Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov is on the main card for UFC 253 betting on Saturday, September 26. Oddsmakers are expecting a close battle between two fighters looking to crack the Top 15 of the featherweight division, as UFC odds have Tukhugov as a slim favorite at -122 while Dawodu is installed at +100.
We break down the UFC betting odds for this featherweight and give our best picks and predictions for Dawodu vs. Tukhugov at UFC 253.
Dawodu vs Tukhugov odds
| Method of Victory | Hakeem Dawodu | Zubaira Tukhugov |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | +100 | -122 |
| Win by KO/TKO | +460 | +500 |
| Win by points | +220 | +195 |
| Win by submission | +1,400 | +800 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel
Dawodu vs Tukhugov betting preview
"Mean" Hakeem Dawodu is on a four-fight winning streak, with his latest victory coming against Julio Arce last November. The Canadian has only suffered one defeat in his MMA career, a first-round submission loss against Danny Henry at his UFC debut in 2018.
The 29-year-old is a high-volume striker with surprising power for a fighter in the 145-pound weight class.
Zubaira Tukhugov is fresh off a TKO win over Kevin Aguilar in February. Prior to that, he had a draw against Lerone Murphy last September. Before that, he suffered a loss against Renato Moicano but that came all the way back in May 2016. Despite that long layoff, the 29-year-old has 24 career fights and made his professional debut at the age of 19.
Tukhugov is a well-rounded fighter that combines strong boxing with fantastic wrestling ability. The Russian does a good job of mixing up his striking to set up his takedown attempts and averages 2.88 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Dawodu vs Tukhugov tale of the tape
| Hakeem Dawodu | Zubaira Tukhugov | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Age | 29 |
| 5-foot-8 | Height | 5-foot-8 |
| 145 lbs | Weight | 145 lbs |
| 73.5 inches | Reach | 68 inches |
| 11-1-1 (7 KO) | Record | 19-4-1 (7 KO) |
Dawodu vs Tukhugov predictions and betting picks
PREDICTIONS: Dawodu to win +100 - Tukhugov's best chance of winning is by taking this fight to the ground as much as possible. But he won't have an easy time doing that against an active, high-paced fighter like Dawodu that has an impressive 85 percent takedown defense.
Tukhugov is a good striker but he can be a bit sloppy at times and Dawodu is next level when it comes to volume and technique. Although the sample size of five UFC fights is pretty small, Dawodu's average of 5.91 significant strikes landed per minute compared to his 2.19 strikes absorbed is absolutely bonkers.
Look for Dawodu to use his five-inch reach advantage and outstrike Tukhugov, picking up the victory.
