Mehdi Baydulaev vs Marcos Rodrigues Prediction
⚡️ Last season's ACA Grand Prix bantamweight champion, Mehdi Baidulaev, is moving up to the featherweight division. He is set to face Brazilian fighter Marcos Rodrigues. This bout will take place at the ACA 189 mixed martial arts event, scheduled for July 11 in Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic. What can we expect from this upcoming clash? Find out in Scores24's prediction!
H2H Stats Fights and Previous Results
Mehdi Baydulaev Player Overview
Last year, Baidulaev clinched the Grand Prix in the bantamweight division by submitting Magomed Bibulatov in the first round. This victory extended Mehdi's winning streak to 12 fights. In February, he was slated to fight for the title against Pavel Vitruk at ACA 184. However, Baidulaev withdrew from the bout due to weight issues. Given that this wasn't the first time the Russian fighter struggled with making weight, the promotion's management decided to prohibit him from competing at 61 kg and moved him up to the featherweight division.
Baidulaev's professional MMA record stands at 18-2. He is currently 29 years old and began his journey in ACA (formerly ACB) exactly 10 years ago.
Match Results: Mehdi Baydulaev
Marcos Rodrigues Player Overview
Rodriguez is 38 years old. His professional mixed martial arts record stands at 21 wins and 8 losses. The Brazilian fighter joined ACA three years ago. In his most recent bout this February, Marcos was defeated by Alihan Suleymanov via submission in the first round.
Unlike Baydulaev, Rodriguez has already passed his peak. His career is now gradually winding down. In his last three fights, the South American has suffered two losses. There's a possibility that after a defeat to Baydulaev, the veteran could be released from ACA, especially given the fierce competition in the featherweight division.
Match Results: Marcos Rodrigues
Editorial Prediction
Realistically, Rodriguez stands little chance in the upcoming bout. It's not just about age, decline, or technical disparity; the key factor is Baidulaev's style. The Russian fighter, known for his impressive takedowns and high-level BJJ, poses a significant challenge for Marcos, who struggles with takedown defense.
We anticipate that Baidulaev won't waste any time in this fight. Considering he has secured 10 of his 18 victories via submission and his last three fights have seen two first-round finishes, betting on total rounds under 1.5 seems like a smart choice.
