Rising middleweight prospect Mansur Abdul-Malik returns to the Octagon on Saturday night, taking on beleaguered veteran Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry in Philadelphia.
Abdul-Malik (9–1–1, 3–1–1 UFC) will look to rebound from his first professional loss, a third-round TKO at the hands of Yousri Belgaroui in March. Stoltzfus (16–8, 3–7 UFC) aims to get back in the win column after dropping back-to-back decisions, most recently against Kelvin Gastelum last September.
Abdul-Malik enters as a heavy -650 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Stoltzfus is a +470 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Abdul-Malik vs. Stoltzfus Preview
Mansur Abdul-Malik
- 9–1–1 (3–1–1 UFC)
- 7–1 (T)KO
- 2–0 SUB
Mansur Abdul-Malik is looking to put his first professional loss in the rearview mirror on Saturday night. Earlier this year, he was on the receiving end of a masterclass from seasoned veteran Yousri Belgaroui, who secured a third-round TKO victory.
Still, the 28-year-old Abdul-Malik remains a dangerous presence at 185 pounds. He boasts a 100 percent finish rate, top-tier athleticism, and a lethal ground game; before the Belgaroui loss, he submitted Antonio Trocoli in just 69 seconds. He now enters Saturday night with a favorable matchup — an opportunity to remind the world of his immense potential.
Dustin Stoltzfus
- 16–8 (3–7 UFC)
- 3–2 (T)KO
- 6–2 SUB
It’s likely that Dustin Stoltzfus is fighting for his UFC future on Saturday night. At 34, he’s dropped seven of his 10 bouts inside the Octagon — getting stopped both on the feet and on the ground.
The Dana White’s Contender Series graduate has constantly been stymied by pressure, not only extremely hittable but also saddled with a 46 percent takedown defense. He heads into Philadelphia with four losses in his last six bouts and in desperate need of a win that justifies his presence within MMA’s top promotion.
Abdul-Malik vs. Stoltzfus Pick, Best Bet
While Abdul-Malik still needs to prove himself against top-level competition, Stoltzfus is far from it. The rising prospect enters Saturday night with a golden opportunity — a layup — to reenter the win column against a fading veteran who has yet to prove himself at the UFC level. Abdul-Malik should lean on his dominant wrestling, along with a considerable size advantage, to overwhelm Stoltzfus and preserve his 100 percent finish rate.
