UFC 288: Nzechukwu vs Clark 05/06/2023 – Kennedy Nzechukwu and Devin Clark lock horns in a three-round light heavyweight tussle on Saturday, May 6, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The match is part of the UFC 288 preliminary card that features the UFC bantamweight title clash between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo. Nzechukwu is coming off a technical knockout win over Ion Cutelaba in November 2022 while Clark decisioned Da Woon Jung three months ago. Online MMA fight picks are in favor of Nzechukwu in this match although Clark has proven that he can deliver in big fights like these.
UFC 288: Nzechukwu vs Clark 05/06/2023
| When: | Saturday, May 6, 10:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | UFC Fight Pass |
UFC 288: Nzechukwu vs Clark 05/06/2023 Odds
| Fighter | Odds | Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Nzechukwu | -176 | Devin Clark | +162 |
Main Card
Kennedy Nzechukwu
Kennedy Nzechukwu (11-3, 5-3 UFC) is on a two-fight winning streak and he looks to extend his run to three when he fights Clark. In his last fight, the Nigerian was able to overcome Ion Cutelaba’s attack and punished his Moldovan foe with a flying knee that dropped him to the canvas. He continued striking his opponent until the referee stopped the fight. That was the eighth knockout win for Nzechukwu, who has an excellent striking rate of 4.63 significant strikes per minute. The Nigerian is likely to use his five-inch height advantage against Clark to set up his strikes and dominate the match. His takedown defense is noteworthy as he was able to stop 80% of his opponent’s attempts to drop him to the mat.
Devin Clark
Devin Clark (14-7, 8-7 UFC) has fought the likes of Cutelaba, Anthony Smith, Ryan Spann and former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in the octagon and has put up a good account of himself. He has wins over Alonzo Menifield, William Knight and Jung. The American is a known grappler, who averages 2.36 takedowns per 15 minutes and has a takedown percentage of 59%. In terms of striking, Clark has landed 2.91 significant strikes per minute and has an accuracy rate of 55%. He will have a good chance of winning against Nzechukwu if uses his grappling skills to dismantle the Nigerian’s vertical base.
Nzechukwu vs Clark Betting Numbers
| Record | 6-1-0 | 11-4-0 |
| Last Fight | Win | Win |
| Country | USA | USA |
| Height | 6’5″ | 6’0″ |
| Weight (lbs) | 205 | 205 |
| Reach (in) | 82″ | 74″ |
| Win by KO/TKO | 73% | 29% |
| Win by Submission | 0% | 7% |
| Decisions | 27% | 64% |
| Strikes landed per minute | 5.17 | 3.28 |
| Striking accuracy | 39% | 54% |
| Striking absorbed per minute | 3.53 | 2.85 |
| Striking defense | 56% | 41% |
| Takedown average | 0 | 2.92 |
| Takedown accuracy | N/A | 37% |
| Takedown defense | 86% | 77% |
| Submission average | 0 | 0.19 |
Nzechukwu vs Clark Betting Picks
Nzechukwu and Clark is expected to have an action-packed match due to their varying styles, sports oddsmakers who focus on the MMA fight scene have predicted. The Nigerian will likely use his striking ability to gain distance and prevent any takedown attempts from Clark. The American, on the other hand, would probably test the Nzechukwu’s takedown defense as he is said to be proficient on it at 80%. Nzechukwu is favored in this encounter due to his knockout skills but do not sleep on Clark, who is also capable of beating his latest foe if he maximizes his grappling skills and take down the Nigerian.
