Following much ado over UFC 311, what do mixed martial arts fanatics have to look forward to afterward? A super intriguing fight card at UFC Saudi Arabia.
That’s right: The Ultimate Fighting Championship is headed back to Saudi Arabia. Not only that, but this event marks the 250th UFC Fight Night overall. To commemorate the milestone, The Company has assembled a handful of juicy matchups. We aren’t just talking about the headliner between Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov, either. The co-main event featuring Shara Magomedov and Michael Page is just as tantalizing.
- What: UFC Saudi Arabia (UFC Fight Night 250)
- When: Saturday, February 1, 2025
- Start Time: 7 p.m. EST (preliminary bouts), 10 p.m. EST (main card)
- Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Venue: anb Arena
- Where to Watch: ESPN+ (subscription required)
- Main Event: Israel Adesanya vs Nassourdine Imavov
Magomedov enters UFC Saudi Arabia with a perfect 15-0-0 overall record. His last fight came during UFC 308, back in October, against Armen Petrosyan. He ended up securing the victory by KO/TKO in Round 2 with a spinning back fist.
Page, meanwhile, comes to UFC Saudi Arabia with a stellar 22-3-0 lifetime record. He last stepped inside the octagon at UFC 303, back in June 2024, where he faced Ian Machdo Garry. Page wound up dropping that fight by unanimous decision, despite juuuust winning the striking battle.
Despite extensive experience inside the octagon, neither Magomedov nor Page has a particularly extensive UFC resume. Magomedov is appearing in his fifth fight with The Company. For Page, this will be just his third.
UFC Saudi Arabia Co-Main Event: Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page Betting Lines
Given the relative short track records of both fighters, many assume the online UFC betting odds in the lead-up to the Saudi Arabia showcase will lack a decided favorite. As you can see below, this is not quite the case:
Like always, please remember to double-check these UFC Saudi Arabia betting odds right up until you actually submit your wager. Our UFC Saudi Arabia betting lines are accurate entering Friday, January 17. This gives the best online UFC betting sites more than two weeks to make adjustments ahead of the opening bell.
As ever, any premier fight night following a pay-per-view event like UFC 311 is subject to significant shifts immediately afterward. So, if you decide to place your wagers anytime after January 17, you will definitely want to monitor the Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page betting lines for noticeable movement.
In the meantime, all of the top sports betting apps in the United States are currently billing the undefeated Magomedov as a semi-comfortable favorite. Is this the right call? Let’s explore.
The Case for Shara Magomedov to Beat Michael Page
They do not call Shara Magomedov “Bullet” for nothing. The 30-year-old fights at warp speed, possessing agility that belies the length of his limbs. (He has a 73-inch reach.)
Entering UFC Saudi Arabia, Magomedov is connecting on 6.82 significant strikes per minute at a 65 percent clip, dimensions above The Company’s average. While these numbers come on a modest sample, they have held up against stiffer competition. Magomedov is working off victories over Petrosyan and Michal Oleksiejczuk, two of the tougher strikers in this division.
Now, this speed can come at a cost. Magomedov also withstands a bunch of blows. Opponents are landing 4.49 significant strikes per minute, and their accuracy rate on these attempts is 58 percent. That type of vertical defense won’t fly forever.
Then again, the pace of Magomedov’s fights are so fast, the per-minute numbers are an occupational hazard. And since he has yet to be knocked out—or suffer a submission—it’s worth trusting in this brand of stamina.
The Case for Michael Page to Beat Shara Magomedov
Michael “Venom” Page, affectionately known as MVP, came to the UFC as a renowned striker. Through his first couple of matches, he has not exactly lived up to the billing. The 37-year-old is landing just 2.38 significant strikes per minute through his first two matches.
Of course, Page has proven to be incredibly accurate when throwing down. He is landing 65 percent of significant strikes. Granted, this comes on a small sample, but it is levels above the UFC average of 47 percent.
Strong defense against opposing strikes and ground games also afford Page a larger margin for error than most others. On top of that, a shoddy wrestling repertoire has ranked among his most prominent criticisms. Apparently, he’s working on that. Videos have surfaced of him delivering submissions on the mat. If he is going to bust out more grappling and ground-game techniques, it will be the type of functional diversification that we have yet to see from Magomedov himself.
UFC Saudi Arabia Picks for Magomedov vs Page
Truthfully, we were a little surprised to see that Michael Page was not favored to beat Shara Magomedov. Mostly because we are going to pick him to secure the victory.
Some have speculated that fighting in the middleweight division, with a few extra pounds on his frame, will slow down Page to a detriment. If that is the case, we may need to recalibrate.
But if Page is even operating at 85 percent of the speed he has displayed previously, we see him putting an end to Magomedov’s unbeaten streak.
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