Johnson vs. Vyazigin Prediction on June 2, 2023

Match info

The heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinal bout in the men’s MMA ACA 158 competition in St. Petersburg, Russia, will be contested on Friday, June 2, at 9:30 PM local time at Sibur Arena. The recent champion from the USA, Tony Johnson, will be the opponent for the Russian fighter Anton Vyazigin, as he makes his competition debut.

Meeting statistics

The Grand Prix’s inclusion of Anton Vyazigin, a fighter who has never had enough stars falling on him from the sky, surprised a lot of MMA fans. The decision was made to go with the Russian fighter because he’s more well-known and accessible to the general public. Even if they’ve competed in the UFC, foreigners find it difficult to sell their fights in Russia. Although Vyazigin can’t be accused of making noise or being in the spotlight, he’s easier for the audience to understand.

The current form of Johnson

Even if they don’t express it, the Russian MMA audience adores Tony Johnson. Despite not having the most athletic appearance, this fighter has a really textured style. He’s quick, has the heaviest strike, and is, we won’t be hesitant to say, deft, especially on the ground.

He formerly competed in Bellator (where he defeated Alexander Volkov in a split decision), and in Russia, he discovered new life. Here, Vitaliy Minakov, Denis Smoldarev, and Evgeniy Goncharov were among his opponents in some really entertaining bouts. It’s enjoyable to go back on his fight with Alexander Emelianenko at a time when nobody imagined AE’s ability to “strangely“ prevail in his fights.

Johnson won the ACA title in 2020, successfully defended it twice, and lost it last year when Salimgerey Rasulov, who had rushed out to replace him, unexpectedly knocked him out at the start of the bout. The guy from Nashville, Tennessee, also failed to finish the well-known trilogy with Goncharov after losing his most recent match via knockout in the first round.

The current form of Vyazigin

After being sidelined for more than two years due to a catastrophic injury, Anton Vyazigin makes a comeback. He also lost to Evgeniy Goncharov in his previous bout, but the outcome was decided by the referee.

The “Giant from Cherepovets“ is a reasonably powerful, well-trained fighter with no obvious weaknesses in the “schooling“, but he lacks exceptional talent. Vyazigin competed in many Russian competitions, including M-1 Global and RCC, and won the majority of his matches via knockout.

Johnson vs. Vyazigin comparison

The scythe will undoubtedly hit a stone, as a famous saying states, in this extremely exciting battle. In his bouts, Vyazigin typically avoids forcing things, which is impossible with Johnson. Additionally, the Russian’s previous year’s productivity is particularly intriguing due to how much he missed it, how well he recovered, and the new skills he learned.

Match analytics

There’s no clear favorite among online bookmakers with deposit bonuses, and their odds are fairly close. But Johnson’s attitude, who might close two losses in a row, terrifies, while Vyazigin’s prolonged rest causes worry and anxiety for his fans. If the guys decide to fight heavily, one of them will go down because Vyazigin has an advantage in reach and Johnson has an advantage in speed due to his risky stance. On the other hand, an American is still stronger in the open battle while Vyazigin has an advantage on the ropes where he can clutch an opponent.

We’d suggest placing your wagers on the win of Johnson on Sportsbet.io, which is yet to disclose the odds for the encounter, but they won’t be below 1.80, we predict.

Results of the forecast

Forecast failed. Victory Vyazigin