Kicking off our UFC Fight Night: Blachowicz vs Rakic prelims, two submission wrestlers look to steal each other’s thunder.
Nick Maximov is undefeated as an amateur and a pro. He’s made a mark in the UFC, going 3-0 in the promotion, and looks to derail the hype of TUF alumni Andre Petroski. Petroski is enters his third fight in the UFC, after dominant finishes over Michael Gillmore and Yaozong Hu. How could it play out?
Nick Maximov vs Andre Petroski Prediction
This is a war of three things, submissions, striking, and attrition. That might sound obvious, but the strength of both fighters is their submission grappling, so naturally it will equalize and they may start striking. Maximov should hold the edge as he has the wrestling pedigree, and mauling style that wears his opponents down. Maximov also has deceptively heavy hands, and hails from the Nick Diaz academy, which is notorious for fit, scrappy fighters.
Petroski on the other hand uses rudimentary striking to secure his takedowns. He doesn’t maul opponents, instead opting to hunt for submissions. He’s not exceptional on the feet, but does have a good gas tank, and shows finishing ability even in the last minutes of a fight.
Where the two deviate is their striking, and their level of competition. Maximov has stormed into the UFC and has put on some dominant performances against dangerous opposition in the form of Cody Brundage and Punahele Soriano. Petroski was less impressive against opponents of a lower level.
I expect the wrestling of Maximov to override Petroski’s presence on the ground. Striking exchanges on the feet should go in favour of Maximov as well. The submission threat from Petroski will always be there, but most signs point to a Maximov UD.
My pick – Nick Maximov by UD
Nick Maximov vs Andre Petroski Betting Suggestion
Maximov is a heavy 1/4 favourite (bet £4 win £1), per Ladbrokes. The safest bet is Maximov to win outright, but you can also try Petroski by submission for tastier odds. You can Bet £5 and get £20 in free bets on Ladbrokes.
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