Nassourdine Imamov (+142) vs. (-168)
Weight Class: Middleweight (185 lbs)
Ian Heinisch will be looking to bounce back after a loss to Kelvin Gastelum his last go around. A loss to a fighter of that caliber is certainly nothing to sneeze at, however, and the longtime UFC middleweight has several notable wins to his name. Prior to the Gastelum fight, Heinisch secured a quick finish of Gerald Meerschaert.
Ian Heinisch can give any top middleweight issues on his best day. He was also having some success in the Gastelum fight, but he was being too flashly.
Stylistically, Heinisch is a solid wrestler. He works good double-leg takedowns and can rack up top control. He is also busy on the ground and looks to work ground-and-pound right away. If he sticks to this and doesn’t try to force a submission, he should have success here.
His striking is also game. He comes forward and has a wide range of strikes to go along with solid movement for the weight class. Again, simplicity should be the key here.
Ultimately, I think Heinisch at (-168) is a steal. His gas tank is there, he’s just lost to high caliber fighters in the later rounds. Imamov has suspect takedown defense, which could lead to trouble.
Ian Heinisch is usually a solid play when he’s fighting down the roster, and this should be no different. I really like the line at (-168) and will be playing it.
Prediction and play: Ian Heinisch moneyline (-168)
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