Dustin Jacoby vs Azamat Murzakanov Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for UFC on ESPN 44 (Expect a Thrilling Finish)

Jacoby vs Murzakanov Fight Info, Date & Time

UFC on ESPN 44 — Main Card Light Heavyweight Bout
Dustin Jacoby (18-6-1, 11 KOs) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (12-0, 9 KOs)
Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Fight Time: This will be on the main card, which begins at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Venue: T-Mobile Center — Kansas City, Missouri
Coverage: ESPN, ESPN+

Jacoby vs Murzakanov Odds & Prop Bets

All UFC on ESPN 44 odds, lines and prop bets are available on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Moneyline:
- Dustin Jacoby: (-162)
- Azamat Murzakanov: (+136)

Method of Victory:
- Jacoby by KO/TKO: (+240)
- Jacoby by Points: (+200)
- Jacoby by Submission: (+1700)
- Murzakanov by KO/TKO: (+290)
- Murzakanov by Points: (+500)
- Murzakanov by Submission: (+1500)

Jacoby vs Murzakanov Prediction

Dustin Jacoby has been near-flawless since making his UFC return in 2020. He got off to an impressive 7-0-1 record through his first eight fights, knocking out three of those opponents. Unfortunately, his luck came to an end with a split-decision loss to Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC Vegas 63, leaving time to reveal how Jacoby responds.

On the other hand, Azamat Murzakanov has yet to taste defeat through his first 12 MMA fights. He's had no issues finishing off his first three UFC opponents, finishing each one with various knockout blows. Jacoby has avoided getting knocked out in his last 11 fights, making it interesting to see if Murzakanov has what it takes to end that trend.

In what should be a hard-hitting contest, I'm siding with Jacoby. Both men can hit as hard as they come, but Jacoby has dealt with tougher opponents in the past, whereas Murzakanov has yet to face someone on his upcoming foe's level.

That's not to say that Murzakanov can't pull off the upset. It's just that Jacoby knows how to avoid being finished and can survive the hardest hitters.

Winner: Dustin Jacoby

Jacoby vs Murzakanov Best Bet

I'm taking a neutral approach by recommending backing the fight to end by KO/TKO (-115), regardless of who the victor is. While I project Jacoby to win, I don't necessarily love the pick. We've yet to see how (or if) he bounces back from his latest loss. If he hasn't returned to form, he could be in trouble against an opponent who only needs a split second to score a KO punch.

Either fighter could realistically win tonight, which is why a neutral bet is for the best.

Bet: How Fight Will End: KO/TKO (-115)

Devon Platana is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Devon Platana also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username PepeSilvia0. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.