What Russian fighter Omari Akhmedov lacks in size he’ll make up for in pure speed, according to ESPN commentator Brett Okamoto.
Akmedov will go head-to-head with Australia’s Rob Wilkinson in the PFL World Championship finale at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 26 (AEDT).
The winner will walk away with $1.5 million in their bank account and the PFL light heavyweight title.
Watch the 2022 PFL World Championship featuring Rob Wilkinson and Kayla Harrison on November 26, streaming ad-free, live and exclusive on Stan Sport
Wilkinson has a reach advantage of 23cm, a height advantage of 8cm, and is the short-priced favourite for the fight.
However, Akhmedov won’t go down easy.
“Wilkinson and Akhmedov is going to be one of those fights where both guys come in really, really confident that they’re going to win,” Okamoto said.
“So when you have two guys that are confident that they’re the better man and you can understand both sides why they feel that way, you know you’re going to have a very, very on-point fight and that’s what I’m expecting.
“Akhmedov has been very, very impressive as well,” he added.
“He was coming in as a bit of a small guy but he has so much speed because he is maybe that little bit less in size.”
In any case, Okamoto believes Akhmedov will have nerves of steel on his side.
“He’s another whose mind frame is just so good,” said Okamoto.
“He’s very, very calm. He’s cracking jokes all the time. He’s in a great mood.
“There’s no stress, there’s no nerves. ‘There’s a fight in 36 hours from now? Cool, I’m looking forward to it’ – and that’s how Omari is.”
However, in the midst of a five-fight winning streak, Wilkinson could overpower Akhmedov.
“I honestly don’t think I’ve been more impressed by anybody in the PFL season than Rob Wilkinson,” said Okamoto.
“Rob Wilkinson looks very, very fit, strong – no wasted energy or muscle mass on that man’s frame at 205 (pounds). He looks every bit like a 205er. He looks very, very powerful at that weight.
“He’s got versatility and he’s got physicality. He’s a bull right now, he’s dangerous. I just don’t think anyone has impressed me from start to finish as Rob Wilkinson has.
“I just think he knows exactly who he is, he knows exactly why he’s here, he knows exactly what he’s doing.
“His preparation seems like it’s been so good. You know when you just see the way he comes into a fight league, you’re like, ‘that man’s ready to fight’.”
The PFL World Championship finale takes place on Saturday, November 26 (AEDT).
The undercard gets underway at 9am with the main card set to start at 12pm.
Akhmedov and Wilkinson are slated to fight at 12pm.
Coverage is live, ad-free and exclusive on Stan Sport.
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