Rizvan Kuniev is 1-1 in two UFC heavyweight fights, dropping a split decision to Curtis Blaydes and then taking a unanimous decision from Jailton Almeida in February. Tyrell Fortune is 1-0, a unanimous decision over Marcin Tybura in March.
The read
The read is quality of opposition. Kuniev has been in with two of the more established names in the division and was not finished by either, which is the record the model is weighing. Fortune's path is the Tybura fight repeated, staying disciplined for 15 minutes and taking the rounds on volume. Kuniev's path is the one that got him past Almeida, doing enough in the grappling exchanges to keep the scorecards moving his way.
What decides it
- Two heavyweights who have never been rushed, both unbeaten inside the distance in the UFC
- Kuniev's win over Almeida is the strongest single result either man owns
- Fortune's path is the disciplined three-round performance he showed against Tybura
- Heavyweight three-rounder, but a decision on both men's form
- A modest lean rather than a firm one