Tagir Ulanbekov and Cody Durden clash in the early prelims of UFC 296 in a Flyweight bout between ranked fighters outside the top ten. The Russian Ulanbekov is a multiple European Sambo champion. The American Durden was a former High School State Wrestling champion. Tagir Ulanbekov would return to the octagon after a year out. A close fight to call, the Dagestan-born Ulanbekov is the favorite going into the weekend. However, Durden has become adept at upsets in his UFC career. UFC 296 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
MMA: UFC Flyweight
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Where to watch: ESPN+
Date: 17.12.2023. 02.20
Tagir Ulanbekov
The Russian Southpaw is 6-1 in his last seven fights, with four in the UFC. Tagir Ulanbekov debuted in the UFC in 2020 in Abu Dhabi. The former FNG Flyweight champion joined the Eagles MMA team as a youngster, where he was coached by the legendary Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and trained alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Now on the stable of the American Kickboxing Academy, the number twelve ranked UFC Flyweight’s last fight was the submission of Nate Maness in November last year.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 32
- Height: 5’ 6”
- Reach: 70”
- Record: 14-2
Cody Durden
Cody Durden is on a four-fight win streak. The High School State champion turned pro in 2014. After time in the American regional promotions, he made his UFC debut in 2020. A shaky start to his UFC career has blossomed into a confident four-fight win streak in which the American entered the cage as the underdog. With underrated striking power to go with his wrestling and grappling, the 32-year-old Southpaw has scored two decisions this year.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 32
- Height: 5’ 7”
- Reach: 69.5”
- Record: 16-4-1
Betting Odds
Tagir Ulanbekov is the 1.62 favorite on Bet365, which prices the underdog at 2.30 odds. Betwinner lists the underdog at 2.401 and the favorite at 1.553. No to the start of round three is available at 2.75 odds on 1XBET.