Undefeated heavyweight newcomers collide on Saturday night, as Javad Mahjoub faces Joel Faglier at UFC Fight Night: Buckley vs. Malott in Edmonton, Canada.
Mahjoub (5–0) makes his first Octagon walk after submitting Pietro Gentile in the first round of a Unified MMA bout in February. Faglier (6–0) heads up North after a unanimous-decision win over Cody Easy under the Fury FC banner in February.
Faglier enters as a -120 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Mahjoub is a +100 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
Javad Mahjoub vs. Joel Faglier Fight Preview
Javad Mahjoub
- 5–0 (UFC Debut)
- 3–0 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
Two-time Olympic judoka Javad Mahjoub has parlayed his grappling skills into a successful MMA foray. The Iranian heavyweight, representing Canada, is built like an absolute tank; though he’s not much of a threat on the feet, he pairs explosive wrestling with devastating ground-and-pound. He heads into his UFC debut fresh off a first-round submission victory on Unified MMA, Canada’s top promotion, based right here in Edmonton. At 35, he’ll be eager to make a strong first impression, with hopes of launching a late-career title run.
Joel Faglier
- 6–0 (UFC Debut)
- 2–0 (T)KO
- 3–0 SUB
Meanwhile, Joel Faglier has all the time in the world as he makes his first trip to the Octagon at 25. He’s coming off an impressive run in Fury FC, a leading pipeline promotion for the UFC, which helped launch the careers of stars like Joshua Van and Diego Lopes. Falgier brings formidable grappling of his own, though he may be outmatched on the ground by fellow newcomer Javad Mahjoub. What he does have is superior striking; “The Sniper” is light on his feet and can chop opponents down with lethal leg kicks.
Javad Mahjoub vs. Joel Faglier Pick, Best Bet
Javad Mahjoub and Joel Faglier will make their UFC debuts with distinct skill sets: the former has an edge on the ground, and the latter is more capable on the feet. That said, both of their backgrounds are rooted in grappling, and wrestling exchanges could delay a potential finish. Each fighter has gone to a decision within their last two fights; with a dash of Octagon jitters, Saturday’s heavyweight clash should go past 1.5 rounds.
