The opening bout of UFC 320 is a Middleweight contest between No. 14 Abus Magomedov and rising star Joe Pyfer. Since entering the UFC in 2022, Pyfer has gone 4-1, with three finishes, and has quickly become a fan favorite due to his charisma and action-packed fighting style. But if he wants to get a number by his name, Pyfer will need to get past a tough veteran in Magomedov, who has won three straight fights in the UFC and has 18 more fights than Pyfer.
Here is my best bet and prediction for Magomedov vs. Pyfer at UFC 320.
Joe Pyfer to Win by KO/TKO/DQ or Submission (-115)
After a few layoffs and inconsistencies, Pyfer is making a quick four-month return after his previous victory against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 316 in June. Pyfer has won seven of his last eight bouts, with six coming by finish. After suffering a few losses in his career, Pyfer has displayed a newfound level of confidence and composure.
Even though he beat Gastelum by decision, it was quite dominant as Pyfer scored two knockdowns while outlanding him 57-33 in significant strikes. Instead of fixating on a knockout, Pyfer broke Gastelum down throughout the contest, something he hasn’t done in a while. In fact, Pyfer’s previous decision victory came in his second professional MMA fight in 2018.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Pyfer is a -245 favorite while Magomedov is a +200 underdog. On the feet, Pyfer is the more powerful striker, while landing more significant strikes per minute (3.74 vs. 3.21). Magomedov recently beat Michel Pereira in his last fight. Magomedov averages more takedowns per 15 minutes while landing them at a higher rate. But with Pyfer’s 60 percent takedown defense, he should be able to combat that.
Magomedov has faced tough competition, but not someone as aggressive from the start of the contest as Pyfer is. Since Pyfer has won 11 of 12 fights by finish, I’m backing him to beat Magomedov by KO/TKO/DQ or submission at -115.
