An electric slate, UFC 294 features a ton of excellent fights which should definitely fire up MMA fans. The two main event battles have already been covered in this space, but there are two other fantastic bouts on this card. In the third main bout of the night, Nathaniel Wood squares off with Muhammad Naimov in a solid featherweight matchup that could have implications for the division. Conversely, another big middleweight showdown is slated for this card as Nassourdine Imavov takes on Ikram Aliskerov. This fight should be the second-most important middleweight bout on the card after Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev, but also a key one to watch for your UFC 294 betting night.
For this article, SBS will be going over your betting game plan with fighter spotlights, predicted winners, and more notes and information about UFC 294 betting.
| UFC 294 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathaniel Wood vs. Muhammad Naimov | Wood | -330 | -330 | -330 |
| Nassourdine Imavov vs. Ikram Aliskerov | Aliskerov | -113 | -113 | -113 |
Fighter Spotlight: Nathaniel Wood
A former Bantamweight Champion in the Cage Warriors promotion, Wood has put together an impressive record since joining the UFC back in 2018. Since making his debut, he has posted a record of 7-2 in UFC events, bringing his overall career mark to 20-5. With nine career knockout wins, the English fighter certainly has the power to defeat most featherweight opponents. Wood is coming off a unanimous decision win over Andre Fili earlier this year in July so he might have a little bit of wear and tear on his body.
Fighter Spotlight: Muhammad Naimov
Known as the “Hillman,” Naimov is entering this fight with some high expectations and will be looking to improve on his 9-2 career mark. A fighter with five knockout wins of his own, Naimov won his UFC debut in June of this year with a TKO victory over Jamie Mullarkey. Prior to that, he had starred in the Tuff-N-Uff promotion where he posted a perfect mark of 2-0. This will be his biggest bout to date though, but he should be up for the challenge.
Prediction: Both fighters competed earlier this summer so fatigue could play a factor here, but Wood has the more distinguished and decorated body of work, so take him to win here.
Fighter Spotlight: Nassourdine Imavov
A fighter who had been a rising star in the promotion, Imavov is now looking to right the ship following two disappointing outings. At UFC 289 earlier this year, his bout against Chris Curtis ended in a no-contest thanks to an accidental clash of heads which rendered Curtis unable to continue. Prior to that, he matched up against Sean Strickland in his light heavyweight debut and ended up losing the bout via unanimous decision. Regardless, Imavov is still one of the up-and-coming fighters in the promotion thanks to a stout 12-4 record already four wins in the UFC.
Fighter Spotlight: Ikram Aliskerov
Our final fighter showcase, Aliskerov has had an excellent MMA career after turning 30 earlier this year. With an impressive record of 14-1 professionally, he is coming off a stellar KO win over Phil Hawes at UFC 288. In that bout, Aliskerov knocked out Hawes in the first round thanks to a vicious set of punches. A four-time world champion in combat sambo, the Russian fighter is a tough competitor in the ring with his only professional loss coming at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev in 2019.
Prediction: This fight should be a battle, but look for Aliskerov to have the upper hand here given the difference in records and also being able to beat a common opponent in Hawes.
After you are all squared away regarding this round of UFC wagering, make sure you are all dilated regarding the latest news and resources coming from SBS. Of course, to make sure you have the best UFC 294 bets and beyond, our UFC betting sites rundown has your back with all the latest betting markets and notes for MMA. Moreover, if you are trying to get the most out of your UFC 294 picks, then the best bonus betting sites guide is a must-read page. Here you can find a catalog of the latest welcome bonus offers to bolster your UFC 294 bets. Finally, the VIP sports betting sites breakdown is a fantastic page where you can learn more about VIP wagering and if it is the right one for you.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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