Neil Magny vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov is scheduled for three rounds in the welterweight division as the co-main event of UFC Fight Night tonight in Las Vegas.
Rakhmonov puts his undefeated record on the line against the formidable Magny and could end up being the fight of the night.
The thinking is that Rakhmonov is as good as his record indicates, and UFC odds have instilled him as a big -390 favorite in his toughest fight to date. Magny’s finding himself a considerable underdog at +320 to upset one of the promotion’s brightest prospects.
Here are our best free picks and predictions for UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Rakhmonov for June 25 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Magny vs Rakhmonov fight odds
Live odds courtesy of the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Magny vs Rakhmonov method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Neil Magny | Shavkat Rakhmonov |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +1,200 | +135 |
| To win by Points | +470 | +310 |
| To win by Submission | +1,800 | +420 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on June 22, 2022.
Magny vs Rakhmonov picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
If you’re signing up for a new sportsbook for UFC betting, here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users can bet $20 and get $200 in free bets with Caesars! Sign Up Now
B) New users can get two risk-free bets up to $2,000 at PointsBet! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only
Magny vs Rakhmonov betting preview
Since turning pro at 19 years old, Rakhmonov has shown an incredible skill set with all of his 15 wins being finishes. His tenure in the UFC is no different, and he looked excellent in handing Carlton Harris in the first stoppage loss of his career. Wanting to waste no time, Rakhmonov called out Magny and will get his shot against a legitimate Top-10 welterweight.
“Nomad” is one of the best finishers in his class, and he sets up his offense with an academic jab before exploding with a power shot when he’s in the right range. He mixes up his stand-up and ground game well, landing 2.94 strikes per minute with 53% accuracy and going for 1.9 submission attempts per fight. As it stands, an average night for Rakhmonov clocks a little over one round per fight.
That’s all fine and nice when facing resume boosters and lesser competition, which Magny is not. After a decade of professional fighting, Magny remains a formidable opponent and has had a decorated career seeing him tie the great Georges St. Pierre for wins in the welterweight division with 19 victories. He has gone 5-1 since ending a two-year sabbatical in 2020.
Magny is a distance fighter who starts slow and comes on strong. While it's looking like he’s slowing down, his mix of experience and durability makes him an interesting challenger for Rakhmonov. The Colorado native may not be any closer to a title shot, but he’s not finished either.
While Rakhmonov should win and is expected to, Magny can’t be counted out and has the tools to potentially give him a rough night. Should Magny escape the initial onslaught, Rakhmonov will have to test his conditioning and his mettle in unfamiliar territory against the best fighter he’s faced up to this point.
Magny vs Rakhmonov tale of the tape
| Neil Magny | Shavkat Rakhmonov | |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Age | 27 |
| 6-foot-3 | Height | 6-foot-1 |
| 185 lbs | Weight | 187 lbs |
| 80 inches | Reach | 77 inches |
| 26-9 (7 KOs) | Record | 15-0 (8 KOs) |
Magny vs Rakhmonov UFC prediction and best bet
Our prediction is compiled from the analysis of the fighters and is an indication of who we are leaning with to win this bout.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this fight or where the most value lies, and is where we would put some of our bankroll behind.
Prediction: Rakhmonov to win
Magny’s recent fights have seen him struggle at times to get going and his most recent defeat to Michael Chiesa saw him comprehensively outwrestled. He’s not the fighter he used to be, and that makes Rakhmonov’s insistence on calling him out all the more reasonable. With Magny starting slow and Rakhmonov always in search of a finishing shot, it seems like the perfect storm for the rising star.
In both the stand-up and ground game, Rakhmonov’s physicality and youth are going to be too much for the measured Magny to handle. Rakhmonov will prefer to keep the fight standing, and he should be able to do that thanks to his solid takedown defense and faster feet. If Magny does have a chance to spring the upset, he’ll have to compromise Rakhmonov’s gas tank early and survive his power.
This is the case of a good fighter coming to terms with his mortality, and as per the script, it’s the younger star bringing him to reality. We like Rakhmonov to win this one.
Prediction: Rakhmonov to win (-390 at DraftKings)
Best bet: Over 2.5 rounds
While it isn’t the riskiest bet in picking Magny to win, the smarter choice is betting that he survives.
Recently, both Jiri Prozchaka and Khamzat Chimaev saw themselves stretched in a winning effort against their veteran foes where they were significant favorites. Rakhmonov should find a stern challenge in Magny, maybe to the point where his finishing streak comes to an end.
If Magny escapes the first round, we’re happy to bet on his veteran skills and durability. He may not make it all the way to the end in the face of Rakhmonov’s aggression, but he’ll last long enough where betting the Over makes sense.
We like this fight going Over 2.5 rounds for a +105 pick-up.
Pick: Over 2.5 rounds (+105 at DraftKings)
