Aiemann Zahabi vs. Aori Qileng Odds
Two fighters on a roll meet on the UFC 289 preliminary card with Aiemann Zahabi vs. Aori Qileng.
Both bantamweights have posted back-to-back victories in the UFC and now look to make it three in a row.
Will Canadian Zahabi or China’s Qileng win this tightly lined fight? Let’s break it down.
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Tale of the Tape
| Zahabi | Qileng | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 9-2 | 24-9 |
| Avg. Fight Time | 12:01 | 11:57 |
| Height | 5’8″ | 5’7″ |
| Weight (pounds) | 135 lbs. | 135 lbs. |
| Reach (inches) | 68″ | 69″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Date of birth | 11/19/1987 | 6/25/1993 |
| Sig Strikes Per Min | 3.01 | 6.07 |
| SS Accuracy | 43% | 48% |
| SS Absorbed Per Min | 3.38 | 7.18 |
| SS Defense | 72% | 48% |
| Take Down Avg | 0.25 | 1.57 |
| TD Acc | 16% | 45% |
| TD Def | 75% | 55% |
| Submission Avg | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Zahabi is the brother of legendary trainer Firas Zahabi, the head coach for welterweight GOAT Georges St-Pierre.
He is a technical but low-volume striker (6.9 strike attempts per minute) with good grappling skills but subpar offensive wrestling (16% takedown accuracy).
Qileng is much more enthusiastic – averaging more than 12 strike attempts per minute, but he encourages more than 14 from his opponents – and has absorbed more than he has landed.
Zahabi is the more measured and composed fighter, but his opponent’s pace may force a finish on either side.
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Zahabi vs. Qileng Pick
In a firefight, I would give Qileng the durability edge. But other than Qileng by knockout (projected +373), I don’t see an edge in this fight.
I’ll consider that prop as a round-robin piece; otherwise, this is a spot to pass.
The Pick: Pass
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