The middleweight division gets an intriguing clash at UFC Fight Night 252 as undefeated prospect Mansur Abdul-Malik faces off against submission specialist Nick "Blue Collar" Klein. Abdul-Malik, a powerful striker with six knockouts in seven professional wins, looks to continue his dominant rise. Meanwhile, Klein, a well-rounded grappler from Pura Vida BJJ/MMA, aims to prove he can hang with the UFC’s best. Both fighters enter with momentum, making this a compelling battle between a dangerous knockout artist and a crafty submission finisher.

Abdul-Malik boasts a perfect 7-0 record, with a staggering 86% knockout rate. The 27-year-old, training out of MMA Masters, has finished all of his fights inside two rounds. His aggressive striking and finishing instincts make him a serious threat in the middleweight division. However, his ground game remains relatively untested at the highest level. Klein, on the other hand, enters with a 6-1 record, with three of his wins coming via submission. His ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes and lock in chokes makes him a dangerous opponent for any striker. However, his lone career loss came via TKO, raising concerns about his ability to absorb power shots.

In recent performances, Abdul-Malik is coming off an impressive first-round TKO victory over Dusko Todorovic at UFC Fight Night 247 in November 2024. Prior to that, he earned a second-round TKO win over Wesley Schultz on Dana White's Contender Series in August 2024, earning his UFC contract. His finishing ability was on full display in LFA and regional circuits, with knockout wins over Allan St-Gelais and Zion Tomlinson.

Klein, meanwhile, made his UFC debut with a stunning 37-second submission win over Heraldo Souza on Dana White’s Contender Series in October 2024. Before that, he racked up back-to-back submission wins on the regional scene, tapping out Cory Simpson and Collin Huckbody. His only career loss came against Dorjan Dokaj in BTC in July 2022, where he was stopped via TKO in the third round.

The key to victory for Abdul-Malik is to keep the fight standing. His striking power and aggressive pressure will be difficult for Klein to handle if he can dictate the range. Klein, however, must close the distance, initiate grappling exchanges, and hunt for submissions. If he can drag Abdul-Malik into deep waters on the ground, he could find a finish.

Ultimately, Abdul-Malik's knockout power and striking precision give him the advantage in this fight. Unless Klein can secure early takedowns, the undefeated prospect should be able to impose his will on the feet.

Prediction: Mansur Abdul-Malik wins via TKO (Round 1).