UFC Fight Night 235: Dolidze vs. Imavov odds, picks and predictions

In a 5-round middleweight bout in the main event, Roman Dolidze and Nassourdine Imavov meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 235 — also known as UFC on ESPN+ 93 and UFC Vegas 85 — at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC Fight Night 235: Dolidze vs. Imavov odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 4 p.m. ET, and can be viewed on ESPN+, while the main card starts at 7 p.m. ET, also on ESPN+.

Records: Dolidze (12-2-0) | Imavov (12-4-0)

The Georgian native Dolidze was topped by Marvin Vettori in a unanimous decision at UFC 286 in mid-March, snapping a 4-bout winning streak. He had 3 straight KO/TKO wins over Jack Hermansson, Phil Hawes and Kyle Daukaus prior to the loss. He has ended up going the distance in 4 of the past 7 bouts.

For Dolidze, submissions aren’t really part of his game any longer. He has 3 career wins via the method, but that hasn’t happened since his 1st 3 pro fights back in 2016-17. His fights will end via KO/TKO or a decision.

Imavov had a no contest against Chris Curtis at UFC 289 in an accidental head clash, and Curtis was unable to go on after being unable to see. Prior to that, he suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Sean Strickland in Jan. 2023. In his 6 other fights at the UFC outside of the no contest, Imavov has finished inside the distance just twice, both via KO/TKO wins in Round 2.

Dolidze has a 1-inch reach advantage, while Imavov holds a 4.55-to-3.02 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. The Frenchman Imavov also holds a 56.72% significant strikes accuracy advantage, to just 53.99% for Dolidze.

The Georgian challenger is a little better on ground, posting a 1.72 takedown average to 1.09 for the French fighter, and both fighters hold a 1.72 submission average, although again, it’s been a while for Dolidze.

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UFC Fight Night 235: Dolidze vs. Imavov odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:50 a.m. ET.

UFC Fight Night 235: Dolidze vs. Imavov picks and predictions

IMAVOV (-165) isn’t priced out of line if you just want to play him straight up on the 2-way line. It isn’t a bad play, as his past 2 fights have been a no contest against Curtis while falling to Strickland. There is no shame in the result of either of those fights. Prior to that, he had won 3 straight bouts, including a pair of KO/TKOs.

Dolidze (+135) is just the punching machine that Imavov is, and that will be the difference here.

If you don’t want to declare a winner but want action on the fight, playing KO/TKO/DQ (+100) at even-money for How Fight Will End is worth a look.

No (-210): Will fight go the distance? is a little on the pricey side, costing more than 2 times your potential return. There is no value there.

UNDER 3.5 ROUNDS (-125) is worth playing lightly, as again, we’re looking for a KO/TKO here. Dolidze has finished inside the distance in 3 of the past 4 fights, and he hasn’t been past 4:06 of Round 2 except for the loss to Vettori.