Artem Reznikov vs Andrey Koshkin Prediction: Reznikov will advance

Artem Reznikov and Andrey Koshkin fight in the semifinals of the Lightweight Grand Prix for a chance to go head-to-head with Russia's Eduard Vartanyan for the Grand Prix title and $200,000 in cash prize. While Reznikov claimed a unanimous decision win to get to this stage, Koshkin was the luckier one as he was marshaled into the semis after the no-contest between Ali Bagov and Rashid Magomedov. The Kazakhstani Reznikov has opened as favorite with the oddsmakers while the much older Russian, Koshkin is an experienced fighter who will certainly give his best in the fight. The bout promises to be an intriguing fight between two experienced fighters.

“Spartan” is a 30-year-old powerful wrestler from Kazakhstan who is currently in the best form of his life. After a horrid period in Welterweight, Reznikov dropped weights in 2017 from welterweight to lightweight and found a second wind in his career. Since he made the switch, he has been undefeated and comes into this semi-final clash on a six-match winning streak. Coming from a freestyle wrestling background and being a former champion of the Alash Pride League, “Spartan” has performed well in the Grand Prix posting wins, including a unanimous decision win over ex-UFC fighter Davi Ramos to advance to the semifinals of the Grand Prix. He has been training in extreme conditions in preparation for the fight.

Two-time world champion of Pankration, 32-year-old Andrey Koshkin has a lot of experience having started out in amateur sport before transitioning to professional mixed martial arts. A master of sports of international class, Koshkin competed in welterweight too. In thirteen fights in the ACB/ACA promotion, he has lost only three times to Eduard Vartanyan, Ustarmagomed Gadzhidaudov, and most recently to Ali Bagov. Although losing to Bagov last December, circumstances have put him in the semi-finals of the Grand Prix instead of Bagov with a chance to avenge his loss to Eduard Vartanyan if he makes it to the final.

Reznikov is the bookies' favorite in this bout. We go with the oddsmakers in this prediction. Artem Reznikov won his quarter-final match against Davi Ramos in a unanimous decision after five rounds of battle. Reznikov is unbeaten in the 155 lbs class and is most likely to continue that run. Koshkin would not have been in this fight if not that Ali Bagov and Rashid Magomedov put up a flaccid show in their quarter-final. Having lost to Bagov in the last round, Koshkin is likely to lose again. We predict his loss by decision.

• W1 at 1.44 odds on 1xbet
• W2 at 2.52 on Vbet
• W2 at 2.655 on Coinplay