UFC 263: Demian Maia vs. Belal Muhammad Picks and Predictions

Demian Maia and Belal Muhammad face off on Saturday in the main card in a welterweight showdown at the Gila River Arena in Glendale Arizona. Maia is currently ranked 9th in the division while Muhammad is ranked 12th. 

Demiam Maia comes into this fight with a 28-10 record overall and coming into this game he has won three of his last four fights. The one loss for Maia though came in his last fight against Glibert Burns, and that was a loss by knockout. Maia was being outstruck 12-4 when he was finished by knockout. In two of Maia’s last three fights, he was won by submission. Maia is averaging 1.82 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.03 significant strikes per minute. Maia is also averaging 2.55 takedowns every 15 minutes but he is successful on only 26 percent of his takedown attempts. Maia also stops 61 percent of his opponent's takedown attempts. Maia is also averaging 1.0 submission attempts every 15 minutes. 

On the other side of this matchup is Belal Muhammad who comes into this fight with an 18-3 record overall and there also was one no-contest. That no-contest came in his last fight against Leon Edwards, and that fight was ended because of eye poke. Muhammad is averaging 4.75 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 4,02 significant strikes per minute. Muhammad is averaging 1.97 takedowns every 15 minutes but he is only successful only 28 percent of his takedown attempts. Muhammad is also stopping 65 percent of his opponent's takedown attempts.