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The UFC Vegas 114 Predominant Card continues within the Featherweight (145) Division as we bring you one other betting prediction and pick for this upcoming scrap. Marwan Rahiki of Morocco will tackle England’s Harry Hardwick as each fighters search for his or her first UFC win. Check our UFC odds series for the Rahiki-Hardwick prediction and pick.
Marwan Rahiki (7-0) will make his UFC debut following a successful Dana White’s Contender Series with a mixture knockout within the second round to earn a contract. Nicknamed “Freaky,” he’s finished all of his pro fights resulting in this debut and intends to do the identical because the betting favorite. Rahiki stands 5-foot-8 with a 72-inch reach.
Harry Hardwick (13-4-1) is trying to find his first UFC win following an unsuccessful debut against Kaue Fernandes. He was knocked out with a calf kick early, but intends on redeeming himself during this second outing and silencing a hyped prospect. Hardwick stands 5-foot-8 with a 71-inch reach.
UFC Vegas 114 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Vegas 114 Odds: Marwan Rahiki-Harry Hardwick Odds
Marwan Rahiki: -258
Harry Hardwick: +210
Over 1.5 rounds: -175
Under 1.5 rounds: +135
Why Marwan Rahiki Will Win
- Last Fight: (W) Ananias Mulumba – KO (knees to uppercut, R2)
- Last 5: 5-0
- Finishes: 6 KO/TKO, 1 SUB
Marwan Rahiki notched a devastating knockout during his DWCS audition, ending his opponent with a flurry of knees, elbows, and a final uppercut to seal the deal within the second round. He brought Dana White to his feet with a standing ovation for the performance as he quickly closed the gap and wasted no time in unloading his full arsenal of strikes. His elbows excessive were particularly violent and he showed extreme conviction in every strike he threw.
Rahiki’s short pro profession has been much of the identical as he’s been capable of finish all seven of his appearance throughout various promotions. Mixing in a submission as well, his grappling continues to enhance as he trains out of Lions Den in Sydney, Australia. Expect an identical approach to his last fight as he’ll waste no time in closing the gap, engaging Hardwick, and landing his heaviest strikes first to be able to force his opponent down early.
Rahiki is the rightful favorite during this debut and his odds needs to be a bit higher for my part. While Hardwick is a tough-nosed opponent, the ability and decisiveness of the strikes from Rahiki can be exponentially greater than what he saw during his last bout against Fernandes. Rahiki could make use of his leg kicks early to be able to open up Hardwick’s arm guard and striking defense.
Why Harry Hardwick Will Win
- Last Fight: (L) Kaue Fernandes – TKO (calf kick, R1)
- Last 5: 4-1
- Finishes: 3 KO/TKO, 4 SUB
Defending a Cage Warriors championship twice prior to his UFC arrival, Harry Hardwick wasn’t capable of showcase nearly as much of his skills as he would have liked to. The early, aggressive leg kicks from Kaue Fernandes immediately caught Hardwicks attention on the calf, ultimately resulting in a stoppage when he couldn’t put any weight on it. During this fight, the leg kicks can be behind his mind as he’ll should defend every aspect of his body when guessing against Rahiki.
Hardwick has championship experience on his side and although the extent of competition in Cage Warriors pales as compared to what he’ll see within the UFC, Hardwick knows what it takes to win a three-round fight with a balanced attack. He’s strong in closing the gap without getting hit and landing his jab effectively, but defense can be paramount against an aggressive opponent like Rahiki who’s more likely to start fast.
If Hardwick can weather the early storm, he should have the opportunity to have a second wind by the third round. From there, he can look to take Rahiki down and control from the highest while landing ground-and-pound and potentially searching for an unlikely submission to threaten his opponent.
Final Marwan Rahiki-Harry Hardwick Prediction & Pick
This fight being on the Predominant Card shows the extent of confidence the UFC has in Marwan Rahiki showcasing his skills and putting the remainder of the Featherweight Division on notice. He’s been nothing in need of electric through his first seven skilled fights and with a 100% ending rate, his style of performance is what lands a Predominant Event spot.
Harry Hardwick should have the opportunity to supply solid resistance throughout the early a part of this fight and will have a likelihood because the more seasoned veteran to weather the early storm and switch this fight in his direction throughout the later rounds.
Nevertheless, that is clearly a spot tailor-made to Marwan Rahiki’s skill set as he should have the opportunity to land significant strikes early and infrequently. Let’s roll with the debuting favorite Rahiki to finish this fight quickly and start his UFC run on a high note.
Final Marwan Rahiki-Harry Hardwick Prediction & Pick: Marwan Rahiki (-258); UNDER 1.5 Rounds (+135)