UFC Vegas 121: Rosas Jr. vs. Barcelos continues on the main card with The Ultimate Fighter 34 bantamweight finale between Mehemmedeli Osmanli and Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu. Check out our UFC Vegas 121 odds series for our Osmanli-Akylbek Uulu prediction and pick.
Mehemmedeli Osmanli (12-1) has run through his TUF 34 bracket with pure violence, submitting Christian Strong and choking out Artem Belakh to reach the finals. Outside the show, he most recently locked up a second-round guillotine over Bakhtovar Yunusov in November 2025, part of a resume boasting 10 finishes in 12 wins, eight by submission. The unbeaten Azerbaijani makes his UFC debut with supreme confidence as he comes into his fight this weekend against Ilimbek Akylbek.
Ilimbek Akylbek (10-3) most recently submitted Mo Miller via fourth-round rear-naked choke in December 2025, snapping a two-fight skid that included consecutive TKO losses to Dzhokhar Eskiev and Khalim Nazruloev on ONE Championship's Friday Fights. He's finished six of his ten career wins by submission. The Kyrgyz grappler now looks to be the next TUF winner as he comes into his fight this weekend against Mehemmedeli Osmanli.
UFC Vegas 121 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Vegas 121 Odds: Mehemmedeli Osmanli-Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu Odds
Mehemmedeli Osmanli: -285
Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu: +230
Over 1.5 rounds: -175
Under 1.5 rounds: +135
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Why Mehemmedeli Osmanli Will Win
Mehemmedeli Osmanli's biggest advantage is his sheer finishing dominance, with ten stoppages in twelve career wins and eight coming by submission, a level of consistent violence that Ilimbek Akylbek simply hasn't matched throughout his career. That kind of overwhelming finishing rate suggests real, high-level skill rather than just facing softer competition.
Osmanli has also looked spectacular throughout the TUF 34 tournament, submitting Christian Strong and choking out Artem Belakh to reach the finals without much resistance, showing he adapts quickly to new levels of competition. Akylbek, meanwhile, has needed to fight through his own recent adversity, including back-to-back TKO losses before finally rebounding.
Osmanli is also unbeaten since 2022, riding a 10-fight winning streak into this bout, a stretch of sustained excellence that speaks to consistent improvement and mental toughness under pressure. Akylbek's more uneven recent trajectory, by contrast, suggests he's still working through technical or durability issues that a live finisher like Osmanli can exploit.
Given his dominant finishing rate, momentum from a lengthy win streak, and impressive performances throughout the TUF tournament, look for Osmanli to make a statement in his UFC debut, finding another quick finish and validating his supreme pre-fight confidence.
Article Continues BelowWhy Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu Will Win
Ilimbek Akylbek's biggest advantage is genuine high-level MMA experience, having already competed against tougher regional and international competition on ONE Championship's Friday Fights, unlike Mehemmedeli Osmanli, whose 12-1 record was built almost entirely against lesser-tested opposition. That exposure to adversity should serve him well against a fighter making his UFC debut under bright lights.
Akylbek's ground game is also a serious weapon, with six of his ten career wins coming by submission, including a fourth-round rear-naked choke over Mo Miller that showed real durability and finishing composure late into a fight. Osmanli's finishes have come quickly against overmatched opponents, leaving questions about how he handles a truly extended, grinding pace.
Osmanli enters unbeaten since 2022, but that streak has never been tested against someone with Akylbek's grappling pedigree and durability, having already bounced back from consecutive TKO losses to reach this final. That kind of resilience matters far more than an unblemished record built in lower-tier promotions.
Given his tougher path to this point, proven submission skill, and experience overcoming adversity, look for Akylbek to drag this fight into deep water and expose Osmanli's inexperience against elite-level UFC competition, ultimately finding a late finish or clear decision win.
Final Mehemmedeli Osmanli-Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu Prediction & Pick
This TUF 34 bantamweight final pits Ilimbek Akylbek's grinding submission game against Mehemmedeli Osmanli's dominant finishing rate and 10-fight winning streak. Osmanli enters supremely confident after blitzing through his TUF bracket, while Akylbek brings tougher outside experience, including two recent losses on ONE Championship's Friday Fights.
Expect Osmanli to push an aggressive pace early, looking to replicate the quick finishes that got him here. If Akylbek can survive that opening storm and drag the fight into deeper water, his proven ability to finish fights late, as shown against Mo Miller, becomes a real factor.
Osmanli's unbeaten streak has never faced someone with Akylbek's level of adversity and grappling pedigree, making this a legitimate step up in competition that could expose cracks if the fight goes long.
Osmanli gets the second-round finish, using his explosive early pace and finishing instincts to validate his confidence and claim the TUF 34 crown.
Final Mehemmedeli Osmanli-Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu Prediction & Pick: Mehemmedeli Osmanli (-285), OVER 1.5 Rounds (-175)