The UFC Columbus prelim card features seven bouts, the final four of which will be previewed in this post. All win probabilities are based on a fighter’s CC Rating and their place in the CC Rankings.

You can find the previews for the first three bouts HERE.

Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Denis Tiuliulin (Men’s Middleweight)

Aliaskhab Khizriev

• Record: 13-0-0
• Division Ranking: 30/68 middleweights
• Vegas Odds: -900 (Favorite)

Denis Tiuliulin

• Record: 10-5-0
• Division Ranking: 68/68 middleweights
• Vegas Odds: +600 (Underdog)

Khizriev finally makes his long-awaited debut in this bout. The Dagestani middleweight prospect had four separate opponents drop out of facing him after his first round submission win on Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS). Khizriev is a perfect 13-0, with eight finishes in those 13 bouts, including being the interim Fight Nights welterweight champion. He will be an exciting prospect to watch and hopefully he’ll be able to stay more active than he has.

Tiuliulin takes this fight on short notice, replacing the bevy of dropouts along the way to this bout. He will likely need a quick finish to avoid gassing out in this one. However, that does play to his strengths. Despite a relatively pedestrian 10-5 record, he has supreme finishing ability, with eight knockouts along the way. Watch out for the haymaker finisher early.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: The talent is already on different levels in this one. Add that to the fact that Tiuliulin is taking this on short notice, this one should not last long.

Editor’s Pick: Khizriev

Chris Gutierrez vs. Danaa Batgerel (Men’s Bantamweight)

Chris Gutierrez

• Record: 17-3-2
• Division Ranking: 25/77 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: +110 (Underdog)

Danaa Batgerel

• Record: 10-2-0
• Division Ranking: 38/77 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: -130 (Favorite)

After losing his UFC debut to Raoni Barcelos, Gutierrez is 5-0-1 in the big promotion. It has been an unorthodox route thus far, having hopped around weight classes and turning in a number of split decisions in that time. However, wins are wins. His finishing ability has waned as of late. He has eight for his career, but only one of those has come in the last three years.

The “Mongolian Murderer” Batgerel has had no such issue. He is riding a three-fight winning streak. All three of those wins have been first round knockouts. Batgerel is coming into his own in the UFC and his opponents are paying a price. Very few bantamweights have the kind of show-stopping power Batgerel has displayed recently.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: This is a pretty evenly-matched fight that will likely take place largely on the feet. However, only one fighter can end the fight at any moment. That is Batgerel.

Editor’s Pick: Batgerel

Sara McMann vs. [8] Karol Rosa (Women’s Bantamweight)

Sara McMann

• Record: 12-6-0
• Division Ranking: 18/28 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: +190 (Underdog)

Karol Rosa

• Record: 15-3-0
• Division Ranking: 9/28 bantamweights
• Vegas Odds: -230 (Favorite)

After earning an Olympic silver medal in wrestling, McMann (NR CC, #9 UFC) set her sights on MMA, where she was one of the pioneers of the sport in the UFC. She was Ronda Rousey’s third UFC victim in her lone bid for UFC gold. She has fought the best of the best, with her last bout being a submission loss to current champion, Julianna Pena. At 41, McMann is now in the twilight of her storied career, looking to knock off another contender or two before hanging up the gloves.

The Brazilian Rosa (#8 CC, #12 UFC) is the new generation of the women’s bantamweight division. She is a perfect 4-0 since joining the UFC, including two wins over opponents who missed weight. Her last bout sent former title challenger Bethe Correia into retirement. Perhaps she’d like to repeat that tonight. Rosa came into the UFC with a finish rate above 50 percent. That has since faded with four straight decision wins since joining. Now would be as good a time as any to get her first UFC finish.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Rosa is a more well-rounded fighter. So long as she mitigates McMann’s takedowns, she will control the fight on the feet and in limited grappling interactions.

Editor’s Pick: Rosa

[5] Neil Magny vs. Max Griffin (Men’s Welterweight)

Neil Magny

• Record: 25-9-0
• Division Ranking: 6/78 welterweights
• Vegas Odds: -270 (Favorite)

Max Griffin

• Record: 18-8-0
• Division Ranking: 34/78 welterweights
• Vegas Odds: +220 (Underdog)

Magny (#5 CC, #9 UFC) is 4-1 in his last five. This bout will mark his 26th walk to the UFC octagon. Overall, he’s an impressive 18-7 in his 25 bouts thus far. He has beaten a number of contenders recently, but he’ll be playing the role of gatekeeper for this bout. Magny (pictured above) is not known as a finisher, more for grinding out tough decision wins. However, with seven career knockouts and two submissions, don’t count out an early win for him either.

Griffin is riding a hot streak of his own, with three consecutive victories. His last bout saw him defeat another veteran, Carlos Condit. He also earned performance of the night honors with a first round KO of Song Kenan last March. This streak is a needed boost for Griffin, who’d lost four of his last five prior. This is by far his toughest test inside the octagon.

Subjective Spin on Objective Reality: Magny has both the experience advantage and has faced much tougher opponents. Griffin will have to rely on his power, but won’t be anything new for the veteran who still has some gas left in the tank.

Editor’s Pick: Magny

Photo Credit: MMA Fighting