Damian Rzepecki and Magomed Zaynukov meet on the UFC Fight Night 282 main card Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
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Last event’s results: 3-2
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UFC main cards, 2026: 75-41-1
Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov UFC Fight Night 282 preview
Rzepecki (10-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes his UFC debut. In 10 fights, the undefeated Polish fighter has only seen the judges’ scorecards one time, scoring finishes with strikes and submissions on the regional scene.
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Zaynukov (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) debuts after an appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series. Also undefeated, Zaynukov has five wins by KO/TKO stoppage and three decisions.
Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov UFC Fight Night 282 expert pick, prediction
Filling out the main card is a lightweight fight between Damian Rzepecki and Magomed Zaynukov.
Despite having a solid fight on the Contender Series, Zaynukov has arguably become more popular among fight fans after being memed as the infamous “John Pork.” However, despite the memes and his affiliations with dominant grapplers like Islam Makhachev, Zaynukov carries a solid muay Thai arsenal that can’t be overlooked.
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Still, Zaynukov’s opponent, Rzepecki, is also not someone to underestimate.
A well-rounded MMA native, Rzepecki is a southpaw-primary stance-switcher who offers offense in multiple phases. That said, the Polish newcomer has been out-muscled in the clinch and wrestling phases before, and may be a notch down in the athleticism department in comparison to his counterpart.
For that reason, I’ll officially pick Zaynukov to edge out a decision win in a fight that I suspect will play out much closer than the current odds indicate.
Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov UFC Fight Night 282 odds
The oddsmakers and the public favor the Russian fighter, listing Zaynukov -300 and Rzepecki +235 via FanDuel.
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Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov UFC Fight Night 282 start time, how to watch
Rzepecki and Zaynukov are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 1:10 p.m. ET. The fight streams live on Paramount+.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov prediction, pick for UFC Fight Night 282
