Middleweight rivals Nassourdine Imavov and Kelvin Gastelum headline the first UFC card of 2023 at the Apex in Las Vegas.
Imavov, 1/2 To Win, will be targeting to start 2023 with a bang after climbing up to #12 in the middleweight rankings over the past two years.
The Russian Sniper only fought once last year, beating Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision in September to extend his winning streak to three.
He has a 4-1 record since making his UFC debut in October 2020 and will be hoping to continue building momentum as he sets his sights on the top end of the division.
Gastelum, meanwhile, who is 17/10 To Win, has slipped to #13 in the rankings after a spell of inactivity following a string of poor performances.
The American has lost six of his last seven trips to the octagon and was due to face Imavov in April 2022 before the Dagestan-born 27-year-old withdrew due to visa issues.
A bout with Dricus du Plessis was scheduled instead, but Gastelum pulled out of that with an undisclosed injury.
What | Nassourdine Imavov v Kelvin Gastelum, UFC Vegas 67 |
Where | UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA |
When | 00:00, Sunday 15th January 2023 |
How to watch | BT Sport |
Odds | Nassourdine Imavov 1/2, Kelvin Gastelum 17/10 |
The fight, which headlines the UFC's first card of 2023, will take place on Sunday 15th January.
The preliminary card gets under way at 22:00 and the main card begins at 00:00, with Imavov and Gastelum expected to walk to the Octagon at around 03:00.
The UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada plays host to the card.
The Apex is a purpose built arena owned by the UFC and has hosted live events since May 2020, with Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns headlining the maiden card.
There were 20 Fight Night cards at the Apex in 2022 and four, including Imavov v Gastelum, have already been scheduled for 2023.
However, UFC president Dana White has suggested they will look to stage events around the United States and across the rest of the world on a more regular basis this year.
Yes. Both the preliminary card and the main card are both available to watch on BT Sport.
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Imavov is the 1/2 favourite to win the contest as he looks to secure his fourth successive victory and continue moving up the rankings, while Gastelum is the underdog and can be backed at 17/10.
No. There are no belts on the line but a win for Imavov could move him into the top 10 and will put him in the conversation for a title shot later in the year.
15 fights, 12 wins (5 KOs), 3 defeats.
25 fights, 16 wins (6 KOs), 8 defeats.
The undercard for UFC Vegas 67, which is being headlined by the clash between Imavov and Gastelum, has yet to be confirmed by the UFC.
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