UFC 288: Evloev vs Lopes 05/06/2023 – Movsar Evloev stakes his unblemished record against Brazilian UFC debutant Diego Lopes in a three-round featherweight contest on Saturday, May 6, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The fight is part of the UFC 288 main card that features a UFC bantamweight title clash between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo. Evloev last fought in the UFC almost 11 months ago when he won a unanimous decision verdict over Dan Ige. On the other hand, Lopes will make his first fight in the UFC after spending more than 10 years in independent circuits. Online sports picks give the Russian slight edge in betting odds thanks in part to his unbeaten record and his dominance in the octagon.
UFC 288: Evloev vs Lopes 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: Evloev vs Lopes 05/06/2023 Odds
| Fighter | Odds | Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movsar Evloev | -900 | Diego Lopes | +575 |
Main Card
Movsar Evloev
Movsar Evloev (16-0, 6-0 UFC) has taken the UFC scene by storm after dominating the M-1 Global promotion in Russia where he won and defended the bantamweight championship two times. The Sunzha-born fighter has six straight decision wins in the UFC against the likes of Seung Woo Choi, Nik Lentz and Dan Ige. His cardio and wrestling skills are world class that he has used them in dominating his foes en route to acing his assignments in the octagon. Evloev has nine decision and seven stoppage (three knockouts and four submissions) victories in his MMA career and he is looking to secure another one against Lopes.
Diego Lopes
Diego Lopes (20-5) will have his hands full in his UFC debut as he fights the unbeaten Evloev. The Manaus native has been impressive in his fights outside the UFC as he has racked up 20 wins. He had an opportunity to get a UFC contract outright when he appeared in the Dana White’s Contender Series on August 31, 2021. However, he succumbed to Joanderson Brito via technical decision. Despite the loss, Lopes was given an opportunity to fight in the UFC after the withdrawal of Bryce Mitchell. Lopes has stopped 18 of his opponents, with seven coming by knockout and 11 by submission. Expect him to shoot and take down Evloev in order for him to maximize hit mat skills and possibly submit him.
Evloev vs Lopes Betting Numbers
| Record | 16-0-0 | 20-5-0 |
| Last Fight | Win | Win |
| Country | Russia | Brazil |
| Height | 5’8″ | 5’11” |
| Weight (lbs) | 145 | 145 |
| Reach (in) | N/A | N/A |
| Win by KO/TKO | 19% | 35% |
| Win by Submission | 25% | 55% |
| Decisions | 56% | 10% |
| Strikes landed per minute | N/A | N/A |
| Striking accuracy | N/A | N/A |
| Striking absorbed per minute | N/A | N/A |
| Striking defense | N/A | N/A |
| Takedown average | N/A | N/A |
| Takedown accuracy | N/A | N/A |
| Takedown defense | N/A | N/A |
| Submission average | N/A | N/A |
Movsar Evloev vs Diego Lopes Betting Picks
Evloev and Lopes are up and coming fighters who seek to climb the featherweight ladder by winning the marquee matches slated for them. The fight will be important for them as it would test their readiness for bigger fights in the future and possibly a crack at the world title. Initial UFC odds favor the Russian because of his unbeaten record and his world-class mat skills, but do not count out Lopes who has also been sensational in the ground as evidenced by his nine submission wins. It will be an exciting battle on the ground as both fighters are expected to grapple their way to victory in this three-round encounter.
