UFC Vegas 67 preview, ‘Strickland vs Imavov’ predictions

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is kicking off its 2023 fight campaign with a stitched together mixed martial arts (MMA) event taking place this Saturday night (Jan. 14) at the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event features a light heavyweight headliner between late replacement Sean Strickland and surging 185-pound prospect Nassourdine Imavov. Dan Ige will look to cement his place among the top 145-pounds contenders when he fights grizzled featherweight veteran Damon Jackson.

Sean Strickland takes on up-and-coming 185-pound prospect Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Vegas 67. Stricker is a solid wrestler with sneaky submissions and knockouts, but he can't close the show when it matters most. Imov is the larger combatant and coming off a full camp. He will be training for a different opponent until the eleventh hour. He has a better chin and wrestling-based offense. His last win was over Joaquin Buckley. The Parisian proved he belonged in UFC with his debut victory over Jordan Williams.

Dan Ige and Damon Jackson are going head-to-head in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 67. Iger has lost three straight and four of his last five fights. Jackson has a reputation for his submission game. He has scored 11 takedowns in his four fights, two of which he finished. He was dragged to the floor nine times by Movsar Evloev and three times by Chan Sung Jung.

Jackson will defeat Ige via submission. The ESPN+ preliminary card starts at 4 p.m. ET and the main card at 7 p.,m., ET.