Nikita Krylov vs. Alexander Gustafsson: UFC Fight Night 208 Odds, Prediction

Payton Matthews
July 19, 2022

Looking to put back-to-back losses behind him, Nikita Krylov will look to get back into the win column when he faces Alexander Gustaffson on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 208 event. Krylov is a -190 favourite to win on the MMA odds, with Gustafsson at +140.

Nikita Krylov -180
Alexander Gustafsson +145

Nikita Krylov UFC Fight Night 208 Odds

The 30-year-old Krylov is from the Ukraine and is 27-9 in a pro career dating to 2012. He is ranked No. 11 in the light heavyweight division – Jiri Prochazka is the champion. Krylov spent some time at heavyweight early in his career and is 11-6 since he dropped to the light heavyweight division in March 2014.

“The Miner” comes off his second straight loss, by first-round submission (triangle choke) against Paul Craig in March. It looked like Krylov was just moments away from scoring a knockout at one point.

The 6-foot-3 Krylov’s fights average 7:00. He lands 4.35 significant strikes per minute with 56 per cent accuracy and absorbs 2.44 with 43 per cent defence. His takedown average is 1.43 per 15 minutes with 35 per cent accuracy, and his takedown defence is 54 per cent.

Krylov has earned all but one of his victories by stoppage and has finished 20 of those wins in Round 1. His 25-second knockout of Walt Harris in January 2014 marked the second-fastest finish stemming from a head kick in UFC history behind Abdul Razak Alhassan’s 17-second finish at UFC on ESPN 30.

Alexander Gustafsson UFC Fight Night 208 Odds

Gustafsson, a 35-year-old Swede, is 18-7 and not ranked in the light heavyweight division; he fought a few times at heavyweight, including his last trip to the Octagon in July 2020 when he lost a third straight fight, via first-round submission (armbar) vs. Fabricio Werdum. That’s the longest losing skid of Gustafsson’s career.

“The Mauler” was scheduled to meet Ben Rothwell at UFC Vegas 55 on May 21 in Las Vegas at heavyweight before the promotion pulled the plug on Rothwell. Gustafsson has had three UFC title shots at light heavyweight but lost them all to Jon Jones (twice) and Daniel Cormier. He is one of eight fighters in UFC history to go at least 0-3 in championship fights. Gustafsson is 3-6 in his past nine UFC appearances overall dating to his first title fight against Jones in September 2013.

The 6-foot-5 Gustafsson’s fights averaged 10:54. He lands 4.02 significant strikes per minute with 40 per cent accuracy and absorbs 3.42 with 51 per cent defence. His takedown average is 1.54 with 39 per cent accuracy, and his takedown defence is 83 per cent.

Gustafsson has 11 wins by KO/TKO, four by decision and three by submission. He has lost at least twice each of those ways. He will have about a two-inch reach advantage over Krylov.