The main event of the MMA fights tonight at the PFL regular season event in Chicago is this bout between former Bellator champion Andrey Koreshkov and 2024 welterweight favorite Magomed Umalatov.
Koreshkov vs Umalatov Picks
- Pick: Koreshkov +130.
Read more for the official Koreshkov vs Umalatov betting picks and predictions before you bet on MMA this weekend.
Koreshkov vs Umalatov Information
Andrey Koreshkov vs Magomed Umalatov
Location of the game: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Date & Time: April 19, 2024. 9:30 PM ET Main card start
Where to Watch: ESPN+ / ESPN 2
Last Fight Record
Koreshkov is coming off a split-decision victory over Lorenz Larkin last July at the Bellator x Rizin 2 event.
Umalatov is coming off a unanimous decision win over Nayib Lopez last July at PFL 6 in the 2023 season.
Koreshkov vs Umalatov Betting Analysis
Andrey Koreshkov
Koreshkov is a Russian mixed martial artist with a professional MMA record of 27-4, including 14 wins by TKO/KO and 4 wins by submission. He is a Master of Sports in ARB, and competed on a world level in Pankration as an amateur before starting his MMA career. He won season 7 and season 10 of the Bellator welterweight tournament, along with having the most wins in Bellator welterweight history with 16, on his way to becoming World Champion in 2015.
At 33 years old, Koreshkov stands 6’1″ tall and fights in the orthodox stance with a reach of 76 inches. This is his PFL debut after Bellator was absorbed by the company, leaving a legacy of being arguably the best welterweight in Bellator history. He has one successful title defense and has the most bouts in Bellator welterweight history with 19.He is also tied with the great Douglas Lima and Michael Page for most knockouts in Bellator welterweight history (8). The amount of KOs is an important stat to include while forming the Andrey Koreshkov betting strategy.
Magomed Umalatov
Umalatov is a Russian mixed martial artist with a professional MMA record of 14-0, including 11 TKO/K) victories and 1 submission under his belt at the age of 32. The Dagestan native now trains in Coconut Creek, Florida at American Top Team–arguably the best MMA gym in the world.
At 6’1″ tall and fighting in the orthodox stance, Umalatov boasts a reach of 75 inches. In 2023, Umalatov landed 63 of his 119 total strikes on the ground. He scored two takedowns and was dominant from that point on. Magomed also took advantage of his leg kicks, landing 19 of 31 in 2023. He also has a max punch speed of 20.92 MPH, according to the PFL SmartCage Cagenomics.
Updates
The PFL or ESPN have not reported any injuries.
Koreshkov vs Umalatov Betting Preview
The Koreshkov vs Umalatov betting picks can’t be made without going over this matchup in multiple ways, including previewing the betting lines and studying the film on both men.
Starting with the available PFL odds for this main event, Koreshkov is now a +139 underdog after opening at +160 odds. The undefeated Umalatov is sitting as the -159 betting favorite going into Friday night.
Andrey Koreshkov fight night predictions have been in his favor for the last decade in Bellator. He is one of the best to ever step in the Bellator cage and his style is very tough for even the best fighters they had to offer to handle. He is fast, very fast, and unpredictable from the outside–throwing kicks and spinning techniques to the legs, body, and head.
Umalatov has a different style of fighting where he likes to close the distance and land big shots with his hands from the inside. He likes to level change and his wrestling has gotten better every time he steps into the cage. The question mark surrounding him is his durability and whether or not he can stay healthy.
Koreshkov vs Umalatov Betting Picks and Prediction
After looking closely at how these styles might clash on Friday night, our Koreshkov vs Umalatov betting picks to make are around the Koreshkov money line. At underdog odds, this is a great pick to make due to his experience at a higher level.
Expect a fast-paced fight, likely resulting in a finish within the three rounds. Taking the under and maybe even a prop bet for a finish is a great play as well.
The ability to control the distance and mix up attacks will be the keys for Koreshkov in his PFL debut. Every time Umalatov signs to fight a big name, the bout is canceled due to many reasons. This is the biggest test of his career by a large margin.
- Pick: Koreshkov +130.
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks. Make sure to visit the best offshore betting sites to maximize your betting experience.