UFC Edmonton: Buckley vs. Malott continues on the prelims with a fight between Javad Mahjoub and Joel Faglier in the heavyweight division. Check out our UFC Edmonton odds series for our Mahjoub-Faglier prediction and pick.
Javad Mahjoub (5-0) brings a perfect professional record into his UFC debut. The former international judoka recently showcased his grappling with a slick first-round armbar submission over Pietro Gentile, following a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Gamzat Sirazhudinov, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Joel Faglier.
Joel Faglier (6-0) carries a perfect record into his Octagon debut. The hard-hitting finisher most recently secured a unanimous decision over veteran Cody East, following a vicious first-round leg kick TKO against Austin Green, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Javad Mahjoub.
UFC Edmonton Odds, courtesy of DraftKings:
UFC Edmonton Odds: Javad Mahjoub-Joel Faglier Odds
Javad Mahjoub: +105
Joel Faglier: -125
Over 1.5 Rounds: -125
Under 1.5 Rounds: -105
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Why Javad Mahjoub Will Win
Javad Mahjoub brings world-class judo credentials and overwhelming physical strength to UFC Edmonton, presenting a stylistic nightmare for Joel Faglier in their highly anticipated heavyweight clash. Having competed at the highest levels of international combat sports, including the 2020 Summer Olympics, the Iranian powerhouse possesses an elite base that dictates exactly where the action takes place.
Once Mahjoub closes the distance and locks his hands, his explosive hip tosses and trips will effectively neutralize Faglier's offense. On the canvas, Mahjoub’s suffocating top control and heavy ground-and-pound will immediately put the undefeated American prospect under tremendous distress.
Faglier has impressed on the regional scene, but he often relies on keeping the fight standing to land his powerful strikes. However, Mahjoub’s disciplined clinch game and superior grip fighting will shut down those striking exchanges before they even have a chance to develop.
As Faglier repeatedly expends massive amounts of energy trying to escape from underneath Mahjoub's crushing weight, his cardiovascular endurance will rapidly diminish. By the second round, the crowd at Rogers Place will likely see Faglier visibly slowed, leaving glaring openings for heavy strikes or opportunistic submissions.
Ultimately, Mahjoub is simply operating on a completely different technical grappling tier compared to his relatively inexperienced opponent. Expect Mahjoub to dominate every positional exchange on the mat and secure an emphatic stoppage victory to announce his arrival in the UFC heavyweight division.
Why Joel Faglier Will Win
Undefeated heavyweight prospect Joel “The Sniper” Faglier enters UFC Edmonton with the perfect stylistic tools to derail Javad Mahjoub’s hype train. By utilizing his youth, superior striking volume, and constant lateral movement, the 25-year-old American can successfully avoid the Iranian veteran's dangerous clinch.
Mahjoub possesses world-class Olympic judo credentials, but he fundamentally relies on his opponents remaining stationary to secure his heavy upper-body tie-ups. Faglier will use his punishing leg kicks, the exact weapon that earned him a stoppage over Austin Green—to batter Mahjoub’s lead leg and halt his explosive entries.
Furthermore, there is a significant ten-year age gap between these heavyweights that will undoubtedly become a massive factor if the fight extends past the opening frame. Faglier recently proved his deep-water cardio by going a hard fifteen minutes against Cody East, whereas Mahjoub is accustomed to early finishes.
Even if Mahjoub manages to force the action to the canvas, Faglier boasts an incredibly underrated submission game of his own to initiate chaotic scrambles. The American will use these rapid transitions to safely return to his feet, forcing the aging judoka to expend massive amounts of energy for zero positional reward.
Article Continues BelowAs the fight enters the later rounds, a visibly fatigued Mahjoub will become increasingly desperate and reckless with his takedown attempts. Expect Faglier to seamlessly capitalize on this exhaustion with crisp counter-strikes, ultimately putting the veteran away with a devastating late-round knockout.
Final Javad Mahjoub-Joel Faglier Prediction & Pick
This Saturday at UFC Edmonton, undefeated American prospect Joel Faglier faces Iranian powerhouse Javad Mahjoub in a thrilling heavyweight collision. This intriguing matchup hinges entirely on whether Faglier can use his footwork to evade the Olympic judoka's suffocating clinch.
If Mahjoub closes the distance and secures early takedowns, his elite grappling pedigree could easily yield a swift submission finish. The veteran possesses the crushing top pressure necessary to completely exhaust his opponent on the canvas.
However, Faglier boasts a significant cardio advantage and the devastating striking volume required to keep this contest upright. By deploying punishing leg kicks and lateral movement, the American can systematically dismantle Mahjoub's explosive entries.
As the bout extends past the opening frame, Mahjoub's heavy reliance on early finishes will likely leave him severely fatigued. Expect Faglier to weather the initial grappling storm before securing a brutal second-round knockout victory.
Final Javad Mahjoub-Joel Faglier Prediction & Pick: Joel Faglier (-125), UNDER 1.5 Rounds (-105)