UFC Vegas 6 at the Apex will feature the return of former middleweight king Chris Weidman as he takes on Omari Akhmedov, and for the first time Weidman will not have a ranking next to his name. Perhaps a relief of pressure, Weidman intends to employ his elite wrestling prowess to dismantle Akhmedov.
The clash of credentials will be highly intriguing as Akhmedov is a International Master of Sport in Combat Sambo. Consequently, Khabib Nurmagomedov also holds this recognition and clearly the set of skills required for such an accomplishment is met by Olympic-like competition and skill. A scary position for the All American wrestler to be in, having gone 1-5 in his last six bouts.
In a recent digital UFC media day he admits to his back being against the wall. But he also signalled to all those listening of his continued title aspirations, and with a statement performance on Saturday he can re insert himself in the gauntlet of challengers awaiting the highly coveted title currently residing in New Zealand, held by Israel Adesanya who will soon defend his title once again against power house Paulo Costa.
Will Akhmedov’s Striking Hold Up To Weidman’s?
For Akhmedov his aggression will be key, both competitors have black belts and hopefully the fans are in for a treat in the grappling department. Both men are also excellent strikers with Akhmedov known for throwing wild flurries. Conversely, Weidman’s strikes are measured, presumably because he is used to fighting in five round fights.
Weidman is fundamentally a sound striker and most who watch his fights lately understand his main flaw: his chin. Will all the wars and damage from championship fights put a stamp on his career for good? On Saturday we find out if Akhmedov can utilise his Sambo skills and affirm himself as a contender in the middleweight division. Both men have a lot to gain from this bout: Weidman’s claim to relevancy in the middleweight ranks and Ahkmedov’s ability to push himself into the upper echelon of UFC calibre middleweights.
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