Livest Dog at UFN Albany: Saparbek Safarov

Name: Saparbek Safarov

Opponent: Gian Villante

Odds: +160 (bet $100 to win $160)

The fight night Albany card has been heavily snake-bit. There’s been drop out fights from injury, visa issues and the untimely death of Josh Samman. Safarov is one of the many fighters stepping onto the card as a replacement, which almost instantly installs him as an underdog. However, Villante is the type of fighter that goes by the “kill or be killed” mentality on the feet. Many of his wins are by KO – as are many of the losses. Safarov is no stranger to that mentality and no stranger to knocking people out. Six of his eight wins have come by knockout (the other two of which were by submission). It’s never a bad idea to pick an underdog that has a big puncher’s chance, and given that, this is a good fight to look at.