Marc Diakiese vs. Rafael Fiziev is on the main card at UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 betting on Saturday, July 18. This should be an exciting fight between a pair of 27-year-olds hungry for a win in an absolutely loaded lightweight division.
UFC odds have Diakiese installed as the -170 favorite, while Fiziev is the underdog at +138. We break down the UFC betting odds for this lightweight tilt and give our best picks and predictions for Diakiese vs Fiziev on July 18.
| UFC Fight Night odds | Marc Diakiese | Rafael Fiziev |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -170 | +138 |
| Win by KO/TKO | +440 | +420 |
| Win by points | +125 | +340 |
| Win by submission | +1,600 | +1,800 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Diakiese vs Fiziev betting preview
Marc "Bonecrusher" Diakiese enters on a two-fight winning streak after a pair of unanimous decision victories in 2019. Those wins helped him snap a three-fight losing skid. Bonecrusher is a dangerous striker who prefers standing up but is evolving his wrestling game as well.
"Ataman" Rafael Fiziev is also coming off a unanimous decision victory after beating Alex White last October. That was the first UFC win of his career after he was knocked out early in the first round against Magomed Mustafaev in his UFC debut. Prior to UFC, he had gone 6-0 with all of those fights ending by finishes - including five in a row ending in the first round.
Like Diakiese, Fiziev relies on his striking game, although most of his fights haven't lasted long enough to see what he is capable of on the ground.
| Marc Diakiese | Rafael Fiziev | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Age | 27 |
| 5-foot-10 | Height | 5-foot-8 |
| 155 lbs | Weight | 155 lbs |
| 73 inches | Reach | 72 inches |
| 14-3-0 (6 KO) | Record | 7-1-0 (5 KO) |
Diakiese vs Fiziev UFC predictions and betting picks
PREDICTION: Diakiese to win by points +125 - Fiziev may have dominated with his striking against inferior opposition but it was clear against Mustafaev that speed in the UFC is on another level. Diakiese has good movement and can strike from a variety of different angles, which makes him difficult for a relatively inexperienced fighter like Fiziev to figure out.
Bonecrusher has also been doing a good job of dictating the pace in his latest fights which could pose problems for Fiziev, who has fought beyond the first round only twice in his career. Expect Diakiese to stand up well against an early onslaught from Fiziev and get stronger as the fight goes on. With four of his last fights going the distance, back him to win via points.
More UFC Fight Night picks and predictions
Marc Diakiese vs. Lando Vannata is just one of the bouts slated for UFC Fight Night, but there are plenty of other exciting fights on this card. Check out our best picks and predictions for these other bouts taking place on July 18:
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez
Jack Hermansson vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Ariane Lipski vs Luana Carolina
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Askar Askarov
