Flyweights collide on Saturday night, as the debuting Namsrai Batbayar faces Andre Lima at UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song in Shanghai, China.
Batbayar (10–1, 0–0 UFC) arrives on a six-fight winning streak, punctuated by three straight stoppage wins on Road to UFC. Lima (11–1, 4–1 UFC) looks to rebound from his first professional loss, a unanimous decision against Kevin Borjas in June.
Lima enters as a -258 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Batbayar is a +210 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Batbayar vs. Lima Preview
Namsrai Batbayar
- 10–1 (Debut)
- 5–0 (T)KO
- 5–1 SUB
Namsrai Batbayar scored a UFC contract in style, winning the Road to UFC 4 flyweight tournament with a first-round TKO win over Shuai Yin in May. The victory punctuated a six-fight surge for the “Steppe Warrior” heading into his Octagon debut.
Batbayar, 25, blends powerful striking with a dangerous jiu-jitsu base, boasting a 100 percent finish rate. On Saturday, the Mongolian contender looks to channel his momentum into an emphatic first impression on the sport’s biggest stage.
Andre Lima
- 11–1 (4–1 UFC)
- 5–0 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
Andre Lima seemingly has a lot to prove after suffering his first professional loss. Earlier this year, the previously undefeated Brazilian, 27, dropped an uninspired decision to the beleaguered Kevin Borjas, who was just 1–4 inside the Octagon.
While still a high-IQ kickboxer with strong takedown defense (75 percent), “Mascote” will undoubtedly need to amplify his output moving forward. He heads into Shanghai, eager to prove that he learned his lesson and resume his climb up the 125-pound ladder.
Batbayar vs. Lima Pick, Best Bet
Andre Lima enters Saturday night with a strong chance to get back in the win column against the debuting Namsrai Batbayar, entering with superior striking, sound defensive grappling, and an obvious edge in Octagon experience. Given the deflating nature of his last fight, “Mascote” is likely hungry not only to return to the win column — but also to prove that he’s more than just a point fighter. The Brazilian should bounce back in a big way with a stoppage victory in Shanghai.
