Makhmud Muradov vs. Bryan Barberena is on the preliminary card of UFC on ESPN+ 82, but this doesn’t mean you should ignore this fight. On the contrary, this could be one of the most interesting duels of the July 22 event. It’s because these two fighters are incredibly interesting both in and out of the Octagon.
Barberena is a Mohican haircut-rocking brawler who likes to tell jokes to his opponents in the cage. Meanwhile, Muradov is a Floyd Mayweather protégé who ALLEGEDLY used to shoot gay porn a few years back.
Interested? Well, those facts are just the tip of the iceberg. To learn more about this bout, keep reading this Muradov vs. Barberena prediction piece!
Before Betting on Muradov vs. Barberena
Makhmud Muradov could be the next big thing in the UFC if he manages to get outside the pit he’s currently in after suffering two losses in a row – to Gerald Meerschaert and Caio Borralho. Before that, however, he won three UFC fights, winning the Performance of the Night bonus twice. Both times, he got it thanks to an impressive striking performance.
The only MMA fighter promoted by Floyd Mayweather’s company is an expert kickboxer who lands 4.35 significant strikes per fight while absorbing only 2.72. His knockout-to-win ratio is 68%, which makes his fights incredibly fun to watch.
He’s an attractive fighter to watch, but his skills might not be as great as his UFC on ESPN+ 82 odds suggest. Muradov is the biggest favorite of all the fighters going to The O2 Arena in London this weekend, which is interesting considering that he’s facing a pretty formidable opponent.
Bryan Barberena is the man in question, a fighter who never backs down. Sure, he’s coming off two submission losses, but what can you do when you’re put in a neck lock by Rafael dos Anjos or an armbar by Gunnar Nelson?
Both of those guys are way, way better grappling-wise than Bam Bam’s next opponent, which brings out the question of how good he is against elite strikers such as Muradov. Well, he’s got wins over Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown, both of whom are at least as good as his UFC on ESPN+ 82 rival.
Makhmud Muradov vs. Bryan Barberena Offshore Odds & Pick
| Offshore Sportsbook | Makhmud Muradov | Bryan Barberena | Over 2.5 Rounds | Under 2.5 Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | -330 | +270 | +135 | -165 |
| MyBookie | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| BetUS | -330 | +240 | -140 | +110 |
| SportsBetting.ag | -330 | +270 | +135 | -165 |
| XBet | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Makhmud Muradov is the favorite for a reason, but we don’t think his UFC on ESPN+ 82 odds should be so short. Bryan Barberena is tough as nails and has plenty of experience fighting opponents such as Muradov.
That said, we wouldn’t be surprised if Bam Bam managed to stay on his feet until the final bell. In fact, it’s very likely this fight will go the distance, but we do think the judges will score in Muradov’s favor.
