Said Nurmagomedov vs Vinicius Oliveira Prediction: Long Layoff Doesn't Make Any Difference

On February 1, Nurmagomedov will face Oliveira in the main event of the UFC tournament in Saudi Arabia. We've got a prediction for you. The fight will take place in the lightest weight category.

Said Nurmagomedov

Nurmagomedov won the amateur MMA world championship and was the champion of the WFCA league in the pros. He joined the UFC in 2017, but he hasn't had much success, despite having only two losses (with seven wins). It's interesting that these two losses weren't very one-sided, but it's unclear why Said isn't higher on the list. He's got seven wins in the lightweight division, two controversial losses, and some serious competition, but he's still not in the top 15. Nurmagomedov spent last year without a fight, and in his last fight he choked out Muin Gafurov as early as the first round.

Vinicius Oliveira

Brazilian Vinicius Oliveira, 29, is a former UAE Warriors champion, likes to knock out his opponents rather than choke them out, and he's won most of his fights by knockout. He's only had two fights in the UFC so far and won both times—Bernardo Sopai by muffled knockout with a flying knee and Ricky Simon by unanimous decision. There was talk about a fight between Oliveira and Umar Nurmagomedov not too long ago, but it didn't work out. The two got into a heated exchange on social media, with the Brazilian being pretty aggressive and saying he'd finish Umar in the first round. He's said something similar about Said.

Expert Betting Tips

Both fighters are confident on their feet, but when it comes to the ground game, we can't say the same about the Brazilian. Nurmagomedov is clearly stronger and more durable on the ground. He's not the type to go for a takedown right off the bat. Instead, he'll probably try to wear down his opponent and take him out when he gets tired. And Oliveira will definitely get tired. Said will drag him around on the ground and clinch.

The Russian fighter's long layoff is a bit concerning, but Nurmagomedov's professional approach to training and preparation should help him secure a solid victory if he stays focused in the first half of the fight.

Our picks:

W1 for 1.57

W1 on Points for 2.875 

TO (2.5) for 1.73