UFC Fight Night – Serghei Spivac vs Shamil Gaziev: Preview & Betting Tips
This Saturday, heavyweights collide as Serghei Spivac versus Shamil Gaziev at UFC Fight Night in Qatar.
Spivac (17-6) is the more experienced man, but he enters this bout on the back of two losses in a row, and perhaps his UFC career on the line. Spivac does have relentless pressure and carries finishing power in both hands.
Gaziev (14-1) comes into this contest with just five UFC fights previously under his belt, winning four of those, with his only loss coming against Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Three of those wins came inside the distance.
Tale of the Tape
Serghei Spivac – Odds 2.30 (Bet Victor)
Record: 17-6
Age: 30
Height: 6ft3
Reach: 78”
Weight: Heavyweight
Stance: Orthodox
Shamil Gaziev – Odds 1.61 (Bet Victor)
Record: 14-1
Age: 35
Height: 6ft4
Reach: 78”
Weight: Heavyweight
Stance: Orthodox
Serghei Spivac vs Shamil Gaziev: Analysis
Spivac is a fighter who generally fights with measured pressure. He can carry a lot of weight into the clinch, land heavy strikes from close range, and grind opponents down when he needs to.
In fights where his power lands early he can force an opponent to fight on his terms: close range, wrestling/clinch exchanges, and heavy strikes. Against less experienced foes, the key Spivac aims for is to remove space and turn the fight into a short-range fight where his heavier shots and control are effective.
Gaziev likely comes in with an aggressive game plan, he will use speed and urgency to tag the bigger man, mix strikes to create openings, and either push for an early finish or avoid a long, physical grind. Less experience at the UFC level means he will try to use unpredictability and volume to keep the favourite honest. His path to victory is either a fast, clean finish before Spivac imposes himself or disciplined striking and footwork to frustrate pressure.
Spivac vs Gaziev: Prediction & Betting Tips
Spivac needs to use feints and his one-two power shots to open up finish opportunities. And Gaziev doesn’t really move his head off centre line so he should find success with it.
Gaziev will need to ensure he doesn’t get trapped on the fence or in the clinch. Keep movement and striking combinations, mix levels, and look to punish any overcommitment from Spivac.
With the more experienced man being the slight underdog in this one, I’m actually going to side with the Russian, despite him coming into this one with two straight losses. We’ve seen fighters like Marcin Tybura, Spivac, etc, in these sort of matchups before; where they face a newcomer to the top 10/15 in the division, and usually the more reputable names come through.
On that note, I’m taking Serghei Spivac moneyline at odds of 2.30 (Bet Victor).
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