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#2. UFC featherweight division: Dan Ige vs. Movsar Evloev

Can Movsar Evloev break into the top ten at 145lbs with a win over Dan Ige?

Judging by recent results, this featherweight bout is a strange piece of booking from the UFC. Dan Ige has lost his last two fights and is 1-3 in his last four, his last win coming over Gavin Tucker in March 2021.

Evloev, on the other hand, is still unbeaten in the octagon at 5-0 and could well prove to be a genuine threat to the upper echelon at 145lbs. However, despite the disparity in recent records, the bout does make perfect sense.

Ige is still ranked at No.10 in the division, and while ‘Dynamite’ is clearly a step below title contention, he could well be seen as one of the best gatekeepers at 145lbs. If Evloev can overcome him, then it’s a clear sign that he’s ready for title contention in his own right.

Interestingly, this will be the first time Ige’s had to deal with more of a grappling-based foe in some time. The Hawaiian has been a consistent action fighter, and so unsurprisingly, he’s nearly always been matched with fellow strikers like Edson Barboza and the Korean Zombie.

Evloev, on the other hand, has decent striking in his arsenal, but he also leans heavily on his takedowns and ground control. His win over Hakeem Dawodu, for instance, drew the ire of the crowd but saw him completely dominate the flashy striker by continually planting him on the mat.

Evloev’s takedowns aren’t perfect, as the statistics show that he only lands them at a 47% accuracy. However, if he can put Ige down, then it definitely feels a little unlikely that the Hawaiian will be able to get back up to his feet.

Add in the fact that, while he is a dangerous and explosive striker, ‘Dynamite’ doesn’t live up to his nickname when it comes to knockout power – only one of his UFC wins has come via KO, his stoppage of Tucker – and it seems unlikely that he’ll get Evloev out in an early rush.

With that considered, then, the pick here is Evloev via decision. It might not be all that entertaining, but expect the Russian to crack the UFC’s featherweight top ten next week.

The Pick: Evloev via unanimous decision