UFC on ESPN 48 Main Event Breakdown

Saturday night, the MMA promotion sets up shop inside the UFC Apex for UFC on ESPN 48. Live coverage begins at 4 pm ET/ 1 pm PT on ESPN with the undercard, followed at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT with main card action.

It’ll be the back-end of a day-night doubleheader of fights, Directly before the UFC event, Cage Warriors 156 will be presented on UFC Fight Pass Saturday afternoon. Hopefully, you’ll have enough snacks to help get you through it all.

Strickland and Magomedov to Square Off in UFC on ESPN 48 Main Event

Barring any cancellations between now and Saturday night, UFC on ESPN 48 will feature a full 12-fight card. Highlighting the night’s itinerary is a middleweight showcase in the UFC on ESPN 48 main event.

No. 7 contender Sean Strickland (26-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) battles unranked Abus Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in this week’s headliner. Like all UFC main attractions, the UFC on ESPN 48 main event is an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round to close out the show.

No slowing down‼️@SStricklandMMA vs @OfficialAbus headlines at #UFCVegas76 this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/rQrNL08BwX

— UFC (@ufc) June 26, 2023

UFC on ESPN 48 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds

Heading into the UFC on ESPN 48 main event on Saturday, Abus Magomedov stands as the taller man at 6-foot-2, compared to Sean Strickland’s 6-foot-1 frame. In addition, Magomedov owns a two-inch reach advantage (78 inches to 76 inches) and a 1 1/2-inch leg reach advantage (43 inches even to 41 1/2 inches) over Strickland.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the oddsmakers  have Sean Strickland installed as a -170 favorite on the money line, with Abus Magomedov countering as a +140 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.

Sean Strickland Coming In Off of Normal Training Camp

Sean Strickland enters the UFC on ESPN 48 main event having posted a record of 2-3 over his last five fights. Most recently, he won a short-notice fight against Nassourdine Imavov (12-4, 1 NC MMA, 4-2, 1 NC UFC) in UFC Vegas 67 on Jan. 14.

Strickland accepted the Jan. 14 main event on the Monday of fight week in the aftermath of Imavov’s original opponent, Kelvin Gastelum, withdrawing from the card due to a mouth injury. After the fight, he discussed his victory with Paul Felder.

“Taking a fight off of a four-month layoff, a three-week training camp, I questioned my cardio a little bit for a second,” Strickland said. “But then I remembered I got (expletive deleted) and I could fight 25 minutes. I could fight an hour. I (censored) love you guys, man, let’s go.”

Now that Strickland has had a full training camp, how will he do on Saturday night? Watch the UFC on ESPN 48 main event to find out.

Abus Magomedov Earns Main Event Spotlight in Second UFC Bout

In the other corner, Abus Magomedov has posted a mark of 4-1 in his last five contests. Currently, he’s on a three-fight winning streak.

Ordinarily, UFC fighters with just a single bout in the promotional banner wouldn’t be given a main event slot in his or her second fight under contract. Abus Magomedov is the exception to the rule.

Back in September, during the UFC’s landmark first visit to Paris, he stopped Dustin Stolzfus with a first-round knockout. Time of the stoppage: A blistering 19 seconds. 

However, there’s also been one unfortunate constant when it comes to Magomedov’s MMA career in recent times. Prior to the UFC on ESPN 48 main event on Saturday night, he’s seen fights of his get cancelled no fewer than five times from December of 2021 to March of 2023, including twice against both Gerald Meerschaert and Makhmud Muradov.

With a layoff of close to 10 months, how rusty is he? Only time will tell.

Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction

Stylistically, the UFC on ESPN 48 main event looks to favor Sean Strickland, a striker with a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, compared to Abus Magomedov’s status as a general mixed martial artist.

Look for Sean Strickland to Apply Pressure

During Sean Strickland’s last fight, aggression was the word of the day. Through the first round, Strickland and Imavov were nearly dead even in terms of strikes landed.

As the fight progressed, the former turned up the heat, putting Imavov in the clinch early in round two. This enabled Strickland to slow the pace of the fight down, scoring a three-punch combination coming out of the clinch.

If Sean Strickland is able to control the pace of the UFC on ESPN 48 main event and become the aggressor from the opening bell, this is his fight to win. To that extent, it would behoove him to throw in a takedown during the match.

Abus Magomedov Can Close the Show at Breakneck Speed

In the other corner, don’t think about blinking when Abus Magomedov enters the cage this weekend. You could end up missing the entirety of this contest.

Right from the command to start, this man hunted for a finish, landing a head kick just 11 seconds in, wobbling Stolzfus. From there, Magomedov smelled blood in the water, landing the crucial blows against the cage fence. Dustin Stolzfus had no choice but to go out.

If Magomedov lands the first big punch, the UFC on ESPN 48 main event could be over before you get back from the fridge.

Final Thoughts

For such a light week in MMA, we’re treated to two really good fights on Saturday. International Fight Week beckons, but not before Strickland and Magomedov settle the score in Vegas.

Prediction: Sean Strickland by Unanimous Decision.