The UFC heads back to Abu Dhabi for one of the best fight night events of the year. Headlining this fight card for the Abu Dhabi fans are two of the best bantamweights that the UFC has to offer as Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov go to battle this weekend.

In the co-main event of this fight, we have a great scrap between the undefeated Shara Magomedov who's looking to keep his unblemished record intact when he takes on Michal Oleksiejczuk who's desperately in need of a big win this weekend.

This fight has the makings of potentially being the fight of the night, so let's take a look at this matchup and our Magomedov-Oleksiejczuk prediction and pick.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - AUGUST 02: Michal Oleksiejczuk of Poland poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night official weigh-in at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island on August 02, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC Abu Dhabi: Shara Magomedov Predictions August 3rd

Shara Magomedov (13-0) had a ton of hype surrounding him coming into his UFC debut when he faced off against Bruno Silva. While he did get the win, many believed he underperformed compared to his time on the regional scene.

His next opponent took the fight on relative short notice and put up a good fight but Magomedov finally looked every bit like the exciting fighter many fighters hoped he be coming into his UFC career.

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After a strong outing against Antonio Trocoli who he knocked out in round three, Magomedov gets to take on a mainstay in the UFC's middleweight division Michal Oleksiejczuk which is expected to be a barnburner.

• In Magomedov's 13 victories as a professional MMA fighter, he has finished 11 of his 13 wins with all 11 wins coming by knockout.

Magomedov is a very technical striker that utilizes his kicks to keep out of the range of his opponents which will serve him well in this fight against Oleksiejczuk.

Oleksiejczuk is an aggressive brawler who loves to throw crisp combinations however, he gets touched up as he enters range which sets up Magomedov for success.

Magomedov has great footwork and the ability to counter on the feet to where he will be exponentially faster than Oleksiejczuk. If Magomedov can avoid getting into a brawl with him and stay on the outside he can pick him apart at range and potentially land the knockout blow and remain unbeaten this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

UFC Abu Dhabi: Michal Oleksiejczuk Predictions August 3rd

Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-8) has now lost back-to-back fights for the second time in his UFC career and has just one win in his last four fights coming into this do-or-die matchup this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Oleksiejczuk has now been submitted in each of his last three losses but luckily for him Magomedov isn't a grappler by trade and no submission victories on his resume.

This is the perfect matchup for Oleksiejczuk to showcase his striking skills much like he did against Kevin Holland where he dropped in the opening minutes to his fight.

• Oleksiejczuk is a powerful finisher with finishes in 15 of his 19 victories with 14 of those coming by knockout.
• Given that Magomedov is a striker this bodes well for Oleksiejczuk who does a great job at pressuring fighters who are bigger and longer than he is.
• He uses his feints to draw out attacks and that's when he throws his combinations to the body and to the head mixing it up very well.

It will be up to Oleksiejczuk to hunt down Magomedov and cut off the cage making the 30-foot Octagon seem a lot smaller than it actually is to land his heavy combinations.

If he is able to do that he has a great opportunity to make it knockout No. 15 and keep his UFC career alive.

UFC ABU DHABI: SHARA MAGOMEDOV vs MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK FANDUEL ODDS FOR AUGUST 3

MONEY LINE

• SHARA MAGOMEDOV: -265
• MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK: +210

PROPS

• SHARA MAGOMEDOV BY POINTS: +370
• SHARA MAGOMEDOV BY SUBMISSION: +1700
• SHARA MAGOMEDOV BY KNOCKOUT/TKO: -105
• MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK BY POINTS: +600
• MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK BY KNOCKOUT/TKO: +460
• MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK BY SUBMISSION: +2300

BEST UFC ABU DHABI ODDS FOR SHARA MAGOMEDOV vs MICHAL OLEKSIEJCZUK

• Michal Oleksiejczuk is the underdog in this matchup this weekend. FanDuel Sportsbook comes in with the best odds at (+210)
• Shara Magomedov is the favorite yet again in his third fight in the UFC. DraftKings Sportsbook has the best odds on him at (-238)

FINAL MAGOMEDOV-OLEKSIEJCZUK PICK & PREDICTION

There is no way this fight will be boring as both of these two are going to throw caution to the wind and look to land the knockout blow. Ultimately, Oleksiejczuk is going to attempt to push the pace and bring the fight to Magomedov but Magomedov will be too quick on the feet and will eventually land a big counter that puts Oleksiejczuk down getting another knockout on his resume.

FINAL MAGOMEDOV-OLEKSIEJCZUK PICK & PREDICTION: SHARA MAGOMEDOV (-265)