Preview: UFC 267 Prelims

Featherweights

NR | Zubaira Tukhugov (19-5-1, 4-2-1 UFC) vs. NR | Ricardo Ramos (15-3, 6-2 UFC)

ODDS: Tukhugov (-160), Ramos (+140)

Tukhugov is still probably best known for his involvement in the melee after Khabib Nurmagomedov-Conor McGregor at UFC 229, but the Russian is a talented if frustrating prospect. Like many of his brethren, Tukhugov comes from a combat sambo background, but the “Warrior” fights against type; he is not much of a grinder but instead makes his hay as a range sniper. Tukhugov is an upper-tier athlete capable of blasting his opponents with sudden moments of violence, but his overall approach is a bit of a mess. There does not seem to be much thought put towards what offense Tukhugov decides to throw, and he is willing to coast through long stretches of inactivity. His UFC record paints a clear picture: Of his seven fights inside the Octagon, two are first-round knockouts and four are split decisions. After dropping one of those split decisions to Hakeem Dawodu, Tukhugov looks to rebound here against Brazil’s Ramos. There is a lot to like about Ramos. He has a long frame that he puts to good use as a creative striker; plus, he has some venomous grappling and a willingness to push a pace. Despite winning five of his seven UFC bouts, his overall game feels like less than the sum of its parts. Ramos does not utilize much defense, so he tends to let his opponents into his fights more than he should, and after a surprise stoppage loss to Lerone Murphy in July 2020, there has to be some questions about his durability. Tukhugov’s approach does not breed confidence, but he has enough skill and horsepower to be able to overwhelm Ramos in most aspects of this fight. Even if Ramos finds some success on the feet, Tukhugov has shown the ability to break out his wrestling and control his fights as an escape hatch. If Tukhugov shocks Ramos, it is likely to come early. The pick is Tukhugov via first-round stoppage.

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