Even after a disappointing UFC debut, Elder still looks like a
prospect to watch. A powerfully built athlete, Elder is building
out a solid striking game with some knockout power, all while
having some wrestling in his back pocket. There are still some
clear issues that need to be ironed out with experience, namely
involving comfort and cardio, but the 25-year-old looks like the
type of talent who could become a contender by the time he turns
30, even if it figures to be a bumpy road along the way. For now,
it is a matter of Elder finding enough wins to stick around on the
UFC roster as he learns, particularly after dropping his debut to
Preston
Parsons in 2022. Elder was up a division at welterweight and
did well to survive, but he also accomplished little while on the
losing end of a three-round grind. He looks to rebound against
Sadykhov, an Azerbaijani-American making his UFC debut after a win
on Dana White’s Contender Series in August. Sadykhov can be a bit
frustrating at times, but things have usually worked out for the
“Black Wolf.” He is a powerful knockout artist who can sometimes
take time to get going, waiting things out until his opponent gets
tired before turning up the aggression. When Sadykov does put his
foot on the gas pedal, he looks like an absolute terror, but
everything up to that point can be a bit of an adventure where he
does not get much done. This would be a nice time for Elder to
pivot to a more wrestling-based approach, as that has been the most
effective way to neutralize Sadykhov, but this does look to be a
tale of two fights on paper. Elder should find some early success,
but Sadykhov seems guaranteed to pick up steam and blow the fight
wide open in his favor at some point. Sadykhov brings more power to
the table, but this should be a violent scrap for as long as it
lasts. The pick is Sadykhov via decision.
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