Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight strikers Joe Pyfer vs. Abus Magomedov will go to war this weekend (Sat., Oct. 4, 2025) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC 320.
For a brief moment, Pyfer was on a rocket ship to title contention. He began his UFC run with three straight thunderous finishes, but Jack Hermansson exposed his inexperience in Pyfer’s first main event slot. Since then, Pyfer has rebounded with a pair of solid wins, though he has yet to rebuild that same initial
momentum. Magomedov, conversely, suffered two difficult losses to two excellent contenders in Sean Strickland and Caio Borralho that really slowed his role. Three straight victories since then has proven that Magomedov is indeed a rather good Middleweight that shouldn’t be overlooked, particularly since he seems to have improved on previous cardio issues.
Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:
Pyfer vs. Magomedov Betting Odds
- Joe Pyfer victory: -220
- Joe Pyfer via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
- Joe Pyfer via submission: TBD
- Joe Pyfer via decision: TBD
- Abus Magomedov victory: +180
- Abus Magomedov via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
- Abus Magomedov via submission: TBD
- Abus Magomedov via decision: TBD
- Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
How Pyfer Wins
Pyfer is an absolute powerhouse. His boxing isn’t anything overly complicated, but he throws short combinations with ripping power in both hands. He’s a decent kicker as well, using the threat of his power punches to hide his kicks. So far, his takedown defense has held up well.
There are similarities between both athletes here. The duo are both larger Middleweights, known for their quick finishes and occasional fatigue as fights wear long. The primary difference, however, is that Pyfer likes to do his work with his hands, whereas Magomedov is an explosive kicker. Distance will be key, as Pyfer doesn’t want to be getting blasted while his punches come up short.
As always, pressuring the kicker is a good idea. Given Magomedov’s history of gassing, hitting him in the body while pressing would be smart also. If Pyfer is advance through Magomedov’s kicks and making him work, the Russian fighter is likely to slow and grow more vulnerable to Pyfer’s planted punches.
How Magomedov Wins
Magomedov is a great athlete with some serious skills in the stand up and on the canvas. 22 of his 28 victories came via finish, and most of those stoppages happened quickly. If he can manage the gas tank, Magomedov has the skills of a ranked fighter.
In this match up, Magomedov has to really punish Pyfer with kicks. His front kick is among his best weapons, and that should be a useful tool in keeping Pyfer off him. If he can start poking Pyfer in the belly early, the boxer will be less motivated to advance through the fire. In addition, Magomedov should take a page from Jack Hermansson’s book. “The Joker” did great work in using the step-up outside low kick to gain an angle and circle off the cage.
The other interesting angle for Magomedov would be to turn to his wrestling. If Pyfer is eager to close distance and starts swinging wide, the reactive double is a reasonable option for Magomedov. Ideally, Magomedov can use his kicks and takedowns to avoid the pocket entirely, always remaining too far or too close for Pyfer to let his combos fly.
Pyfer vs. Magomedov Prediction
This is a really interesting challenge for Pyfer in that Magomedov can likely match his size and strength. Pyfer is accustomed to holding a major physical edge over most opponents, and we might see him a little baffled at meeting a similarly big and strong Middleweight. There’s a real chance Magomedov’s deeper skill set and greater fight experience combine with his own physicality to help him outwork “Bodybagz.”
The problem is I don’t trust Magomedov. I don’t trust his cardio, nor do I trust his ability to shrug off many Pyfer blows. The knife cuts both ways, meaning Magomedov won’t be able to easily wrestle an athletic and large Middleweight like Pyfer when he starts to fatigue. Running around and kicking for a full 15 minutes is very challenging at the best of times, and it feels more likely that Pyfer starts finding the pocket and scoring the better connections.
