Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images. Pictured: Alessio Di Chirico and Abdul Razak Alhassan.
Alessio Di Chirico vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan Odds
| Di Chirico Odds | -255 |
| Alhassan Odds | +205 |
| Over/Under | 2.5 (-120/-110) |
| Venue | UFC Apex |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| Channel | ESPN+ |
| Odds as of Friday night and via DraftKings. | |
The featured prelim bout between Alessio Di Chirico and Abdul Razak Alhassan should be one of the more entertaining on the card. The Italian-born Di Chirico is 4-5 in his UFC career but is coming off of a huge win over Joaquin Buckley.
Alhassan was once on his way to UFC stardom. Three losses later and now his back is against the wall. He needs to win this fight if he wants to save his career from its current downward spiral.
Tale of the Tape
| Di Chirico | Alhassan | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 13-5 | 10-4 |
| Avg. Fight Time | 11:18 | 6:18 |
| Height | 6’0″ | 5’10” |
| Weight (pounds) | 185 lbs. | 185 lbs. |
| Reach (inches) | 74″ | 73″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Date of birth | 12/12/1989 | 8/11/1985 |
| Sig Strikes Per Min | 3.30 | 3.71 |
| SS Accuracy | 41% | 47% |
| SS Absorbed Per Min | 3.24 | 4.24 |
| SS Defense | 62% | 53% |
| Take Down Avg | 1.62 | 0.53 |
| TD Acc | 45% | 28% |
| TD Def | 83% | 55% |
| Submission Avg | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Alhassan was knocking everyone out in the first round; that was before Omari Akhmedov found out that he can’t stop takedowns. Since then, Alhassan has not shown any ability to defend takedowns and grapple.
Interestingly, Alhassan has switched camps and moved to Team Elevation in Denver. This is a major change after Team Elevation won MMA Junkie’s 2020 team of the year. Moreover, they have top-tier talent at the gym like Neil Magny, Robbie Lawler, Justin Gaethje and many more.
That kind of competition at a gym like that is a major step in the right direction. Theoretically, Alhassan should show significant improvements in his takedown defense and cardio. Training in the thin air of Colorado is exhausting but should provide an edge in the cardio department.
Di Chirico profiles as a solid all-around fighter. He averages 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes and has solid striking output in terms of volume. He has lost three of his last four, but those losses were against some of the better fighters in the division.
Alessio has not attempted a submission in the UFC but does have four in his career in other promotions. A submission win for Di Chirico is on the table here if Alhassan has not improved his grappling defense.
Di Chirico vs. Alhassan Pick
This is a make-or-break fight for Alhassan — he needs to win on Saturday. His move to Team Elevation is a step in the right direction.
"I'm really hungry for a win. It's been a bad streak right now."
Abdul Razak Alhassan (@JudoRazak) discusses how #UFCVegas35 is a fresh start and the perfect opportunity to bounce back 🔊⬆️ pic.twitter.com/pfW9UdlbZT
— UFC News (@UFCNews) August 26, 2021
It could be foolish to expect massive improvements with a camp change. However, even a slight improvement in takedown defense would totally change the outcome in this fight. I would expect Alhassan to land heavy shots during the stand-up exchanges.
Furthermore, we have seen Di Chirico get rocked and dropped in the past. Granted this was at the end of the third round.
Interestingly, Di Chirico has only ended as a favorite in the UFC twice in his professional career. In this fight, he opened at -155 but has ballooned to -225 on some sites.
Alhassan as a 2:1 underdog is a value that I cannot pass up. His KO prop is +330 on DraftKings. I much prefer the moneyline here as Alhassan has teased a different strategy in this fight.
DraftKings is offering a fight parlay on Alhassan to win in Rounds 1-2 at +380. That’s worth half a unit to me but I prefer to bet his moneyline. I would bet his moneyline down to +175. Whoever wins this fight will likely look like a -1000 favorite in there by the end.
The Pick: Abdul Razak Alhassan ML +205 | To Win In Rounds 1-2 +380 at DraftKings
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