Preview: UFC 279 Prelims

Middleweights

Jamie Pickett (13-7, 2-3 UFC) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (9-6, 0-1 UFC)

ODDS: Pickett (-130), Tiuliulin (+110)

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Pickett has been at this long enough that he is unlikely to change, but he remains a frustrating talent. “The Nightwolf” has plenty of physical tools, but his hesitancy to pull the trigger really holds him back. It is telling that his 2020 bout on Dana White’s Contender Series—Pickett’s third attempt at earning a contract—did not seem to be going much of anywhere until Pickett suddenly sprang into action and scored a knockout shortly thereafter. In the UFC, Pickett has mostly returned to maintaining a slow pace, with the lone exception being his fight against Jordan Wright, a fight during which he quickly got knocked out, likely sending him back into his shell for his next few bouts. Pickett has won two out of three since, mostly on the back of his physical tools and ability to grind out a victory, so it will be up to Tiuliulin to bring some excitement to this affair. The Russian should be game. Nothing about his pre-UFC record suggested he was worthy of his late-notice signing in March, but he is at least willing to throw down, as evidenced by his debut loss to Aliaskhab Khizriev, which saw Tiuliulin give it a game effort. With that said, Pickett is durable and Tiuliulin only has about one round of potent offense in him, so this seems like a fight where the North Carolina native should be able to survive and grind out another ugly win. The pick is Pickett via decision.

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