some of his best work mixing in kicks to the body and has landed 10 leg kicks in his last two bouts. Riddell is a striker at heart and wants a fight on the feet, but he has been rather successful with his takedown attempts and has improved his ability on the ground. He has five career knockout wins, and he’s never lost a decision. This will be Riddell’s first career fight in Nevada.

Fiziev has won four straight fights and is coming off an August win over Bobby Green. Fiziev is averaging 5.34 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 52 percent. Fiziev is averaging 0.59 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 50 percent. Fiziev is coming off a decision win at UFC 265 that earned fight of the night honors. It’s the third straight fight, Fiziev has earned a performance bonus. In the victory, Fiziev landed 104 total strikes and 46 percent of his significant strikes. Fiziev is now 4-1 under the UFC banner, and three of those wins came by decision. A blue belt in BJJ, Fiziev is a fighter who relies heavily on his Muay Thai and kickboxing background, and he has some incredible finishes on his feet due to his athleticism and speed. Fiziev has good defense on the feet as well, and above average head movement. While Fiziev wants a fight standing up and has shown impressive takedown defense, he does have a submission victory on his small pro resume and has displayed a confident ground and pound attack as well. This will be Fiziev’s second career fight in Nevada.

This should be a fun fight between two accurate strikers who like to stay busy and have some pop behind their shots as well. Riddell is getting more confident on the ground, and that makes him intriguing against Fiziev, who hasn’t shown much in that department yet. However, Fiziev’s speed and ability to switch stances could be the deciding factor here. Fiziev has an athletic edge and his ability to get in and out with his quickness has me favoring him on the feet.

I like Fiziev to win his fifth straight bout.