UFC Edmonton: Buckley vs. Malott continues on the prelims with a fight between Chad Anheliger and Steven Koslow in the bantamweight division. Check out our UFC Edmonton odds series for our Anheliger-Koslow prediction and pick.
Chad Anheliger (13-8) comes into this weekend looking to bounce back from a tough unanimous decision loss to Cody Gibson, he previously secured a composed decision victory over Charalampos Grigoriou in March, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Steven Koslow.
Steven Koslow (6-1) enters his Octagon return looking to rebound from his first career defeat via TKO to Cameron Saaiman in his December 2022 promotional debut, the submission specialist previously secured a first-round rear-naked choke over James Dunn, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Chad Anheliger.
UFC Edmonton Odds, courtesy of DraftKings:
UFC Edmonton Odds: Chad Anheliger-Steven Koslow Odds
Chad Anheliger: +140
Steven Koslow: -166
Over 1.5 Rounds: -200
Under 1.5 Rounds: +154
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Why Chad Anheliger Will Win
Chad Anheliger carries the seasoned composure, defensive savvy, and deep-water conditioning needed to triumph at UFC Edmonton this Saturday. While Steven Koslow represents a lethal submission threat in the opening minutes, Anheliger has spent his entire career navigating dangerous grapplers and surviving early adversity.
The Canadian veteran excels at disciplined distance management, using a crisp jab and low kicks to keep aggressive opponents on the outside. Once Koslow inevitably attempts to force the action to the canvas, Anheliger’s stout takedown defense and heavy underhooks will repeatedly deny clean entries.
Koslow historically relies on securing lightning-fast finishes, leaving significant question marks regarding his cardio when forced past the initial frame. If Anheliger weathers the early storm, the momentum of the fight will shift drastically into the home favorite’s favor.
On the feet, Anheliger’s sharp counter-striking and superior volume will steadily pick apart Koslow’s basic defensive shell. With each stuffed takedown, Koslow will grow visibly fatigued and desperate, opening wide avenues for punishing combinations.
Ultimately, Anheliger is simply the more durable, battle-tested fighter with the engine to push a grueling fifteen-minute pace. Expect Anheliger to survive the early submission traps, take over down the stretch, and earn a gritty unanimous decision win.
Why Steven Koslow Will Win
Steven Koslow possesses the elite submission grappling and youthful explosiveness necessary to completely overwhelm Chad Anheliger at UFC Edmonton. As a highly touted prospect with a dangerous finishing rate, Koslow represents a lethal early threat that the aging Canadian veteran will struggle to contain.
While Anheliger relies heavily on his veteran composure and defensive spacing, Koslow’s relentless forward pressure is designed to close the distance instantly. Once Koslow secures the body lock and drags the action to the canvas, his suffocating top control will immediately nullify Anheliger’s kickboxing game.
On the mat, the American submission specialist transitions with a ferocious urgency that forces his opponents to be entirely reactive. Anheliger has historically absorbed significant damage during extended grappling scrambles, creating clear openings for Koslow to isolate a limb or expose the neck.
Article Continues BelowFurthermore, Koslow’s sheer athleticism allows him to chain together takedown attempts until he finally breaches Anheliger’s initial defensive layers. If the hometown favorite makes even a single positional mistake during these chaotic first-round scrambles, Koslow possesses the finishing instincts to capitalize immediately.
Ultimately, Koslow’s devastating grappling pedigree simply presents too steep of a hill for the veteran striker to climb. Expect the aggressive American prospect to swiftly ground Anheliger and lock in a clinical first-round submission to silence the Canadian crowd.
Final Chad Anheliger-Steven Koslow Prediction & Pick
This Saturday at UFC Edmonton, Canadian veteran Chad Anheliger faces off against dangerous American submission specialist Steven Koslow in a classic striker-versus-grappler matchup. The dynamic of this bantamweight clash relies entirely on Koslow’s ability to successfully navigate the distance and secure early takedowns against the hometown favorite.
If Koslow can aggressively close the gap and force chaotic scrambles, his suffocating top pressure could yield a swift first-round submission victory. However, Anheliger possesses the battle-tested composure and stout defensive wrestling required to weather the initial storm and keep the fight on the feet.
As the bout progresses into the later rounds, Koslow's frantic early pace will likely leave him severely fatigued and vulnerable to crisp counter-strikes. Expect Anheliger to systematically pick apart the fading prospect from the outside, ultimately securing a hard-fought unanimous decision win in front of his home crowd.
Final Chad Anheliger-Steven Koslow Prediction & Pick: Chad Anheliger (+140), OVER 1.5 Rounds (-200)