UFC Vegas 119: Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi continues on the prelims with a fight between Melsik Baghdasaryan and Murtazali Magomedov in the featherweight division on Saturday. Check out our UFC odds series for our Baghdasaryan-Magomedov prediction and pick.
Melsik Baghdasaryan (8-3) is 3-2 inside the UFC, most recently suffering a first-round TKO loss to rising star Jean Silva at UFC Seattle in February 2025, after picking up a unanimous decision win over Tucker Lutz back in July 2023. The Armenian featherweight owns five KO wins, including four in the first round, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Murtazali Magomedov.
Murtazali Magomedov (10-0) enters UFC Vegas 119 as one of the most exciting undefeated prospects in the featherweight division, most recently stopping Brahyam Zurcher via first-round TKO punch in just 1:37 on Dana White's Contender Series in September 2025. The Kyrgyzstan-born finisher boasts a 17-fight unbeaten streak stretching back to his amateur career as he comes into his fight this weekend against Melsik Baghdasaryan.
UFC Vegas 119 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Vegas 119 Odds: Melsik Baghdasaryan-Murtazali Magomedov Odds
Melsik Baghdasaryan: +250
Murtazali Magomedov: -310
Over 1.5 rounds: -175
Under 1.5 rounds: +135
Why Melsik Baghdasaryan Will Win
Melsik Baghdasaryan is the most experienced fighter in this matchup by a wide margin, having already gone 3-2 inside the UFC against established veterans, and that Octagon-tested edge is something no undefeated prospect can replicate on debut night. The nerves, the lights, and the elevated competition of a UFC fight are real factors, and Baghdasaryan has already navigated all of that.
“The Gun” owns five KO wins including four in the first round, proving he carries legitimate finishing power that can short-circuit any game plan Magomedov brings with him. One clean shot from Baghdasaryan and this fight is over, regardless of Magomedov's undefeated record.
Magomedov's 10-0 record was built primarily outside the UFC against regional competition, and stepping into the Octagon against a seasoned featherweight with real knockout power is an entirely different world. Baghdasaryan has already shared the cage with elite UFC-level fighters, which gives him a significant edge in reading pace, timing, and pressure.
If Magomedov comes in overconfident riding that unbeaten streak, one miscalculation in the pocket against a heavy-handed veteran like Baghdasaryan could result in a stunning upset finish on the biggest stage of Magomedov's career.
Why Murtazali Magomedov Will Win
Murtazali Magomedov is a 26-year-old finishing machine with a 17-fight unbeaten streak and every single one of his wins coming by way of stoppage, bringing a level of finishing instinct that very few UFC debutants have ever possessed. His ability to end fights quickly and decisively across multiple methods makes him one of the most genuinely dangerous prospects on the entire UFC roster.
Magomedov's DWCS performance against Brahyam Zurcher was a statement — he stunned his opponent with a jab and finished the fight in 1:37, showing elite-level timing and composure under the bright lights of the UFC APEX. That performance suggests the debut nerves won't be a factor for a fighter who looked completely comfortable in that environment.
Baghdasaryan's two UFC losses came via TKO finishes, including a first-round stoppage by Jean Silva, proving his chin and defensive awareness are genuine vulnerabilities that Magomedov's aggressive finishing style can exploit. The moment Baghdasaryan gets tagged cleanly, history shows he can be stopped.
With momentum, finishing ability, and the element of an unknown quantity all working in his favor, Magomedov's combination of speed, power, and unbeaten confidence makes him the most likely finisher in this featherweight clash.
Final Melsik Baghdasaryan-Murtazali Magomedov Prediction & Pick
This is one of the most intriguing stylistic matchups on the entire UFC Vegas 119 card — a battle-tested UFC veteran with legitimate knockout power against an undefeated finishing machine making his Octagon debut.
The first round will be critical, as Magomedov thrives on early aggression while Baghdasaryan's Glendale Fighting Club pedigree has him perfectly prepared to weather that initial storm. If Baghdasaryan can survive the opening exchanges and land one of his signature first-round bombs, this fight ends in his favor.
However, Magomedov's finishing rate across 10 professional fights is simply unprecedented, and his DWCS performance showed he can execute a clean game plan without letting the moment get too big. The youth, athleticism, and momentum gap between these two fighters is real and measurable.
Baghdasaryan's two TKO losses suggest his defensive shell cracks under sustained pressure, and Magomedov is precisely the type of fast, accurate aggressor who applies that pressure relentlessly.
The pick here is Murtazali Magomedov by first-round TKO, as his finishing instincts, elite timing, and unbeaten confidence prove too much for a veteran who has already shown he can be stopped inside the Octagon.
Final Melsik Baghdasaryan-Murtazali Magomedov Prediction & Pick: Murtazali Magomedov (-310), Under 1.5 Rounds (+135)
