Final Combating Championship (UFC) Featherweight strikers Arnold Allen and Giga Chikadze will go to battle this weekend (Sat., July 27, 2024) at UFC 304 inside Co-Op Dwell in Manchester, England.
Allen went undefeated for seven years and 10 fights to begin his UFC profession, ascending into the highest of the title combine. Sadly, he’s since misplaced two aggressive selections to absolutely the cream of the crop, placing the English expertise in one thing of a must-win place if he’s to stay within the title combine. Chikadze can probably relate, as he additionally began his UFC profession sturdy with a seven-fight win streak. Calvin Kattar ended that momentum with a brutal beatdown, however the kickboxer has not less than rebounded already with a stable victory over the veteran Alex Caceres.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the betting odds and strategic keys for every athlete:
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Allen vs. Chikaedze Betting Odds
Arnold Allen victory: -250
Arnold Allen through TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
Arnold Allen through submission: TBD
Arnold Allen through resolution: TBD
Giga Chikadze victory: +205
Giga Chikadze through TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
Giga Chikadze through submission: TBD
Giga Chikadze through resolution: TBD
Odds through DraftKings Sportsbook
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How Allen Wins
Arnold Allen is among the slickest males at 145-pounds. He’s a rangy Southpaw with wonderful takedown protection and a punishing jab, and when he does flip up the strain and quantity, he’s definitely able to producing finishes.
It is a barely tough stylistic match up for Allen. Usually, we’ve seen numerous the English expertise shucking off takedowns, denying makes an attempt to shut vary, and choosing his opponents off from the surface. Towards a former skilled kickboxer in Chikadze, this bout will probably have the other dynamic, as he’ll need to make it a bit ugly and get his arms on the Georgian.
Fortuitously, Calvin Kattar did properly reveal a blueprint for good MMA fighters to beat up Chikadze even with out taking him down, which isn’t a go-to Allen technique. If “Almighty” takes a couple of pages from his guide by pressuring, countering kicks, and increasing mixtures into clinch work, he can probably replicate Kattar’s success and hold Chikadze on the protection.
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How Chikadze Wins
Chikadze was already a nasty kickboxer when he crossed into the Octagon, however he constructed up his takedown protection rapidly to earn a place within the rankings. He throws together and has one of many meanest left kicks within the enterprise, two components which have helped him rack up 9 wins through knockout.
All advised, it is a stable alternative for Chikadze, who will get to go toe-to-toe with a striker ranked above him. It actually turns into a query of distance and protection. He’s not nice within the pocket, so Chikadze has to maintain his toes shifting and ensure Allen is strolling via hearth earlier than Allen will get to his most popular boxing vary.
An attention-grabbing wrinkle to this match is that each are primarily Southpaw. Meaning Chikadze’s well-known liver kick can be a bit much less obtainable, however he’ll additionally be capable of extra simply goal the calf. Typically, Southpaws aren’t accustomed to have their lead leg chopped, so maybe an additional concentrate on the calf kick may gradual Allen and permit Chikadze the liberty to battle at distance.
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Allen vs. Chikadze Prediction
I see this battle as nearer to a decide ‘em than the betting odds suggest.
One of the vital troublesome issues to do in MMA is beat a specialist in the identical space that the extra typically expert fighter excels. Allen wins fights as a rule through placing, and he’s dealing with a longtime skilled kickboxer. As a result of Allen wins through kickboxing, his grappling expertise — although positively superior to Chikadze — are extra aimed in defending and countering takedowns. For instance, his favourite ninja choke, which is liable for each of his UFC tapout wins, is particularly utilized to counter head inside takedown makes an attempt, a method Chikadze will virtually definitely not try.
In brief, Chikadze largely will get to depend on his A recreation, his go-to strategy for many each MMA battle. Allen, conversely, is tasked with making vital changes to his strategy, which isn’t straightforward to do on the elite degree!
The query is whether or not Allen is expert and tactical sufficient to beat this problem. I feel he can handle it, largely as a result of 1) he has footage to review already re: Chikadze vs. Kattar and a pair of) he’s a part of a superb and strategic camp in Tristar MMA. He ought to be well-prepared for the problem Chikadze presents, and hopefully meaning he can make the most of all his expertise and never get caught in a kickboxing match.
Prediction: Arnold Allen victory (-250)
