Editor’s Note: The Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rafael Fiziev Lightweight Co-Main event bout has been scrapped after Rafael Fiziev tested positive for COVID. Dos Anjos will now face another fighter to be determined.
The UFC returns to our screens for another action-filled pay-per-view event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Top-ranked lightweight contenders Rafael dos Anjos and Rafael Fiziev will meet in the center of the octagon for the UFC 272 co-main event.
Read on for our complete betting guide taking a first look at Dos Anjos and Fiziev, including updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC betting picks, predictions, and analysis
UFC Lightweight Co-Main Event Bout
Saturday, March 5, 2022 – 10:05 PM EST at T-Mobile Arena
Beginning his martial arts career as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, 4th degree BJJ black belt Rafael dos Anjos wasn’t satisfied with the submission holds and grappling-only style and began competing in MMA in 2004.
Having spent fourteen years on the UFC roster, Dos Anjos has participated in countless memorable events. With displays of elite grappling, he’s worked his way into becoming one of the lightweight division's most recognizable well-rounded fighters.
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With eighteen years of professional experience, a UFC lightweight title, and 30 UFC appearances on his resume, RDA has already entered a Hall of Fame status, as he continues to display his diverse skillset aged 37-years-old.
Rafael dos Anjos Best Available Odds: To Win ML (+200) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Compared to his opponent next weekend, Rafael Fiziev is a newcomer on the block. With a mere thirteen fights on his professional MMA record, it could be suggested the Kazakhstan native has a lot to learn. However, a 5-1 record since joining the promotion behind a 5-fight consecutive win streak has unquestionably proved his worth amongst the UFC lightweight’s elite.
Fiziev stems from a martial arts background that includes combat sambo, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and several other combat sports. To say he possesses a diverse skill set is an understatement, and although a 12-fight pro-MMA record doesn’t seem threatening, you can’t neglect his 47 professional muay thai/kickboxing bouts.
Aged 28-years-old, it could be argued that Fiziev has yet to enter his prime fighting years, and this should be a worry for fellow lightweight contenders.
Rafael Fiziev Available Odds: To Win ML (-235) at BetOnline
Dos Anjos Fight Style and How Can Dos Anjos Defeat Fiziev?
While it would be foolish to undermine the striking output of Dos Anjos, his patented leg kicks, probing jabs, and body kicks from the southpaw position should only be used to set up his takedown attempts.
As we witnessed when Dos Anjos faced Paul Felder, his fight intelligence is high enough to understand when a bread-and-butter approach is required – the grappling.
RDA’s most significant path to success versus Fiziev will be utilizing the grappling and jiu-jitsu offenses at his disposal. Whether he can easily ground Fiziev is another question entirely.
Fiziev Fight Style and How Can Fiziev Defeat Dos Anjos?
Fiziev will need to present an opposite approach to his opponent next weekend. A striking prowess that’s assisted him in obtaining countless muay thai championships has been the story of his UFC tenure thus far, and we shouldn’t expect anything different.
The speed and velocity of Fiziev’s striking output will be too much for RDA to overcome on the judges’ scorecards, and the potential of a knockout in a 5-round bout is significantly raised.
The available odds at Bookmakers Review favor the younger, more impressive striker in Fiziev. However, because we’ve yet to see Fiziev tackle a skilled grappler outside of Renato Moicano, I’m struggling to put 100% belief in his ability to avoid the takedown attempts of Dos Anjos.
For the reasons above, the over 2 ½ rounds is an appealing position for your UFC picks. Unfortunately, the odds haven’t been set at the time of writing, but I predict the odds will sit around the -200 mark.
To further support the over, Dos Anjos has been stopped inside the distance on a mere two occasions throughout the 43 professional bouts he’s participated in.
UFC 272 Pick: Over 2 ½ Rounds - Odds TBD
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.