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It Won’t Be Easy For Diakiese | FIGHT PREVIEW

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Understandably, the names up in lights on Saturday night read “Aspinall”, “Hermansson”, “Pimblett” and “McCann”, but provided those lights don’t blind you, look a little further and you’ll find a delightful match-up between Marc Diakiese and Damir Hadžović. With both fighters coming off the back of a win, and likely to keep the fight standing, it has all the necessary ingredients to whet the appetite ahead of the main card.

Having seemingly lost his way in recent years, Marc Diakiese returns to the O2 Arena for the first time since his 2019 win over Joseph Duffy. After defeating Lando Vannata later that year, defeats to now top contenders Rafael Fiziev and Rafael Alves left Diakiese in need of a reset. By going back to basics and ensuring his head was screwed firmly on, Diakiese convincingly dismantled Viacheslav Borshchev in March, with an unexpected, yet very impressive display of wrestling. In his 8 fights between 2017-2022, Diakiese only completed 9 takedowns, against Borshchev, he completed 11.

Marc Diakiese goes all Marc Nurmagomedov against Viacheslav Borshchev in March. Credit: Sherdog

Diakiese will be hoping to follow that victory up with another one on Saturday night. But standing in his way will be The Bosnian Bomber, Damir Hadžović. As the nickname suggests, Hadžović, much like his opponent, is primarily a striker, and is riding on the back of a wave, having won his previous outing. That decision victory came over Yancy Medeiros, who has since left the UFC.

Damir Hadžović joins the list of fighters looking to spoil the party on Saturday night. Credit: Tapology

This is a match-up that plays into Diakiese’s hands, he has power, speed and reflexes all in his favour, and if the fight takes place on the mat at any stage, it’s likely to be on his terms. Should Diakiese use his experience, remain patient and not go head hunting straight away, I think he has this one in the bag. Hadžović is a dangerous man though, and he’ll believe he can shut Diakiese’s lights out, which he can do, just ask Marcin Held.

Prediction: Marc Diakiese via U-DEC.

Regardless of any lights going out in this fight however, UFC London promises to shine them brightly on some of the UK’s finest MMA stars.