Vinicius Oliveira will face a Nurmagomedov, but not the one he expected. The bantamweight prospect will face Said Nurmagomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia, scheduled for February 2. Oliveira, who had been pushing for a fight with Umar Nurmagomedov, earned his second victory in the Octagon thanks to a dominant unanimous decision over Ricky Simon during the early prelims of UFC 303. With an 11-1 record in his last twelve fights, he will now be looking forward to adding another major win to his resume.

However, it won’t be an easy task. Said Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, is coming off a 7-2 promotional record with a 73-second submission over Muin Gafurov at UFC 294. The lethal Dagestani has finished five of his seven UFC wins. Who will win this competitive fight? Well, let’s try to find out the answer by comparing their records, statistics, and more.

Nurmagomedov vs. Oliveira head-to-head record and stats comparison

Said Nurmagomedov’s 18-3-0 record makes him a fierce contender in the Bantamweight division. At 5’8″ tall, and weighing 135 pounds, he boasts a reach of 70″. The Russian fighter possesses a broad skill set too. His orthodox posture and ability to mix up his striking and submission game have earned him multiple wins, including significant ones over Douglas Silva de Andrade and Muin Gafurov.

Nurmagomedov’s statistics highlight this striking and grappling ability. He averages 3.55 significant strikes per minute (SLpM) with a strike accuracy of 47% and absorbs 2.13 significant strikes per minute. He has a strike defense percentage of 57%, displaying his ability to avoid serious injury. He also excels at submissions, averaging 1.4 per 15 minutes, which is a significant advantage in his fighting style. His takedown defense is at 66%, which could be tested by Oliveira’s aggressive style.

On the other hand, Vinicius Oliveira enters this fight with a 21-3-0 record, a 5’9″ frame, and a reach of 70″. Oliveira is known for his striking pressure, averaging 5.87 meaningful strikes per minute while having a lower accuracy rate of 43%. His takedown defense is 68%, and he has a 60% takedown accuracy, offering him a variety of options for attacking his opponent.

Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira Prediction

Said Nurmagomedov has a slight edge over ‘LokDog’ in terms of defensive skill and submission attempts. His ability to avoid injury and capitalize on submission opportunities will be critical in this match. However, Vinicius Oliveira’s impressive striking ability would be an exciting challenge for Nurmagomedov. The main goal for him would be to remain calm under pressure.

The betting odds favor the 32-year-old, at -180 and Oliveira at +163. While Nurmagomedov is seen as the safer pick due to his diverse skill set, the 29-year-old’s striking may surprise many in this highly anticipated fight. On the rise in the UFC, and with his eyes set on getting UFC head honcho Dana White‘s top attention since his debut, ‘LokDog’ might get closer to a spot in the rankings of his division if he defeats Said Nurmagomedov.

After all, the 32-year-old was recently ranked in the top 15 among bantamweights. As a result, another win, his third in three fights in the organization, would put the Brazilian in line to face a higher-ranked opponent next. What do you think? Will Vinicius Oliveira be able to overcome the odds to get a spot in the rankings? Or will it be Said Nurmagomedov who lives up to the expectations? Let us know in the comments.