Muhammed Naimov vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan: Preview, Where to Watch and Betting Odds

Tajikistan’s Muhammed Naimov takes on Armenia’s Melsik Baghdasaryan in the main card of UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov in what is shaping to be an awesome featherweight clash. Muhammed Naimov is a slight favorite ahead of this weekend’s clash at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event is the UFC’s debut in the Kingdom. Both fighters come into the matchup in good form, having won their last matches.

MMA: UFC Featherweight

Where to Watch: ABC / ESPN+

Venue: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Date: 22.06.2024. 22:30

The Tajik featherweight is 3-0 in the UFC since a debut last year. Muhammed Naimov was a serial youth championship medallist in Taekwondo who transitioned to MMA in 2018 and has earned an 11-2 record since then. His losses came in a failed DWCS matchup and a failed tilt for the Titan FC featherweight crown. At 29 years old, Naimov’s resume shows his versatility, with six wins by KO, two by submission, and three by decision. He has never been finished. “Hillman’s” UFC debut was lightweight, and he delivered a Performance of the Night in his TKO of Jamie Mullarkey.

• Age: 29
• Height: 5’9”
• Weight: 145lbs (66kg)
• Record: 11-2

3-1 in the UFC, Armenia’s Melsik Baghdasaryan won four fights with a cumulative fight time of 62 seconds. “The Gun” debuted in the UFC in 2021 with a Performance of the Night against Collin Anglin. A former Wu Lin Feng champion, Baghdasaryan is also a former kickboxer and boxer deploying his strikes to devastating effect. The American’s last match was a win last summer, a unanimous decision over Tucker Lutz.

• Age: 32
• Height: 5’8’’
• Reach: 70”
• Weight: 145lbs (57kg)
• Record: 10-2

Muhammed Naimov is a 1.80 favorite on Bet365, with the underdog priced at 2.00 odds. No to the fight going to the third round is available at 2.16 odds on 1xBet. Read more.