UFC Fight Night 235 will be headlined by ranked Middleweights Roman Dolidze and Nassourdine Imavov. Both competitors in the weekend’s main event are legit contenders at 185 pounds. The UFC Middleweight title just changed hands when Dricus Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland last month. The Co-Main Event will be an interesting stylistic matchup between the power-punching Drew Dober and dangerous Jiu-Jitsu ace Renato Moicano. Dober has 15 wins by knockout and hasn’t been to a judge’s decision in the last two years. 10 of Moicano’s 17 professional wins have come by submission.
Also on the UFC Fight Night 235 card, 6-foot-3 Welterweight Randy Brown returns against Russian Sanda Champion Muslim Salikhov.
#8 Roman Dolidze (12-2) vs. #11 Nassourdine Imavov (12-4)
Xtreme Couture product Roman Dolidze is 4-1 in his last five fights with his only loss coming against title challenger Marvin Vettori. Nassourdine Imavov went the distance with former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland and is a promising prospect with a well-rounded skill set. Imavov holds notable wins over Joaquin Buckley and Edman Shahbazyan. At 35 years old, Dolidze is an impressive athlete whose last three wins all came by knockout. Currently, Imavov is a slight betting favorite at online sportsbooks (-170).
On the feet, Dolidze will have a power advantage, but the Georgian-born fighter has never been scheduled for five rounds in his career. Imavov has good cardio and may look to take the fight to the ground. Both fighters have a similar opponent in Phil Hawes. Imavov was defeated by Hawes in 2021, while Dolidze knocked Hawes out cold in their meeting a year later. If the fight goes the distance it favors Imavov, although Dolidze can end it with one shot.
Prediction: Roman Dolidze by KO/TKO
#13 Renato Moicano (17-5-1) vs. #15 Drew Dober (27-12)
Lightweight fan favorites collide in the Co-Main Event. The heavy-handed Drew Dober is 4-1 in his last five fights, with all of those wins coming by knockout. Dober’s lone loss came against Matt Frevola but he rebounded nicely with a first-round stoppage of Ricky Glenn in October. Moicano is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt who holds submission wins over Brad Riddell, Alexander Hernandez, and Jai Herbert. Right now Moicano is a betting favorite at online sportsbooks (-185).
If the fight stays on the feet Moicano may run into trouble. Moicano has never won a fight by knockout in his career and was finished by Chan Sung Jung, Jose Aldo, and Rafael Fiziev. If the fight hits the ground Dober will be at a disadvantage which makes this an interesting stylistic matchup.
Prediction: Renato Moicano by Decision
Randy Brown (17-5) vs. Muslim Salikhov (19-4)
UFC Fight Night 235 will also feature a welterweight matchup between Randy Brown and Muslim Salikhov. Brown has always been thought of as a fighter with massive potential, at 6’3 his length is elite for 170 pounds. Salikhov is a creative and explosive striker for a 39-year-old and is an Olympic Gold medalist in Sanda. Brown will look to utilize his athleticism from range. Salikhov has an aggressive style where he constantly moves forward. Brown is a significant favorite at online sportsbooks (-280).
Oddsmakers are favoring the youth and athleticism of Brown and so am I. Salikhov is a creative and dynamic striker who can catch opponents off guard with spinning attacks. Brown should be experienced enough to not get caught with a big shot and will enjoy an eight-inch advantage in reach.
Prediction: Randy Brown by Decision
UFC Fight Night 235 prelims:
The UFC Fight Night 235 Prelims have many names fight fans should look out for. Undefeated Russian Prospect Aliaskhav Khizriev (14-0) faces a major step up in competition when he faces Makhmud Muradov (26-8). Khizriev is an impressive grappler but his opponent has twice as many professional fights. Muradov has four losses by submission, so look for Khizriev to try and utilize his ground game.
Ultimate fighter alum Gilbert Urbina (7-3) fights on the prelims this weekend against Midwest Welterweight Charles Radtke (8-3). Urbina is six years younger (27 years old) and will have a three-inch advantage reach.
The UFC Fight Night 235 prelims begin at 3 p.m. CST. The Main Card Starts on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. CST.
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