The UFC is in St. Petersburg, Russia this weekend as local son Alexey Oleynik (57-11-1) will take on a good friend in Alistair Overeem (44-17-0) in the main event.
The two heavyweights will bring 130 fights worth of experience into the octagon. Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
MAIN CARD
KRZYSZTOF JOTKO (19-4-0) VS. ALEN AMEDOVSKI (8-0-0)
Andrews: Jotsko needs a win badly and it seems he has a winnable fight here, welcoming Amedovski to the octagon. Jotko has the experience factor but Alen has a 100% finish rate and at 31 years old, is not your average octagon rookie. Look for the upset here.
Andrews Prediction: Alen Amedovski via TKO
ROXANNE MODAFFERI (22-15-0) VS. ANTONIA SHEVCHENKO (7-0-0)
Andrews: A tatical fight, but I see “The Happy Warrior” overcoming some early trouble from Valentina’s sister.
Andrews Prediction: Roxanne Modafferi via UD
IVAN SHTYRKOV (15-0-1) VS. DEVIN CLARK (9-3-0)
Andrews: Going with the Hulk over the Bear. Hulk can get you on the ground or on the feet.
Andrews Prediction: Ivan Shtyrkov via TKO
SERGEI PAVLOVICH (12-1-0) VS. MARCELO GOLM (6-2-0)
Andrews: Tough fight to call, but I’m going with the finishing power of Pavlovich to overcome the finishing power of Golm.
Andrews Prediction: Sergei Pavlovich via TKO
ISLAM MAKHACHEV (16-1-0) VS. ARMAN TSRUKYAN (13-1-0)
Andrews: The octagon experience of Islam should help him prevail over the Russian youngster.
Andrews Prediction: Islam Makhachev via UD
MAIN EVENT
#7 ALISTAIR OVEREEM (44-17-0) VS. #9 ALEXEY OLEYNIK (57-11-1)
Andrews: Overeem may have underestimated a guy like Alexey in the past, but he knows him and has trained with him so I expect him to be ready. Oleynik always has a chance and if he can hurt Overeem with some strikes can then get the fight to the ground. But I have Overeem prepared to get the cautious UD win.
