Blagoy Ivanov vs Augusto Sakai Predictions

Before Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns lock horns this Saturday in Jacksonville, Blagoy Ivanov and Augusto Sakai will add to the appetizer of that bout with a showdown of their own. These are two hulking monsters in the heavyweight division, each with a sinister motive to send the other to sleep. Read on for a preview of this fight below.

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Betting Preview for the Blagoy Ivanov vs. Augusto Sakai Heavyweight Bout at UFC Fight Night on May 30, 2020

Where: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville

When: Saturday, May 30, 2020

Odds: Blagoy Ivanov (-110) vs. Augusto Sakai (-120)

TV Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass

Betting on Blagoy Ivanov (-110)

MMA Record: 18-3-0, 1NC

Ivanov is aching to get back inside the octagon and return to his winning ways several months after tasting just his third defeat in his career. Back in November of last year, Ivanov had his two-fight win streak snapped in a loss to Derrick Lewis via split decision at UFC 244. Before that, Ivanov defeated Tai Tuivasa and Ben Rothwell, both via unanimous decisions. Ivanov has yet to completely show his power in the UFC, as he has not scored a knockout win in four fights since joining the organization. However, MMA fans know that Ivanov has the kind of power that can put an opponent to sleep. Ivanov has six wins via KO. The former World Series of Fighting Championship titleholder. That said, Ivanov also knows his way on the mat. He was six submission victories and a 62.5 percent takedown accuracy.

Betting on Augusto Sakai (-120)

MMA Record: 14-1-1

Sakai has been wreaking havoc for quite a stretch now. The Brazilian heavyweight has won all of his past five fights, with four opponents over that span getting knocked out. In his last fight, Sakai scored a knockout win over Marcin Tybura in September of last year, and it took him just 59 seconds to finish the match. Months before, he survived Andrei Arlovsky in a three-round split decision victory. Sakai is not going to be afraid to throw haymakers of his own if engaged in a standup war by Ivanov. Sakai owns a 77 percent KO/TKO percentage in the UFC and lands an average of 7.9 significant strikes per minute to just 3.56 by Ivanov. Furthermore, Sakai will enjoy a four-inch height and reach advantages. Sakai has 11 knockout wins with zero knockout losses.