Preview: UFC Fight Night 220 Prelims

Lightweights

Nurullo Aliev (8-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Rafael Alves (20-11, 1-2 UFC)

ODDS: Aliev (-180), Alves (+155)

The hype may be getting a bit out of control, but Aliev is certainly a prospect to watch, as the first UFC fighter out of Tajikistan has impressed thus far as a mauling wrestler. That has led to the “Tajik Eagle” earning some comparisons to Khabib Nurmagomedov, which again seems like a bit much given how much Aliev still has to prove against a better level of competition. Alves should be a strong litmus test for where Aliev is at the moment, as “The Turn” provides both a clearly winnable and extremely dangerous matchup. A nuclear athlete, Alves has not had to develop much consistency to his game, instead fighting behind a grab bag of dynamic skills that he mostly looks to unleash on the counter. While his only UFC win thus far has come via a quick guillotine choke on Marc Diakiese, he put some impressive scares into Damir Ismagulov and Drew Dober in some entertaining losses; so in an alternate universe, Alves probably has a number next to his name and is fighting somewhere higher up the card. This is basically a coinflip, as Alves’ fights often are. He either figures to derail Aliev’s hype train in spectacular fashion or essentially keep handing him paths to grind out a win. The pick is Aliev via decision.

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