Legalbet editorial team's prediction: a bet on the UFC Fight Night bout.
Mark Vologdin
The 26-year-old Russian represents the renowned Swedish gym Allstars Training Center and comes into the bout with a 12-4-2 record. At just 5 ft 3 in, Vologdin is the shortest fighter in the division, but he compensates for his lack of size with pace and pressure. Vologdin is primarily a striker, with experience in Kyokushin karate, which he has practised since the age of four. His style is built on constant pressure: he moves forward and attacks the body and legs actively. At the same time, the Russian often sacrifices defence, which makes his bouts high-tempo affairs with plenty of exchanges. His striking is complemented by a solid sambo base: six of his 12 wins have come by knockout and four by submission, with half of his bouts ending in the first round. Vologdin's plan will probably be simple: keep moving forward, take the initiative and force his opponent to spend most of the bout on the defensive. If he can impose his pace, the advantage will gradually shift in his favour.
Borislav Nikolić
Nikolić is 33, the reigning Brave CF lightweight champion, and heads into his UFC debut with an impressive 16-2 record and a six-fight winning streak. The Serbian has finished almost all of his bouts early. Nikolić is primarily a grappler who relies on wrestling and submissions. He executes takedowns well, controls opponents confidently from top position and is particularly dangerous with chokes, as shown by a Ninja choke victory and a successful title defence. The Serbian generally improves as a bout progresses and tries to finish tired opponents in the later rounds. He can also land his punches on the feet, but wrestling and control remain his main weapons. However, there is an important caveat: Nikolić accepted the bout on short notice — just a week before the event — replacing a withdrawn opponent. He has not had a full camp for this particular opponent.
Mark Vologdin vs Borislav Nikolić Prediction
On paper, this is an intriguing clash of styles: an unyielding pressure fighter against a proven finisher who holds a title in another organisation. Nevertheless, Vologdin has the edge. The Russian has had a full training camp, whereas Nikolić accepted the bout at the last minute and may not be in ideal physical condition. Against Vologdin, with his pressure and relentless pace, any conditioning issues will quickly come to the surface. Nikolić will most likely look for takedown opportunities and try to control the bout on the ground. However, Vologdin's smaller frame may help him defend the wrestling more effectively and get back to his feet faster. If the Russian can keep the bout standing for most of the time, his pressure and work rate will become a major advantage.
