MMA Series-94: Champion vs. Champion & UFC 328 Predictions

Greetings to everyone. This is the weekly discussion on the mma-tv.com portal. I'm Artem Novopavlovsky. Today we're joined by an absolutely incomparable duo of expert commentators and, I can truly say, very dear friends of the MMA Series. And they are Alexey Volodin and Yan Baranchuk, whom I'm happy to welcome.

Hello there, Artem.

Yeah, hi, Artem. Hi, everyone.

Friends, well, let's move on to the topics quickly. May thirtieth is rapidly approaching, and... Just as fast, the highly anticipated MMA Series ninety-four tournament is coming up very soon, where the talented Dmitry Mikhailidi and Nikita Barkhatov will face off against each other in the main event. These two guys have fought before in the past, they used to be close friends, and now they are set for a championship fight. So here is a tricky question: is this more about sports now, or has it become something personal? And, of course, first of all, I suggest we analyze and evaluate their individual strengths. Let us say that Yan will be responsible for Mikhailidi, and Alexey will be for Barkhatov.

Alright then, allow me to begin, if nobody minds. Anyway, regarding whether it's personal or not, well, we know that different cases happen in MMA. For some, it is simply and absolutely unacceptable to fight a friend, a teammate, or even a former teammate, as personal relationships always come first. But since these guys ended up on this card, and especially as the headliners, Then we can assume that they most likely belong to that specific category of fighters who can go out, fight, shake hands, and then calmly continue to be friends or not, as life will eventually show. But it's very cool, in my opinion. I always respect and welcome such an approach because, after all, it is a job. Everyone earns money for their families. And, as practice shows, in many cases, nothing prevents the guys from going out, fighting, putting on a show, pleasing the audience, entertaining the public, and then, basically, leaving this whole story outside the cage. Let's hope it'll be the same here and that it'll be a good competitive fight, and most importantly, a spectacular one.

Well, first of all, I'm really glad that the MMA Series will finally have a tournament. That's the most important thing, that we'll see a big sporting event, a really big one, and regardless of Nikita and Dmitry's friendship or lack thereof before, In terms of matchmaking, I think it's a perfect bullseye. It's also a cross-weight fight between a champion from one weight class and a champion from another. Both are on a four-fight winning streak. So, we could probably discuss the opposition for a long time. But, as it seems to me, first of all, their first fight was quite a long time ago. After all, six years have passed, and the Nikita of the year twenty eighteen and the Nikita of twenty twenty-four are two different fighters. He is very different now, and right now he's at the very peak of his prime, I think. And I think he's carefully honed that wrestling and those jiu-jitsu techniques, primarily, to a completely new level. And I think Mikhailidi should really be very wary of this aspect first and foremost. How it'll go is quite unclear, because in the long run, I think Mikhailidi has the edge, he's got plenty of experience in five-round fights. Plus he breathes really well, he's a physical guy, a cardio machine you could say, so I think Dmitry can resort to this long-game tactic if needed. Well, I basically see Mikhailidi as a slight favorite in this matchup, but I'm also expecting that factor of creative style and creative wrestling from Nikita.

From the very first fight I saw of Dmitry's, he truly impressed me with his ability to combine everything required to excel in MMA. First of all, of course, besides the great qualities Alex pointed out, it is his impressive wrestling and sharp striking skills that really stand out. He does everything very organically, he's a very well-trained fighter. And honestly, it's surprising to me that he doesn't have a single knockout victory. Because he moves exceptionally well on his feet, has an excellent sense of distance, and a solid, powerful punch, consistently hitting effectively with both hands. But his fights always seem to go in a way where at some point he starts conserving his energy. And... At that point, it's like two people are fighting inside of him. One wants to finish quickly, the other is afraid of gassing out. And it's usually that second, more pragmatic one who wins out. This explains exactly why Mikhailidi has so many fights that go to a decision. But despite being young, he's a very good tactician. And in those fights that go to a decision, he consistently manages to maintain the upper hand. And I have personally watched every one of his last four fights in the MMA Series, and I even commentated on some of them. I can honestly say this from my perspective, there were not any close fights in that series. What I mean is, after each of those fights, it was very obvious that Dmitry Mikhailidi held the competitive edge, even if it was only slight. And right here, given the five-round distance, I think it'll be very tough for Barkhatov, because nerves will kick in, wondering if he won or not, and there might be close rounds. And I think Mikhailidi will dig deep, grit his teeth, and find a way to pull through this fight, likely dragging it to a hard-fought victory. But I'm absolutely certain this fight won't be easy for either of them, because they're both in peak physical condition right now; they're still young but already very mature and seasoned fighters. And they're quite comparable in terms of skill level. I'm also very glad the MMA Series managed to get such a fight, especially with a personal backstory and a rematch as the main event.

Well, there is a significant period of inactivity, you know, for Nikita Barkhatov, who basically has not stepped into the cage for over a year now. And if we are saying they met before and he has evolved, well, Mikhailidi hasn't been standing still during that time either, right. The central and most critical question in this fight will likely be whether Barkhatov can stop the relentless wrestling at all, and whether Mikhailidi can effectively capitalize on that strategic advantage throughout the duration of the match.

I personally believe that Nikita Barkhatov is significantly more liberated in this situation in terms of a specific kind of artistic creativity. Yes, Nikita probably doesn't have the wrestling level of Rizvan Rizvanov, whom Mikhailidi faced before. However, I personally believe it's exactly here that style will be the ultimate deciding factor. Because Mikhailidi is probably significantly more versatile when it comes to standing up. He also hits with more weight, basically. Specific speed qualities are also going to play a significant role. Given the move up in weight. Exactly how at ease Barkhatov will be here. And I think this is one of the most essential and defining key points, because the crucial opening five minutes of the match will show everything and put it all in place. To be honest, from my perspective, I don't think this fight will be that dramatic, you know, in terms of constant, back-and-forth shifts in momentum, hard knockdowns, and other things that we often see in these bouts. I think that everything will be more or less steady and stable here, and I believe Mikhailidi can find his own rhythm, his pattern, and then gradually follow it. So, I think, once again, that Mikhailidi is the favorite for me in this case.

If you look at Barkhatov's recent fights, I see very serious progress in terms of toughness. He goes into every fight like it's a war. He's an incredibly tough and very competitively aggressive individual. And that's exactly what Dmitry Mikhailidi is lacking. From my personal perspective, he seems to be clearly lacking that killer instinct. He might lack a more intense and aggressive mindset when it comes to his professional fights. For Dmitry, as I understand it, it's just a job. But considering Nikita Barkhatov in this regard, at least based on the impression he gives inside the cage, he is much more like Sasha Shlemenko; he truly has a strong desire to beat his opponent and inflict serious physical damage throughout the entire fight. And that could help Nikita Barkhatov in this fight.

Well, before we move on to psychology, I should note that Nikita Barkhatov views this upcoming fight as a job and simply a competitive sport rather than a personal rivalry. While Mikhailidi is feeling deeply conflicted that he'll be fighting, maybe not a friend, but a very close comrade and a training partner he even went to church with. And regarding this specific point about the complex psychological dynamic at play here. What do you honestly think, if for one athlete it is strictly professional work, and for the other it is a matter of 'I don't fight my friends,' which of these two guys could this mental pressure affect more in the end? Perhaps it is possible that someone will burn out more? What do you think?

In my honest opinion, I think as soon as a few powerful strikes land on both sides, all those strategic thoughts will just vanish from their minds in an instant, and the guys will start fighting properly. So, maybe there won't be any excessive aggression or that specific killer instinct taken to the absolute extreme, right? I don't think we'll see a viciously intense and ferocious brawl, a total bloodbath, and so on. There will be a lot of tactics here. The question is who will be better prepared for this fight, who will cut weight better. I actually think that Mikhailidi will be considerably larger than we expected. And that's also a very important point. We'll see how Barkhatov will handle this specific weight class. Because in the seventy kilogram division, Mikhailidi has been competing for a very long time now, as far as I recall. And he's comfortable here. So, basically, he is the person in control here. He's the one hosting the guest. In this case too, the cards are slightly in his favor. In my opinion.

Well, I honestly think we have discussed this particular fight enough in words for the time being. And I suggest we discuss it in numbers. Now, we have the 'Fight in Numbers' segment. So, what do you need to do for this? As a team, you'll evaluate and assign a specific score from one to ten to Nikita Barkhatov and Dmitry Mikhailidi in various categories. We'll have exactly seven different performance aspects to consider. You can consult with each other, but keep it brief. I'll call out each specific aspect. Then, you provide a numerical rating for both of these individual fighters. The "Fight in Numbers" segment. Stand-up.

Well, I suggest, for example, giving Dmitry Mikhailidi seven points in this regard and Nikita Barkhatov seven as well.

Well, then I will fully agree with that perspective. Grappling. But in the sport of grappling, there are two very important and distinct aspects to keep in mind here. Power wrestling is probably better for Mikhailidi, while creative grappling and jiu-jitsu are better for Barkhatov. So if you look at it that way, it's like two aspects in one. If we're talking... About grappling in general?

Just give me the numbers, how much for Mikhailidi's grappling and how much for Barkhatov's.

Alright then, I think we should give Barkhatov a score of eight and Mikhailidi a six.

Well, let's actually move Dmitry all the way up to a seven.

Okay, let's go ahead and do it.

Eight for Nikita, seven for Dmitry.

Are there any more submissions?

Submissions, well, I'll say this, Dmitry Mikhailidi's grappling is mostly controlling, pinning against the cage, and controlling on the ground, so I'd give Dmitry Mikhailidi... I have no doubt that he is capable of executing them, but against a tough and experienced opponent like Nikita Barkhatov, I think it is highly unlikely to be effective, so maybe he gets somewhere in the range of a four. Let's go with that.

And for Barkhatov, on the flip side, for his creativity in submissions, it's at least a seven.

Well, that's what we agreed on. That's four to seven.

Strength and athleticism.

That is absolutely, one hundred percent Mikhailidi. It is definitely an eight, at the very least, I think.

Well, I guess it's fair to say we could give a rating of six for Nikita then.

Defense.

And it's eight to six in favor of Mikhailidi.

Well yes, since we think, and we might be wrong by the way, but this is the prevailing consensus that we have collectively developed, that Dmitry will be, not necessarily possessing more raw strength, but more enduring, so his defensive capabilities will likely prove to be superior. Well, let's say seven to six, I'd say. In my personal estimation, that is seven for Mikhailidi and six for Barkhatov.

So what is the final score, Alexey, can you tell us about it? Seven to six, there. Mikhailidi is at seven, while Barkhatov is at six. Let us see their fighting I Q.

Well, as it turns out in this case here too, Mikhailidi is probably quite a bit ahead, it seems to me. So, let's go ahead and make it a score of six to five, Yan, if you don't mind me saying.

Let's do it. The field of psychology.

Seven-seven.

Yes, I agree. I mean, both of these competitors are quite mentally tough. I haven't seen any fights at all in their previous performances where they've shown any signs of breaking down mentally. So here, I believe the matchup is almost entirely equal.

So, we have the results for seven aspects. With a score of forty-six to forty-six, it's a draw on the numbers. That makes this fight even more interesting. Let's quickly go through some of the pairs on the card and pick the favorites. Next, we have the exciting pair of Azamat Dzhigkaev and Saveliy Kurochkin.

Well, in this specific matchup, first of all, I know Azamat Dzhigkaev very well because he competed in the professional ACA league for a long time, and he had some significant issues there. He fought many tough guys, including some near-top level ones in his division. He trains with Inal Kadzov, you could say he's his student. And his wrestling is quite impressive. So, I am inclined to place my bet on some kind of major redemption for Azamat Dzhigkaev here. Although he has already won one significant fight after being on a difficult losing streak in the ACA, I think he has a very good chance here to show his wrestling skills first and foremost.

I agree that Azamat Dzhigkaev is the clear favorite here. But I believe that Saveliy Kurochkin will, first, put up a very decent fight, and second, a remarkably flashy one. We've already seen him in the MMA Series. He... And he's an incredibly charismatic and flashy talker, he has an exceptional talent for sharp trash talk, he generally treats his performances like he's a true artist, and that's truly fascinating to watch. And I honestly think Saveliy will either win very quickly and flashily, or he might end up losing just as spectacularly. And as for what happens, we'll see that at the tournament itself.

Let's move on to the next pair. Danil Vaganov and Gleb Mikhalev.

One thing I really want to point out here is that Danil is exactly the kind of person you would call a true and dedicated product who represents the Sech Pro club. It is as if he perfectly embodies this club in every way; he actually takes significantly more risks and shows more courage than the others. And I will say this regarding the favorite: perhaps Mikhalev is looking very strong and impressive in this position, and there is a real possibility he might even come out on top and win this fight. But to be honest, my heart is leaning a bit more towards Vaganov and for him to put on another show.

I think this is an entirely unpredictable fight because Gleb Mikhalev clearly looked a bit green, not yet being a fully formed professional fighter in his only three professional MMA bouts so far. But in this regard, especially in terms of overall experience, Vaganov has a huge and distinct advantage. However, Mikhalev is quite a bit younger, at least as far as I can remember. And, when you look at the situation fundamentally, he still has a lot to prove, while Vaganov, considering he trains at Sech, has an elite group of high-level sparring partners, and the extraordinary and intense volume of work done daily at that club, as we all know, makes me give a very slight but definitive competitive edge to Danil Vaganov.

It was interesting to hear your opinion. Personally, to be completely honest with you, I'm definitely leaning towards Kurochkin being the much bigger favorite in this matchup. To me, tall and rangy fighters like that who have successfully learned how to defend against low leg takedowns are a very serious threat to anyone, which Savely basically proved quite clearly during his impressive fight against Umar Dmitriev. And, by the way, he became... the winner of the Debut of the Year at the mma-tv.com awards. Well, as we also mentioned regarding Gleb Mikhalev, this guy also took part in the Fight of the Year twenty twenty-five nomination, put on an incredible performance in the cage, and showed great resilience in every aspect, so I would definitely pick him as the clear favorite here. And I'd also like to point out that At our MMA Series ninety-four tournament, Eduard Bagratunyan and Magomed Gasanov will be competing; they both fought and won at the Fight Nights tournament last weekend, so congratulations to them. Petr Yan and Alexey, what do you think? Do you believe such frequent performances actually hurt or help the fighters?

It definitely doesn't hurt Magomed Gasanov at all, and honestly, I'm already starting to feel quite worried for Janderson. This is because I truly think they should probably call for an ambulance well in advance. If Magomed happens to be in a particularly good mood, he'll simply do whatever he wants with him in the ring. And I don't know what kind of mood Gasanov will be in. He's in incredible physical shape. He didn't just win at Fight Nights, he beat Oleg Olenichev. Who has always been a very tough guy to run over. Even guys at Mikhail Mokhnatkin's level couldn't do it. And here, Gasanov is performing on some unreal level. It seems to me that... Well, excuse me, but for me, this is a mismatch. I think Gasanov will win easily.

Well, answering the question about such frequent fights, I think that here, first of all... It all depends on the amount of physical damage taken in the previous fight. And since, as I understand it, there wasn't much damage at all, there shouldn't be any major problems moving forward. And secondly, for a professional heavyweight, it's not a problem at all because you don't have to cut weight, since the process of weight cutting is usually the main issue for most fighters. And here, regarding Eduard Bagratunyan, we can only begin to imagine how incredibly grueling the weight cut is for him and how difficult it is for him to maintain his peak physical condition. And, say, if there are two weight cuts in a month and a half, that's obviously extremely difficult. And even a body as young and resilient as his will undoubtedly encounter some serious challenges. But let's hope he doesn't cut much and that everything will be fine.

I'll take a moment to share a few more thoughts about Edik. To be honest, I also see him as a massive favorite in his upcoming fight. He is a truly exceptional prospect who trains at Strela among other elite places. Even though he had a full fight there recently, I actually think he won't have any big issues with his weight. As far as I understand the situation, he doesn't actually have to go through a drastic weight-cutting process. But the thing is, he's twenty-three years old. His metabolism is just like a tiger's or a lion's. And actually, Yuri is really going to surprise everyone there. He comes from the hardcore black belt scene. And he can put on a bit of a show, apply some psychological pressure, and so on. While Buger-Turnian will just focus on doing his job. Clearly, without any interference.

Let's move from the MMA Series fights to the upcoming bouts abroad. I suggest we also more thoroughly discuss the highly anticipated Chimaev and Strickland fight. Who do you think will win and in what manner? Well, how would you answer that specific question yourself?

How exactly can Khamzat Chimaev secure a major win? Let's speculate on his strategy right now.

Well, maybe he will get ready for a fight and want to demonstrate his true capabilities to everyone. I have come across many comments like that. Like having a total slugfest, just like with Burns.

He might want to prove a point, but I think he can do that through wrestling. And a complete outclassing in terms of fighting style, mostly coming from Khamzat, is just expected here. And everyone is very worried about safety; they're even skipping the face-offs because ideologically, it's a clash of two complete opposites. And that's exactly what makes this fight so incredibly appealing to the fans. It's like it has several different layers. But I see Khamzat Chimaev as a strong favorite here, that's clear. But Strickland is tough. How long he'll last, I don't know, two or three rounds.

I also see Khamzat as the favorite, but I don't think it's just two or three rounds. I think this fight will be much harder for Khamzat than many people think. And we all know that Sean Strickland, even though, let's say, he often wants to seem much dumber to people than he actually is in reality. However, once he is inside the cage, it often turns out that his opponents face a very deeply developed and sophisticated tactic, where their specific weaknesses are carefully considered and weighed, and he develops a unique, specific tactic for each one of them. Despite all of this evidence, I still personally see Khamzat Chimaev as a slight favorite to win, but I truly think the fight will ultimately go to a judge's decision.

The next big heavyweight matchup features Alexander Volkov taking on Waldo Cortes-Acosta. What are the chances of victory for Drago? Acosta's frequency of performance doesn't let you forget about him, to be honest.

Well, Acosta hasn't stepped into the ring to compete for a very long time, not since last year, which is just an unpardonably long layoff for a salsa boy. This match will also be a real clash of fighting IQs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta is a very cunning and strategic guy. Sasha improves from fight to fight, that's clear to see, and he's also gained a lot of solid muscle mass lately. And to be honest, well... With both fighters in peak physical condition at one hundred percent, completely free from any injuries or physical setbacks, I think Sasha Volkov will secure the victory by way of a judges' decision. Moreover, I believe Sasha should demonstrate better technical skill while standing on his feet, and as for the wrestling and grappling, the fight might not even reach that stage.

I honestly think this fight is a complete and utter stylistic nightmare for Costa, because at long range, Volkov is significantly more effective and technically proficient; he works much better and his kicks are clearly superior. At close range in the wrestling department, Costa has absolutely nothing to offer Volkov whatsoever. In fact, Volkov's wrestling is likely at a considerably more advanced and sophisticated level than Salsoboy's. At the same time, it is clear that Acosta has no real speed advantage when he is trying to close the distance. Unless the fight stays in mid-range boxing, which is where Waldo Cortes-Acosta might pose a threat, he will struggle. We saw how effectively Volkov handled Pavlovich, and we also saw how Pavlovich handled Acosta. I know this kind of logic doesn't always hold up in MMA, but I think this is exactly the case where it applies. And in this specific matchup, I believe Volkov will comfortably outstrike him from start to finish. If Acosta loses his head at some point, charges forward and takes a risk, he'll just get knocked out. If that is not the case, Volkov wins by decision.

I'll add one small point here; Acosta, first of all, had some pretty favorable opponents throughout last year, and he is a well-known provocateur. And Sasha, on the other hand, specializes in absolutely not falling for that kind of stuff. And here, I honestly don't know, he might try to get in Sasha's head, perhaps say something provocative at the press conference, but I'm sure Sasha is fully prepared for it and will have a sharp, maybe even quite funny, comeback.

Excellent. Well, all we have left for the very end of our session today is a quick-fire mini-blitz round. And what I would like to suggest is that you both take turns answering each of the questions I have prepared. You really won't have to think very long about your responses at all. So, to get us started, let's have Alexey go first, and then we will move right along to Yan. Who will Makhachev fight next?

Most likely, Ian Machado Garry.

In that case, I'll say Michael Morales.

In your opinion, who would you like to see Ankalaev compete against next?

With Ulberg. And he is now with Ulberg.

I will not even try to be any different here. That actually sounds like a really great idea.

And now for the very last question. Costa versus Chimaev. Do you think that is even realistic at this point?

Wait, did you say Costa? Hold on, I thought Costa moved up to the light heavyweight division.

The current plan and expectation is that Chimaev will transition to a higher weight class after his title fight.

Costa had a really solid victory. Costa versus Chimaev. That would be an incredibly exciting matchup. Maybe it just needs to happen sooner rather than later.

Yan?

I think quite a few different factors really have to align for this specific fight to happen. For example, Costa has to become the light heavyweight champion, Khamzat has to move up to that weight class, and then we'll see it. But to be perfectly honest with you, with all due respect to Paulo, I really have my doubts about whether he'll win the title in the ninety-three kilogram category. So maybe in about eight years, we'll see this fight in a somewhat different and unexpected context.

How can you not believe in this fight? But that is totally fine. Friends, it was truly great to see you. Thank you so much for stopping by to see us. And we will see you all at the tournament.

Thank you, thank you, Artem. We were certainly delighted too.

Alright, bye everyone. To all the fans and viewers of MMA Series once again. Artyom, I really appreciate that.

Yes, and we look forward to seeing all our viewers in the next episodes. Bye everyone.