Career Averages - Bruno Silva
Career Averages - Brad Tavares
Bruno Silva
Brad Tavares
Bruno Silva - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marc-André Barriault | 1 | 14 of 24 | 58% | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 6 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marc-André Barriault | 1 | 14 of 24 | 58% | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 6 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marc-André Barriault | 14 of 24 | 58% | 11 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 10 | 7 of 10 | 3 of 4 |
| Bruno Silva | 6 of 12 | 50% | 4 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 6 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marc-André Barriault | 14 of 24 | 58% | 11 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 10 | 7 of 10 | 3 of 4 |
| Bruno Silva | 6 of 12 | 50% | 4 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 6 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barriault (-148), Silva (+124)
Round 1
Two skidding knockout artists will try to smash the other, with a pink slip very likely awarded to the losing party. What was a middleweight contest transformed into a catchweight affair as Silva (23-12, 4-6 UFC) missed weight by a pound after asking matchmaker Mick Maynard to give him one more chance. Barriault (16-9, 1 NC; 5-8, 1 NC UFC) also has his back against the wall, but he will have the crowd on his side at least. The two hard-swinging gentlemen do not touch gloves, as referee Luc Lefebvre watches on. Barriault sticks out his jab almost immediately, and he walks face-first into a right hand and fires back to make Silva clutch his eye. The Brazilian recovers and resets, lashing out with two punches that miss the mark and darting back to avoid the counter. Silva reaches out with a right hand and digs a knee to the body, switching stances to set up a kick that does not come. Barriault boots him in the body, and Silva catches the kick and knocks him over with swarming punches. Barriault climbs back up to his feet and jams Silva against the fence, where he unloads with titanic elbows.
His power bar maximum, “Power Bar” smashes Silva in the temple with elbow after ruthless elbow. Silva’s legs wobble and quickly give way, and he collapses face-first on the mat, totally done while Barriault finishes the job with four concussive punches
. The crowd explodes in favor of the Canadian, with “Ole ole ole” chants drowning out any other thought. Silva is still down, as medical officials tend to him. He slowly regains consciousness, but is completely disoriented and clutches his head while Barriault walks to the center of the cage and puts his hands in the prayer gesture. Silva rolls to his back, in serious agony, and Barriault’s celebration is tempered but emotional as he embraces his team. This marks the first time that Silva had ever been knocked out as a pro, and it is a rough one as the medical team tends to him and stretchers him out of the cage.
The Official Result
Marc-Andre Barriault def. Bruno Silva R1 1:27 via KO (Elbows and Punches)
Angelo picks Marc-André Barriault confidently, noting Bruno Silva is on a four-fight losing skid and looks like a shell of himself. He believes Barriault will win with sheer volume and that Silva will fade. He advises jumping on the -179 odds before they shorten further, predicting Barriault may become a 3-1 favorite by fight night.
Big Brady calls this the '1800 gambler fight of the week', comparing it to choosing between a turd sandwich and a giant douche. He notes Barriault has no chin and was brutally knocked out recently, but at least he wants to be there. Bruno Silva has lost 7 of 8 and admitted he doesn't want to fight. Brady leans Barriault because Silva's lack of desire is worse than a weak chin. He predicts a second-round knockout for Barriault.
The host expresses low confidence due to both fighters being flaky—Barriault's durability issues and Silva's anxiety. He leans on Silva landing a big shot within a round and a half to get a knockout victory.
The MMA Guru picks Barriault, believing Bruno Silva has declined significantly since the Pereira fight. He thinks Barriault's pressure, volume, and grappling will overwhelm Silva, who lacks pop and aggression. He predicts a decision win, noting Barriault's consistency and Silva's recent poor performances.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 66 of 116 | 56% | 107 of 166 | 3 of 13 | 23% | 0 | 0 | 5:51 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 36 of 97 | 37% | 38 of 100 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 13 of 27 | 48% | 21 of 38 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 2:03 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 27 | 44% | 12 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 20 of 39 | 51% | 40 of 62 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:10 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 14 of 33 | 42% | 16 of 35 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 33 of 50 | 66% | 46 of 66 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:38 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 10 of 37 | 27% | 10 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 66 of 116 | 56% | 42 of 87 | 15 of 20 | 9 of 9 | 51 of 96 | 11 of 16 | 4 of 4 |
| Bruno Silva | 36 of 97 | 37% | 28 of 83 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 8 | 30 of 85 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 13 of 27 | 48% | 6 of 18 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 19 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 12 of 27 | 44% | 7 of 20 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 23 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 20 of 39 | 51% | 15 of 31 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 4 |
| Bruno Silva | 14 of 33 | 42% | 12 of 28 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 3 | 12 of 29 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 33 of 50 | 66% | 21 of 38 | 7 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 28 of 44 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 10 of 37 | 27% | 9 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 8 of 33 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Basharat (-625), Hugo (+455)
Round 1
Fresh off a prolonged stint in Brave CF—one where he only went .500 while getting finished three times—Austria’s Naurdiev (23-7, 2-2 UFC) has somehow worked his way back to the organization while moving up to 185 pounds. His comeback draws powerhouse Silva (23-11, 4-5 UFC), who has bricks for fists but has struggled to land them cleanly as of late. High finish rates of 78% and 87% collide, which puts referee Mark Smith on notice while likely letting the judges take it easy. Gloves are touched before they are traded, and Silva strikes first with a sharp guard-splitting jab. Silva flicks out a few more, and Naurdiev’s nose is already reddening. Naurdiev opens up with wide punches and a power low kick, and Silva absorbs a flush body kick on the way back. Silva pushes out another jab, and Naurdiev goes for one to the midsection. Silva throws off-balance and gets countered with an overhand right, and his offense slows. He attempts a one-two and a low kick, and Naurdiev responds with a right hand over the top. Silva tosses a high kick that gets caught, and Naurdiev uses it to pushes his man to the fence. Silva sprawls with his back to the cage, and he posts off one hand to stop himself from being taken down. Naurdiev opens up with an elbow and a few punches to break, and as Silva throws back, Naurdiev whips a head kick at him. Silva chops at the front leg, turns around slowly, and gets nailed by a much quicker Naurdiev. The Austrian by way of Morocco shoots for a potential takedown, dragging Silva to his hands but not to the mat. Naurdiev leans on his opponent until Silva stands up, and he knees the Brazilian in the gut. Both men score elbows as they split up, and Silva attacks a low kick on the break. Naurdiev shoots in for a double-leg takedown, putting “Blindado” on his seat and hooking his legs around Silva’s. Silva bursts back to his feet, and Naurdiev hops onto his back and immediately starts fishing for a rear-naked choke. Silva leans against the fence and hand-fights to protect his neck, and Naurdiev slides off in part to Silva grabbing the fence, forcing a reset to kickboxing range. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Round 2
The second round opens with Silva tossing out low kicks. Naurdiev replies with a loud body kick, and Silva catches it and releases it when missing on a right-hand counter. Naurdiev jabs the body and walks into a left hand, and he fakes a level change to open up an overhand right. Silva tosses out a lazy low kick, and Naurdiev responds with a body shot. Naurdiev times a right hand over the top when Silva pitches another slow leg kick, and he shoots in on the Brazilian’s hips and puts him on the mat. Silva tugs on the fence to hope to improve his position, and Naurdiev climbs on top of him as Smith issues a warning. Naurdiev hacks at his man with elbows as Silva works his way up, and he sells out for a double and lifts Silva up but cannot deposit him on the floor. Silva knees and punches his way out of the tie-up, and he walks Naurdiev down and takes a few jabs on the jaw. Silva attempts a takedown, and Naurdiev easily defends it and sets up a power guillotine choke. Silva throws him off of him rather than technically fighting the choke, and he stalks “The Austrian Wonderboy” down and walks into a takedown entry. Naurdiev resets, punching his way into a double, and he secures it and dumps Silva to his backside. Naurdiev wrangles his opponent, sitting on top in half guard while working him over with punches. Silva once more grabs the fence, and Smith issues yet another warning. Silva returns to his feet, and he jabs his way to get some space. Naurdiev jabs him back and pitches out a front kick, and Silva tries to sway to dodge the attacks. Naurdiev flicks out a question-mark kick, and he dives after a double and settles for a single-leg entry to end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Round 3
The fighters touch ‘em up to get going, and Silva appears to have a little fire under his belly as he launches attacks at his opponent. Silva’s swings are lumbering and telegraphed, and Naurdiev is sharper and picks him off before shooting for a double. Naurdiev pushes Silva from one end of the cage to the other, and he scores knees to the body and a right hand over the top to break off. Silva whips a kick to the ribs, and he shoots low for a takedown that fails miserably. Silva puts his hands on the mat to defend his face from getting kneed while leaned over, and he leans back up against the wall when the Austrian hangs onto him. Naurdiev backs off to put jabs on Silva’s face, and he lines up a right hand that glances off the temple. Naurdiev allows Silva to throw a weak high kick, and when Silva turns around slowly like a Lazy Susan, Naurdiev charges him. Silva gets pushed to the wall, doggedly pursuing the takedown while hunting for trips. Silva sets up a Thai clinch, getting off one knee before absorbing several heavier blows. Naurdiev backs off and trades hands with his opponent, and they bounce on their heels to shake things out. Naurdiev chases Silva to the fencing, letting his hands go and blasting his foe’s front leg with a kick. Silva gets off two punches and a knee, and Naurdiev dances in and out with jabs and leg kicks. Silva tries to wing a left hand over the top, and his second fails as well and a leg kick turns him around. When Naurdiev crashes towards him, Silva manages to turn around in time, but he does not throw anything intercepting. Silva pushes out long left hands, and Naurdiev is light on his feet, sliding from side to side while pecking at the Brazilian with a body kick. The fight comes to a conclusion.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
The Official Result
Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno Silva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Big Brady picks Naurdiev, citing his well-rounded skills and multiple paths to win. He notes that Bruno Silva has looked washed since the Alex Pereira fight, appearing disinterested and fighting poorly. He believes Naurdiev can mix in takedowns and win on the feet or the mat. He predicts a decision win.
Cody picks Bruno Silva, citing Naurdiev's history of quitting and poor durability. He notes that Naurdiev has lost as a favorite multiple times and has cardio issues. Cody believes Silva's power and experience could lead to a knockout if Naurdiev fades. However, he is not confident and suggests a small play or pass.
Connor picks Silva, agreeing that Naurdiev is not durable and walks into hard strikes. Silva is a big puncher and Naurdiev is knockoutable. Connor notes that both fighters are bad and this fight has no reason to exist.
Daniel Vreeland picks Ismail Naurdiev to win, citing Silva's declining durability and poor minute-winning since the Pereira fight. He notes that Naurdiev has grappling upside and is the better minute winner, while Silva relies on a puncher's chance. Vreeland believes the current line is about right and that Naurdiev will pick Silva apart if he doesn't get knocked out early.
Daniel Vreeland is taking the underdog Bruno Silva despite his recent poor form. He notes that Naurdiev's last win was against an out-of-shape opponent and that Silva hits hard. Vreeland admits it's a stab at plus money, acknowledging Silva's takedown defense issues but hoping for a knockout.
Jeff Fox strongly disagrees with Vreeland, calling Naurdiev infinitely better than Silva. He highlights Silva's terrible takedown and submission defense, and Naurdiev's legitimate wrestling and submission game. Fox sees Naurdiev's path to victory via takedowns and a rear-naked choke, and notes the odds of a submission are high.
Naurdiev will mix martial arts effectively, using his wrestling to get top position and grind out a decision. He may leave some striking defense openings that Silva could exploit, but Naurdiev should avoid most of them and also find striking opportunities. The pick is Naurdiev by decision.
Paul picks Silva, noting that Naurdiev has a history of quitting and that Silva has power. He believes Silva can win if he survives the first round, as Naurdiev tends to fade. Paul is not confident but leans Silva due to the line movement.
The Guru picks Ismail Naurdiev, citing Bruno Silva's age (35) and recent unimpressive performances. He notes Naurdiev is a younger, more athletic welterweight moving up, and believes his striking and takedown defense will be enough. He acknowledges Naurdiev's regional losses but thinks he is growing into his prime. The Guru also mentions Silva's losses to Chris Weidman and Brendan Allen as signs of decline.
Zane picks Silva just for the hell of it, noting that Naurdiev is not durable, not defensively sound, and walks into hard strikes. Silva is a powerful puncher and Naurdiev is knockoutable. However, Zane acknowledges that both fighters are bad and this is a terrible filler fight.
Zane picked Naurdiev, but was unimpressed with the fight overall. He noted that Silva looked like he doesn't want to fight anymore and has been washed since Gerald Meerschaert outboxed him. Zane acknowledged Naurdiev's hard luck story but said he still didn't look great and will likely wash out against better competition.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Weidman | 1 | 75 of 111 | 67% | 88 of 129 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 3:15 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 30 of 88 | 34% | 30 of 88 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Weidman | 0 | 20 of 30 | 66% | 32 of 46 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:09 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 4 of 8 | 50% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Chris Weidman | 0 | 45 of 64 | 70% | 45 of 64 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 19 of 63 | 30% | 19 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Chris Weidman | 1 | 10 of 17 | 58% | 11 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 7 of 17 | 41% | 7 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Weidman | 75 of 111 | 67% | 44 of 74 | 14 of 19 | 17 of 18 | 56 of 88 | 5 of 7 | 14 of 16 |
| Bruno Silva | 30 of 88 | 34% | 28 of 81 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 3 | 29 of 86 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Weidman | 20 of 30 | 66% | 9 of 16 | 2 of 4 | 9 of 10 | 6 of 13 | 5 of 7 | 9 of 10 |
| Bruno Silva | 4 of 8 | 50% | 3 of 6 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Chris Weidman | 45 of 64 | 70% | 25 of 42 | 12 of 14 | 8 of 8 | 45 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 19 of 63 | 30% | 18 of 59 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 3 | 18 of 61 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Chris Weidman | 10 of 17 | 58% | 10 of 16 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 6 |
| Bruno Silva | 7 of 17 | 41% | 7 of 16 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Silva (-285), Weidman (+230)
Round 1
The feature fight of “UFC Atlantic City” features former middleweight champ Weidman, fighting near his Long Island home turf and looking to reverse the fortunes that have seen him go 2-7 since his title loss to Luke Rockhold eight years ago. His foe, Silva, will attempt to reclaim some of the shine he earned after knocking out his first three UFC foes upon his arrival in 2021, before embarking on a dismal 1-4 run of his own. Overseeing the proceedings will be referee Gary Copeland. Weidman is orthodox, Silva southpaw. Weidman is reaching out with the lead hand, looking to tie up or parry the hand of Silva. Weidman throws a right kick, then another, getting some work for the leg he broke against Uriah Hall a couple of years ago. Weidman goes upstairs with the left leg, then throws a pair of punches up the middle that hurt Silva. Silva ties Weidman up and looks for a takedown. Weidman takes a front headlock and throws some knees to the head of Silva. Weidman moves to the back, holding Silva with a rear waistlock and dragging him to his knees. Silva posts his hands on the ground, forestalling any more knees to the head, and builds back up to all fours. Silva uses the fence to deny Weidman full back control, but Weidman is throwing short strikes and keeping the Brazilian completely corralled. Under a minute to go and it’s all Weidman, as Silva is parked against the fence, defending himself but doing nothing else. Weidman is throwing knees to the back of Silva’s legs, and the round ends in that position.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Round 2
Silva is bouncing on his toes, showing both stances. He catches a Weidman kick and pushes him over onto his seat, but Weidman pops back up. Weidman comes forward, reaching with the left hand and throwing kicks with both legs. Weidman lands a right kick to the body. Silva comes back with a pair of punches that land. Silva steps in and throws a pair of big hooks that glance off of Weidman’s arms. Weidman lands a body punch, then in the next collision, thumbs Silva right in the eye. Copeland calls time and gives Silva time to recover. There is a moment of confusion as Copeland requests a towel to clear the eye, but thankfully it arrives and they go back to work a few seconds later. Weidman immediately goes back to the right body kick, and Silva answers with a pair of punches. Weidman changes levels but Silva is all over it. Weidman catches Silva with a punch that makes him stumble, but Silva recovers quickly. Silva throws a huge hook that misses by a mile, nearly spinning him around. Silva rushes forward with hooks, all of them wild, but several land nonetheless. Weidman answers with punches of his own. Both men have been rocked. Weidman catches Silva with another left hook, backs him up to the fence and lets fly. Silva is in some trouble, even as he tries to throw back, but the round expires before either man can capitalize.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Weidman
Round 3
Silva throws a lead right hook, which Weidman slips and counters with a left. Seconds later, each man pokes the other in the eye almost simultaneously, though Silva appears to get much the worse of it, going to his hands and knees in pain as Weidman steps away blinking. During the ensuing time-out, Copeland tries to determine whether both blows were fingers or one was a fist. It turns out that both strikes were fouls, and the fighters go back to work after a warning. Weidman goes back to reaching with the left hand, and Silva goes upstairs with a huge head kick that misses high. Two minutes gone in the rounds and Weidman steps in with a straight right.
Silva leaps in with a pair of punches, and Weidman levels him with a short counter punch. Silva goes down pawing at his eye, but Weidman swings away and Copeland is there in seconds for the stoppage. Weidman celebrates to the roars of the crowd as Silva protests.
Replay shows that Weidman actually managed to poke Silva in both eyes—one with each hand!—rather than any clean punch. This is going one of the weirdest endings to a fight on a card full of weird fight endings.
The fight result is initially announced as a TKO win for Weidman. A few minutes later, however, the UFC booth states that the result will go down as a unanimous decision win for Weidman, based on the scorecards up to the point of the fight-ending foul. No individual scores are announced, nor is it clear whether the third round was scored at all, or if any point deduction was assessed for the final pair of eye pokes.
The Official Result
Chris Weidman def. Bruno Silva via Technical Decision (Unanimous).
Angelo picks Bruno Silva despite being a Chris Weidman fan. He notes Silva hits hard and is tough, while Weidman looked old and slow in his last fight after a broken leg. He thinks this is one of Weidman's last winnable fights but believes Silva will get it done. He does not bet because he would be rooting against Weidman.
Big Brady picks Bruno Silva to win by first-round knockout. He acknowledges Weidman has a path via submission due to Silva's poor ground game, but believes Silva's power will be too much for the aging Weidman, who has been knocked out multiple times. Brady notes Weidman hasn't had a good performance since 2017 and expects Silva to land a knockout.
Cody believes Weidman is completely shot, citing his age, injuries, and poor recent performances. He thinks Silva's power and aggression will overwhelm Weidman early, possibly by leg kicks or overhand rights. He notes Silva's cardio issues but expects a finish before that becomes a factor.
Daniel Vreeland picks Bruno Silva, citing his 20-0 knockout ratio and Weidman's age, leg break, and history of getting knocked out. He believes Weidman will fatigue after early takedown attempts and that Silva will land a knockout. He notes Silva's submission losses but thinks Weidman won't be able to submit him due to Silva's ability to survive and get back up.
Weidman is 1-4 in his last five, aging, and his body can't absorb damage like before. Silva has knockout power and should time Weidman's entries for an uppercut or explosion. Weidman may get a takedown or two but lacks finishing ability at this stage. Silva by knockout in the second or third rounds is likely, but the minus 285 line is too wide to bet.
Paul picks Silva but without much enthusiasm, calling Weidman 'beyond beyond dead.' He notes Silva's inconsistent performances and high price (-260) but sees no reason to back Weidman given his decline.
The host picks Bruno Silva to win by TKO, citing Weidman's age (39), compromised leg, and lack of finishing potential on the feet. He believes Silva's low kicks will be effective and that Weidman will be hesitant. He predicts a TKO, though he initially considered a decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharabutdin Magomedov | 0 | 113 of 154 | 73% | 222 of 274 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 65 of 91 | 71% | 107 of 138 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 0 | 0 | 6:44 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 0 | 46 of 66 | 69% | 46 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 28 of 42 | 66% | 28 of 42 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 0 | 43 of 58 | 74% | 82 of 101 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 26 of 36 | 72% | 44 of 56 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:25 | |
| 3 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 0 | 24 of 30 | 80% | 94 of 107 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 11 of 13 | 84% | 35 of 40 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharabutdin Magomedov | 113 of 154 | 73% | 56 of 92 | 22 of 24 | 35 of 38 | 74 of 106 | 15 of 21 | 24 of 27 |
| Bruno Silva | 65 of 91 | 71% | 51 of 76 | 6 of 7 | 8 of 8 | 35 of 56 | 5 of 5 | 25 of 30 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 46 of 66 | 69% | 16 of 31 | 10 of 12 | 20 of 23 | 46 of 66 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 28 of 42 | 66% | 20 of 33 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 27 of 41 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 43 of 58 | 74% | 21 of 36 | 9 of 9 | 13 of 13 | 24 of 35 | 7 of 9 | 12 of 14 |
| Bruno Silva | 26 of 36 | 72% | 20 of 30 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 15 of 18 | |
| 3 | Sharabutdin Magomedov | 24 of 30 | 80% | 19 of 25 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 | 8 of 12 | 12 of 13 |
| Bruno Silva | 11 of 13 | 84% | 11 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 12 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Magomedov (-250), Silva (+205)
Round 1
It is time for the UFC’s annual show in Abu Dhabi, and it begins early for stateside audiences. Morning mayhem is on the menu for fight fans in the Western Hemisphere, and the UFC has done its darnedest to build a card that can excite from fight no. 1 to 13. The action begins in the middleweight division between two men that crave knockouts. Making his debut with the promotion against a tough test, Magomedov (11-0, 0-0 UFC) will be taking a serious step up in competition when he battles “Blindado” Silva (23-9, 4-3 UFC). Before the fists and feet fly, referee Jason Herzog checks them in. The gloves are touched, and Magomedov swats away a few flies before engaging. Magomedov takes the center of the cage and whips a kick out low to test the waters, and Silva no-sells it and slowly walks him down. Magomedov lands another from range, but Silva is slowly backing him towards the fencing despite getting off kicks. Silva ignores a few more as he closes distance, and he paws out his foot to the waist in a single response. Silva leans over with a left hand and turns awkwardly with a heel kick to the side, but when he recovers, he cracks the Russian with two heavy punches. Silva chains a punch into a whipping low kick, and Magomedov whiffs on the leg kick reply. Magomedov nails his man with a leg kick, and Silva crowds him but gets knocked back with a few fists. Magomedov fires off a head kick out of nowhere to shock Silva, and a jump knee from “Bullet” follows to further get his attention. Silva wobbles back to the fencing, and he gathers his thoughts and bounces off it to re-engage. Silva lunges forward with punches, and he pops Magomedov at the end of them. The unbeaten fighter parries a few strikes and signals to his foe that Silva’s fingers were extended, so Silva apologizes with a glove touch offer. Magomedov nails his man with another solid kick, and when he turns around lazily, Silva sprints towards him with winging punches. As Silva turns about during an exchange, Magomedov boots “Blindado” in the groin with full force and then brings up a head kick as Silva is stung from the foul. Herzog calls the illegal blow and gives Silva time to get his thoughts, and the two get back to it. The Russian hammers Silva’s lead leg with a vicious kick that makes Silva change stances, and when Silva returns to southpaw, he attacks it again on the inside. Silva snipes Magomedov with a left hook, and Magomedov shakes it off and pins a kick to the ribcage. Magomedov stays on his bike with kicks, and Silva sits down on punches to hurt Magomedov badly. This draws a fiery brawl, and Silva lays into the heavy favorite with a flurry while Magomedov attempts to return fire with kicks. As Silva hurts Magomedov, the round ends.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Round 2
The middleweights touch gloves to initiate the round, and Silva is quick to pick up where he left off. Magomedov tries to keep away and uses his legs as his best weapons, with a few low kicks that set up body kicks and even a hook kick up high. Silva hammers him back with nasty punches, but the damage is starting to mount from Magomedov’s leg kicks. Magomedov lets fly a head kick that glances off the guard, and Silva keeps his wits about him and looks to line up a long right hand as Magomedov pecks and picks at him with his effective kicking game. Magomedov chains together multiple punches into a knee up the middle, and he continues bombarding Silva with kicks that land with thuds rather than slaps. Silva lunges with strikes, but he cannot quite catch Magomedov as the Russian has his preferred range. Silva checks a kick after eating a few more, and “Shara Bullet” goes up high with a hook kick. Silva times a diving takedown to take Magomedov off his feet, and he succeeds in planting his adversary on his back. Magomedov defends himself off his back by hacking with elbows, and he cuts Silva on the top of his head with them. Magomedov remains fully active from on his back, and Silva tries to get off shots but is taking damage despite being in top position. Magomedov is happy to get into a slugfest from his back, and he gets some space and smacks Silva with an upkick. Silva manages to connect with some heavy ground-and-pound as well to rip open a cut on Magomedov’s eyebrow, but Magomedov is not at all concerned by it. Silva maintains heavy top pressure and picks his moments to strike so that Magomedov cannot get to him with sneaky elbows. Silva drives home a few more punches until he gets kicked off, and Magomedov turns and whips Silva in the face with a shocker of a kick off his back. Silva blinks it out and dives back down to strike until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Round 3
Having reached the final round, the two men are ready for five more minutes of carnage. Magomedov reintroduces himself with a number of leg kicks, and one foot thumps into Silva’s cup. Silva tanks it so that he can charge forward, and he manages to hit a double-leg takedown in the middle of the cage to ground the Russian. Magomedov immediately spurs into action with slicing elbows, all while pushing off Silva’s chest with his feet when he can get any space. Silva lowers himself into the guard to slug Magomedov in the face with powerful, gravity-empowered punches, and he passes to half guard briefly. Magomedov keeps busy from his back, and he scoots himself to the wall in hopes of standing up. Silva cannot keep him down, and Magomedov celebrates by kneeing Silva in the face. Silva bull-rushes with a double to take the fight down, and Magomedov stuffs it and elbows Silva in the face. Silva takes every strike on the chin so that he can secure a double, and “Shara Bullet” slams the back of his head on the mat in pain. Magomedov appears stunned, and he does not attack from his back after this takedown. Herzog asks Silva to do more, as Silva is slowing down, and Silva tries to respond with some slugs on the chin. Magomedov delivers several blows despite in the disadvantageous position, and Silva shifts over to side control with 30 seconds to spare. Magomedov kicks him off, and Silva threatens one more takedown that is stuffed. Magomedov drives home one more knee up the middle, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva (29-28 Magomedov)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Silva (29-28 Magomedov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov (30-27 Magomedov)
The Official Result
Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Bruno Silva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo is very high on Shara Magomedov, calling him a massive prospect and the next big thing. He notes Bruno Silva's power and BJJ but questions his chin after being dropped by Brendan Allen, who isn't a one-punch knockout guy. Angelo expects Shara to win by KO and mentions he has parlays including Shara. He is confident in Shara's striking and power.
Big Brady picks Sharabutdin Magomedov to win by second or third round knockout. He notes Magomedov is a powerful striker with all wins by KO except one decision, while Bruno Silva has looked off lately, taking heavy damage in the Pereira fight and getting dropped by lesser opponents. Brady believes Silva's durability is fading and that Magomedov will put him away.
Cody picks Magomedov, emphasizing his striking and cardio. He notes that Silva is a first-round KO artist who fades if he doesn't finish early. Cody believes Magomedov's pace and volume will wear Silva down, leading to a late finish or decision. He acknowledges the eye issue but thinks Magomedov has adapted.
Daniel picks Sharabutdin Magomedov to win, praising his dynamic kicking and clinch knees. He acknowledges Bruno Silva's power and experience, noting that Silva has 20 knockouts and could close the distance to land. However, he believes Silva's durability is waning after taking damage in recent fights, and that Magomedov's range and body attacks will be key. He calls it a 'dog or pass' situation and says he would not bet at these odds.
James bet on Sharabutdin Magomedov at -225, believing there was value as the line closed at -350. He noted that Sharabutdin beat Bruno Silva brutally for three rounds, winning 30-27 on all scorecards. He acknowledged Sharabutdin's poor takedown defense and get-ups but felt his guard was solid and his striking was elite. James considered Bruno Silva a tough opponent but thought Sharabutdin would win the majority of the time.
Magomedov's movement and speed advantage will allow him to touch up Silva from distance, stay on his bicycle, and roll with shots. Silva's power is a threat but Magomedov's durability looks good. Expects Magomedov to win by decision, playing it safe with the jab and leg kicks.
Paul picks Silva as a dog, citing Magomedov's lack of wrestling and his disability (one eye). He notes that Silva has fought tough competition and has power, and that Magomedov's regional tape shows he can be taken down. Paul believes Silva can make it ugly and possibly win by KO.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Allen | 1 | 30 of 56 | 53% | 40 of 69 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2:29 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 20 of 38 | 52% | 24 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendan Allen | 1 | 30 of 56 | 53% | 40 of 69 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2:29 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 20 of 38 | 52% | 24 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brendan Allen | 30 of 56 | 53% | 24 of 49 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 32 | 5 of 5 | 10 of 19 |
| Bruno Silva | 20 of 38 | 52% | 17 of 33 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 33 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendan Allen | 30 of 56 | 53% | 24 of 49 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 32 | 5 of 5 | 10 of 19 |
| Bruno Silva | 20 of 38 | 52% | 17 of 33 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 33 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Allen (-180), Silva (+155)
Round 1
A fight that seems destined for a finish will kick off the main card on ABC, as these two middleweights present dueling finish rates of 81% and 87%. Referee Marc Goddard is on his guard for this encounter between “All In” Allen (21-5, 9-2 UFC) and “Blindado” Silva (23-8, 4-2 UFC). The two do not bump fists before getting to it, and instead it is Allen as the attacker, swinging out a high kick that is parried with ease. Allen rushes out with a straight right hand and attempts another high kick, and the latter is blocked. Allen sneaks up a head kick, and Silva eats it and is forced to defend a takedown effort that follows. Allen rips the body with a kick, and he closes the distance and ignores a knee coming back at him. “All In” jams Silva up against the wire, and he connects with a short elbow as he does. Allen looks to muscle Silva down to the floor, and when his first try come up short, Goddard tells them to work. Allen keeps pressing on his foe to wear on him, and Goddard asks again for more activity. Allen breaks off and gets drilled with a right hand, and he counters Silva with a short right hand to shake the Brazilian up as a result. Allen drives a left hand through and rocks Silva, and he shoots for a double that gets stuffed. Silva backs him away and walks into an uppercut, and when Silva unloads with a few punches, he backs away to reset. Silva stings his man with a combination, and Allen shells up and counters with a pair of rights. Allen smashes his opponent on the side of the head with several vicious right hands, and the last one in a chain of them sends “Blindado” careening to the mat.
Allen jumps on top hoping to finish the job, and he busts Silva up with several punches on the way down. Silva turns to his side, and Allen hopes to take his back in the process. Allen hunts for a back take, and he gets a hook in. He does not need to even secure the other before he fastens a rear-naked choke up tightly.
Allen is in major trouble, and he does not have the wherewithal to fight the grip or get out of the precarious position. Instead, before he goes out, Silva is forced to tap out. That is another rear-naked choke for Allen, who waded through a firefight and showed off his improved striking before getting the club-and-sub finish.
The Official Result
Brendan Allen def. Bruno Silva R1 4:39 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo leans toward Brendan Allen, thinking he probably wins if he avoids Bruno Silva's big power. He notes Allen is well-rounded and on a four-fight win streak, but historically inconsistent. He considers a bet on Bruno Silva inside the distance (finish only) at plus money if available.
Big Brady picks Brendan Allen despite not trusting him, citing Allen's tendency to make poor fight IQ decisions. He notes Silva's massive hole in grappling with seven submission losses. He believes if Allen takes the fight to the mat, he will dominate via submission. However, if Allen chooses to strike, he risks getting knocked out by Silva's power. He predicts a first-round submission.
Cody picks Allen, agreeing that his wrestling and jiu-jitsu will be decisive. He notes Silva's power but thinks Allen can make the fight ugly and take him down. He compares Allen to Pat Sabatini in terms of grappling advantage.
Connor picks Allen, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Silva is a dangerous puncher but lacks form and consistency. Allen has been improving his striking under Henry Hoof and has become more durable. Connor points out that Allen has only been finished once early in his career and that his grappling is elite. He sees Silva's only chance as landing a lucky shot.
Daniel Levi picks Brendan Allen but is concerned about a letdown spot after losing a main event booking. He acknowledges Allen's superior skills but notes Silva's knockout power and Allen's history of being knocked out. He thinks Allen is the more skilled fighter but sees this as a dangerous fight and a dog-or-pass situation at -180.
The host picks Brendan Allen to win by submission. He believes Allen's grappling advantage will be too much for Silva, as Silva has struggled against grapplers in the past. He expects Allen to get the fight to the ground, work to dominant positions, and eventually find a submission. He also suggests the fight doesn't go to decision as a prop.
Paul picks Allen, citing his grappling advantage and ability to take Silva down. He notes Silva's power but thinks Allen can neutralize it with wrestling and submissions. He acknowledges the risk but believes Allen's grappling is the key.
The Guru picks Brendan Allen but expresses worry about Allen's tendency to strike instead of grapple. He believes Allen is much better than Gerald Meerschaert, who dropped Silva, and that Allen can frustrate Silva by mixing in grappling. He predicts Allen will shoot a takedown when Silva rushes with a combo and win by TKO via ground and pound. He pleads with Allen to grapple and not trade power punches.
Zane picks Allen, emphasizing his superior grappling and improving striking. He notes that Silva is a powerful but formless brawler who over-swings and leaves himself in bad positions. Allen is a shockingly good grappler with wins over Andre Muniz and Kevin Holland. Zane believes Allen can win via submission or decision, and that Silva's only path is a puncher's chance.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 15 of 64 | 23% | 15 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 1 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 24 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 15 of 64 | 23% | 15 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 1 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 24 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 15 of 64 | 23% | 11 of 56 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 23 of 51 | 45% | 17 of 40 | 5 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 21 of 48 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 15 of 64 | 23% | 11 of 56 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 23 of 51 | 45% | 17 of 40 | 5 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 21 of 48 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tavares (-155), Silva (+135)
Round 1
A banger at 185 pounds is on deck for the co-headliner of this Fight Night, as Tavares (19-7, 14-7 UFC) looks to hold the middleweight line against the lead-fisted Silva (22-8, 3-2 UFC). One of these two fighters will get back in the win column here and potentially push their way back into the top 15, and they will have 15 minutes at max to do so. Referee Mark Smith has donned his hard hat, and the two fighters bump fists in front of his eyes. Tavares doubles up on the jab after the bump, and Silva springs out of the way. Silva walks forward and ducks a big punch, and he misses the mark with his own heavy left hook. Silva lets go with a leg kick, and Tavares intercepts him with a powerful body kick. Tavares times a right and a left, with the left landing behind the ear and getting Silva’s attention. Tavares boots Silva upside the head, and Silva blocks most of it and throws back with a vengeance. A long jab from Tavares makes Silva stumble, but Silva gathers his bearings and knocks Tavares back with a right hand. The Hawaiian releases a kick to the ribs, a one-two and a front kick in rapid succession, and Silva attempts to tie him up and knee him in the face. The two middleweights throw from their hips, and they reset to exchange from a distance. Silva leans down to guard a body kick, and he counters a reaching Tavares with an uppercut. They trade single, long punches, and Tavares lets fly a high kick. Silva sneaks a right hand over the top to rock Tavares, and the Hawaiian wobbles back but is still very much in the fight. Silva trades back when Tavares engages with him, and Silva stings Tavares with a short combination.
“Blindado” uncoils a powerful knee and a blindingly fast right hand that gets around the guard, and Tavares collapses to his back. Smith halts the fight when Tavares goes down, and Tavares immediately complains that he was not knocked out and was still in the fight.
Regardless of the feelings of the stoppage, the result is what it is, and Silva has turned things around to record a very important knockout. Silva reminds the division of the power in his fists with this victory, and he may have claimed a spot in the top 15 at the expense of ranked Chris Curtis.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Brad Tavares R1 3:35 via TKO (Knee and Punch)
Angelo picks Bruno Silva despite his recent loss, attributing it to a bad night. He believes in Silva's raw talent, power, and BJJ, and thinks he can beat Brad Tavares who is well-rounded but not exceptional at anything. He acknowledges the risk and advises others to do their own research, noting that if you think Silva is broken, then pick Tavares. He is not betting on this fight.
Big Brady picks Bruno Silva as a dog to knock out Brad Tavares in the first round. He is hesitant because Silva looked awful in his last fight, appearing sluggish and drunk, but if the 'sober' Silva shows up, he has the power to knock out Tavares, who has been knocked out multiple times. Brady is scared by Silva's last performance and won't put a ton of money on him, but he still picks Silva to win early.
Cody picks Bruno Silva as an underdog, criticizing Brad Tavares as one-dimensional and not exceptional. He notes Tavares fades in later rounds and allows opponents to outwork him, as seen against Dricus du Plessis. Cody believes Silva has power and can land damaging strikes, possibly getting a knockout or winning a decision. He mentions Silva went 15 minutes with Alex Pereira and landed heavy shots.
Connor picks Tavares, arguing that Silva is one-dimensional and falls apart when his wild hooks are neutralized. He notes that Tavares is a solid defensive wrestler and technical striker, and that Silva's inefficiency will cause him to gas. However, he acknowledges that Silva hits hard and could catch Tavares if he gets into a lull, but overall Tavares should grind out a win.
Brad Tavares has good striking defense and durability, as shown against Dricus du Plessis where he was not knocked down. He can mix in takedowns to avoid Bruno Silva's power. Silva is knockout-reliant and has poor takedown defense; he tends to get outstruck by technical strikers. Tavares should be able to outwork Silva over three rounds, using combinations and leg/body kicks. Silva may slow down, allowing Tavares to increase output and win a decision.
Paul also picks Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody that Brad Tavares is not someone he likes as a favorite. He sees a path for Silva to win by decision or knockout, noting Tavares' durability may be fading. However, Paul admits he is not actually betting this fight, calling it a pass for betting purposes.
The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares over Bruno Silva. He notes Silva's loss to GM3 and damage from Pereira, while Tavares has a granite chin and good grappling. He thinks Tavares can use his takedowns and technical striking to win. He is not fully confident but leans toward Tavares.
Zane picks Tavares but is hesitant, noting that Tavares is fundamentally solid but hasn't evolved and often lulls in fights. He worries that Silva's power and awkwardness could catch Tavares, similar to how Dricus du Plessis did. However, he thinks Silva is too messy and inefficient, and that Tavares's defensive wrestling and jab should carry him to a decision win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 29 of 81 | 35% | 38 of 93 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Bruno Silva | 1 | 46 of 114 | 40% | 61 of 136 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 1 | 0 | 2:12 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 10 of 26 | 38% | 19 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 38 | 31% | 20 of 52 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 | |
| 2 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 12 of 41 | 29% | 12 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 19 of 51 | 37% | 19 of 51 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 3 | Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 7 of 14 | 50% | 7 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Bruno Silva | 1 | 15 of 25 | 60% | 22 of 33 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:14 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerald Meerschaert | 29 of 81 | 35% | 17 of 60 | 6 of 14 | 6 of 7 | 27 of 79 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 46 of 114 | 40% | 28 of 92 | 9 of 12 | 9 of 10 | 36 of 95 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 19 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerald Meerschaert | 10 of 26 | 38% | 5 of 17 | 3 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 9 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 12 of 38 | 31% | 8 of 33 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 13 | |
| 2 | Gerald Meerschaert | 12 of 41 | 29% | 8 of 32 | 2 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 19 of 51 | 37% | 8 of 38 | 6 of 8 | 5 of 5 | 19 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Gerald Meerschaert | 7 of 14 | 50% | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 15 of 25 | 60% | 12 of 21 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Silva (-280), Meerschaert (+235)
Round 1
Silva returns to action after having a seven-bout professional winning streak snapped by current No. 1 contender Alex Pereira at UFC Fight Night 203. Meerschaert has won three of four but is also coming off a defeat in his last outing. They touch gloves and we’re underway. Meerschaert opens with a leg kick. Silva is walking forward and he lands a body kick. Meerscheart answers with one of his own. Another hard body kick for Silva. They trade punches in close, but nothing of consequence lands. Meerschaert dodges a left but Silva follows up with a low kick. Meerschaert with a leg kick in response. Meerschaert is slipping punches well so far, but he eats another leg kick. A long jab form Silva backs up his opponent. Meerschaert lands a body kick. The Roufusport product connects with a jab. Meerschaert with a left hook in an exchange. Silva lands a body kick followed by a glancing left hand. Meerschaert times a level change and plants Silva on his back. Silva is staying active from his back by trying to throw strikes. Meerschaert is heavy on top. Meerschaert postures up and lands a series of standing left and rights before diving back into top position before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Round 2
Meerschaert fires off a body kick and Silva answers with a leg kick. Silva just misses a big right hand. Silva pressures and absorbs a front kick. They clinch briefly but Silva shoves his opponent away. Another nice body kick for Meerschaert and Silva swings and misses wildly. Silva counters a kick with a right hand and an off balance Meerschaert stumbles. Another body kick lands for Meerschaert and he follows up with a leg kick. Silva looks for a takedown and is momentarily trapped in a choke but he quickly escpaes. A stiff counter right lands for Silva. Meerschaert has a takedown entry denied. Meerschaert lands a standing side kick, then ducks under a winging punch. Meerschaert connects with a glancing head kick. Another level change is denied by Silva, but Meerschaert follows up with a body kick. Silva pressures with punches and Meerschaert runs away with the Brazilian in pursuit. An inside low kick lands for Meerschaert and Silva buckles to a knee. Another leg kick makes Silva stumble. Meerschaert jabs forward and Silva answers with a jab . Silva whiffs and falls forward on a massive punch just before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert
Round 3
Meerschaert goes back to the body kick that has given him so much success. Then he lands a leg kick. Silva denies a takedown attempt. Meerschaert avoids punches from an onrushing Silva, then counters with a combination. Silva shrugs off the takedown attempt, however. Meerschaert changes levels and lands a knee in close. He drops “Blindado” with a massive left hook after they separate and follows him to the canvas.
Meerschaert lands a few alternating lefts and rights before locking in the guillotine. Silva tries to escape, but Meerschaert maintains the hold and the Brazilian has no choice but to tap out.
That makes 27 career submission wins for “GM3.”
The Official Result
Gerald Meerschaert def. Bruno Silva via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R3 1:39
Angelo is extremely confident in Bruno Silva, citing his striking, BJJ, and toughness. He notes Meerschaert's only path is to get beaten up and pull off a submission, but Silva has solid BJJ to defend. Angelo has a 2-unit moneyline bet and will use Silva in knockout kings.
Big Brady picks Bruno Silva to win by first-round knockout. He calls Silva a black belt in ground and pound with tremendous power. Meerschaert is slow, hittable, and unlikely to get the fight to the mat. Silva's submission defense has improved, and Brady sees this as a terrible matchup for Meerschaert. He expects Silva to put him out cold in the first round.
Cody picks Bruno Silva by KO, calling him a murderous power puncher. He notes Meerschaert's chin has been compromised and that Silva carries power through all three rounds. Cody doubts Meerschaert can take Silva down early, as he was out-wrestled by Dustin Stoltzfus.
Daniel Levi picks Bruno Silva, citing Silva's devastating power, durability, and improved takedown defense. He notes that Silva went three hard rounds with Alex Pereira and has knockout wins over Alexander Shlemenko and Artem Frolov. Levi believes Silva's power and pressure will be too much for Meerschaert, and he predicts a first-round knockout. He acknowledges Meerschaert's submission threat but thinks Silva will avoid it.
The host picks Bruno Silva, expecting an early finish. He mentions that Meerschaert could be dangerous if it goes to the ground, but he would rather take violence in that spot. He includes Silva in his totals parlay under 1.5 rounds.
Paul picks Bruno Silva by knockout, noting Silva's power and ability to keep the fight standing. He acknowledges Meerschaert's submission threat but thinks Silva's wrestling defense is adequate. Paul warns that Meerschaert is the king of snatching submissions after getting beaten up.
The host picks Bruno Silva, calling it a lock. He expects Silva to survive Meerschaert's early takedown attempts, work his way up, and hurt him on the feet, leading to a third-round TKO. He notes Silva's good gas tank and ability to stuff takedowns, as seen in the Andrew Sanchez fight, and criticizes Meerschaert's recent performances.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Pereira | 0 | 108 of 179 | 60% | 165 of 239 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:17 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 59 of 147 | 40% | 72 of 160 | 2 of 8 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 3:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Pereira | 0 | 27 of 51 | 52% | 31 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 16 of 46 | 34% | 19 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 | |
| 2 | Alex Pereira | 0 | 33 of 58 | 56% | 53 of 79 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 31 of 64 | 48% | 32 of 65 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:10 | |
| 3 | Alex Pereira | 0 | 48 of 70 | 68% | 81 of 105 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:10 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 37 | 32% | 21 of 46 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:17 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Pereira | 108 of 179 | 60% | 60 of 120 | 41 of 50 | 7 of 9 | 86 of 151 | 22 of 27 | 0 of 1 |
| Bruno Silva | 59 of 147 | 40% | 39 of 119 | 8 of 16 | 12 of 12 | 52 of 134 | 7 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Pereira | 27 of 51 | 52% | 10 of 28 | 11 of 16 | 6 of 7 | 23 of 45 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 16 of 46 | 34% | 10 of 40 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 13 of 42 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Alex Pereira | 33 of 58 | 56% | 19 of 41 | 13 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 30 of 53 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 |
| Bruno Silva | 31 of 64 | 48% | 20 of 49 | 6 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 27 of 57 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Alex Pereira | 48 of 70 | 68% | 31 of 51 | 17 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 33 of 53 | 15 of 17 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 12 of 37 | 32% | 9 of 30 | 0 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 35 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
The matchmakers knew what they were doing with this high-stakes middleweight matchup pitting two knockout-friendly strikers against one another, even if some feel it might be too early to eliminate one as a future contender. Former kickboxer “Poatan” Pereira (4-1, 1-0 UFC) and his 100% knockout rate will aim to put “Blindado” Silva (22-6, 3-0 UFC) away with strikes for the first time in his career, and the action will likely be furious and frenetic for as long as it lasts. Referee Mark Smith might have been better suited putting on protective gear to defend against an errant blow, in light of referee Scott Manhardt getting clocked with a rolling thunder kick at an IMMAF event earlier this week. The heavy-handed Brazilians touch gloves, and Pereira throws first with a high kick that slaps off the guard. A head kick from the other leg comes from “Poatan,” who backs off and spams kicks while Silva comes towards him. Silva looks to clinch briefly, and Pereira pushes him off and keeps his kicks going. Silva stays composed, and he suddenly explodes forward with a surge of punches that are largely blocked. Pereira pushes away with his fingers out, and Smith warns him. Smith takes a punch up the middle, and he jumps forward with three punches that all hit air as Pereira dances out of the way. Two punches comes from “Poatan,” and as he looks for a knee, Silva busts him in the chops with a right hand. Silva bites down on his mouthpiece and slings another pair of booming hooks, and Pereira absorbs them and wears them well. Pereira scores a kick the body, and they both land punches at the same time. Silva ducks a punch, tries to loop several punches on the outside, and gets clinched by the kickboxer. Up close, Silva glances a knee off the cup, and Smith warns him but does not pause the match. Instead, Pereira pushes off, throws two kicks in rapid succession to the body, and Silva tries to spin with a wheel kick that just misses. Silva changes stances, meeting an advancing Pereira with a left hand and a low kick, and he does this same tactic a second time. Silva pushes forward, where he changes levels and hits a takedown, while Pereira defends with a guillotine choke that he hopes to push Silva’s neck down and stand. “Poatan” gets to a knee as Silva stays glommed on to him, wrapping one of Pereira’s legs up and dragging him down. Pereira explodes upright again, only to get met with a stern knee from “Blindado.” Pereira looks to make Silva pay, missing with a left hand and forced to block when Silva lobs hammers at him. Pereira splits the guard with a left hand, follows it with a knee and stings Silva. He pulls back instead of trying to finish the job in the latter seconds of the round, and calmly blocks a Silva head kick as time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
The middleweights meet in the middle to pick up where they left off, and a kick from Pereira bounces off Silva’s cup. Silva answers back with a swarming combination, and Pereira dances out of the way and tries to paw out a front kick. Silva absorbs a punch to the body as he pushes forward, and he has a right hand go over the top as Pereira rolls with it. Pereira again targets the midsection, and he wades forward to not let a looping left from Silva land on him. Pereira scores a kick to the head, and Silva eats it and rushes in to throw with bad intentions. Pereira slaps punches away as he is forced to defend, replying with strikes that get Silva’s attention. Pereira goes up high with a left and to the body with a right, but he cannot get Silva off of him. “Blindado” eats a left hand on the chin, kicks his foe’s leg, and changes levels to secure a takedown. It does not take more than a few seconds for the kickboxer to muscle his way back to his feet, while not letting Silva land anything on him. Silva presses him tightly against the fence, kneeing him to the thigh a few times as “Blindado” exerts heavy pressure. Pereira tries to fight off with slapping punches, and Silva spins with an elbow. Pereira takes the space and sneaks up a knee, but Silva replies with a powerful uppercut. As they continue to stay tangled up, Pereira scores another knee, and Silva tries and fails to take the fight down. Pereira strings together a few punches up top, and a left hand rattles Silva for a moment. “Blindado” does not seem to budge, remaining in Pereira’s face as he sticks out a jab and forces the kickboxer to fight off his back foot. Silva wings a right hand that slides off the face, and he connects with a right hand that stuns “Poatan” for a moment. Silva jumps forward with a few punches, busting Pereira’s nose open, and he chains a combination together that ends in a low kick. Pereira responds with a jump knee, and Silva takes it flush and scores the same combination as before punctuated with a leg kick. One more flying knee comes from “Poatan,” and Silva stumbles and falls to his back – it was not a knockdown, but a slip. Pereira wades into his foe’s guard, and the close, tense round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Pereira
Round 3
The strikers touch ‘em up to commence the final round, and Pereira is first to engage with a long left hand. Silva’s chain of a combination that ended the last round strong carries over to the last frame, with punches and a leg kick. From there, “Blindado” shoots for a takedown, and he gets stuffed. Silva rips the leg with another kick, and a few punches make Pereira bounce back to the wall. “Blindado” bullies his foe up to the fencing, and they trade knees while jockeying for position. Pereira turns Silva around in the clinch, and he punches Silva’s thigh as they pummel and push one another around. Pereira is constantly busy in this position, with little punches and hammerfists to any target he can find, as Silva stays tightly pressed with little other offense. Pereira knees the body, and he leans back just in time as Silva goes to the moon with an uppercut that brushes past Pereira’s chin. When Silva walks his foe down, Pereira answers with a strong series of punches. One big left hand hurts Silva, who wobbles back, and Silva aims to take the fight down to the canvas. Pereira stops it from succeeding as he knees Silva in the gut multiple times, working Silva over with a couple elbows from up close as he starts working the body. Pereira starts turning it up to try to finish the job, but Silva blocks or eats them and throws back with bad intentions. Silva’s counters go wide, and he shoots low for a takedown that is stuffed without much concern from “Poatan.” They both stand back up to their feet, and Silva trips him down when they are clinched up against the fence. Springing back to their feet but stuck up against the wire, Silva does everything he can to take the fight down. Silva unloads with punches and bunches, and Pereira counters with a right hand that smashes Silva’s nose open. Silva clutches his face and backs off, and when Pereira advances to try to finish the job, Silva blasts him with a right hand. A few more peppering punches from Pereira to the damaged nose make Silva clutch it again, and the fight ends before a finish can materialize. Silva survives and drops to his knees in pain, but he took Pereira to the scorecards – the first fighter to do so in Pereira’s MMA career.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pereira (29-28 Pereira)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Pereira (29-28 Pereira)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Pereira (29-28 Pereira)
The Official Result
Alex Pereira def. Bruno Silva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Bruno Silva for the upset, citing his raw power and MMA experience. He notes that Silva has 28 professional fights compared to Pereira's five, and that the smaller UFC gloves may leave Pereira vulnerable to Silva's punches. He acknowledges Pereira's elite kickboxing but believes Silva can thread the needle and put him away. Angelo placed a 1-unit bet on Silva at +165.
Big Brady picks the underdog Bruno Silva to win by first-round TKO. He believes Silva's path is to take the fight to the mat, where he has vicious ground-and-pound. He notes Silva has never been knocked out in 28 fights and has good cardio. He acknowledges Pereira is the better striker but thinks Silva can get takedowns, referencing Silva's wrestling outside the UFC. He expects a finish, as the 'fight doesn't go to decision' line is -600.
Cody is confident in Pereira, citing his striking pedigree and size advantage. He notes Silva's lack of wrestling and believes Pereira will knock him out. He mentions the line may move as people see Pereira's size.
Daniel Levi picks Bruno Silva at plus 170 odds, explaining that Silva has 28 pro fights and experience against tough competition. He believes Silva will close the distance, use dirty boxing, mix in takedowns, and knock Pereira out with ground and pound. Levi warns that if Silva tries to kickbox at distance, he deserves to lose, but he trusts Silva's experience and power. He also notes that Silva knocked out Pereira's teammate Wellington.
Silva is seen as a live underdog with more MMA experience and a black belt in jiu-jitsu. He can use grappling and clinch to neutralize Pereira's striking, and has cardio to go the distance. Pereira's hype is based on a single UFC win where he struggled early. Silva is expected to win via decision, possibly grinding on Pereira.
Paul is confident in Pereira, citing his striking and Silva's lack of wrestling. He notes Silva has never been knocked out but Pereira's power is different. He expects a KO.
The MMA Guru picks Alex Pereira over Bruno Silva, predicting a first-round KO via check hook. He believes Silva will be hesitant and that Pereira's aura, reach, and kickboxing level will be decisive. He notes that Silva has failed many takedowns and hasn't used grappling effectively in the UFC, while Pereira showed good grappling defense against Andreas Michailidis. He acknowledges the matchup is dangerous but trusts Pereira's power and training with Glover Teixeira.
Brad Tavares - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 1 | 48 of 86 | 55% | 55 of 95 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Eryk Anders | 0 | 35 of 84 | 41% | 68 of 133 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 0 | 1 | 9:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 18 of 35 | 51% | 18 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Eryk Anders | 0 | 20 of 41 | 48% | 33 of 56 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:10 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 1 | 18 of 31 | 58% | 21 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Eryk Anders | 0 | 11 of 31 | 35% | 22 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 2:25 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 12 of 20 | 60% | 16 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Eryk Anders | 0 | 4 of 12 | 33% | 13 of 25 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 3:45 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 48 of 86 | 55% | 29 of 64 | 17 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 31 of 59 | 14 of 21 | 3 of 6 |
| Eryk Anders | 35 of 84 | 41% | 26 of 69 | 9 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 47 | 19 of 36 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 18 of 35 | 51% | 7 of 23 | 10 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 18 | 12 of 17 | 0 of 0 |
| Eryk Anders | 20 of 41 | 48% | 17 of 34 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 14 | 16 of 27 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 18 of 31 | 58% | 11 of 22 | 6 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 21 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 6 |
| Eryk Anders | 11 of 31 | 35% | 6 of 24 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 21 | 3 of 9 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 12 of 20 | 60% | 11 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Eryk Anders | 4 of 12 | 33% | 3 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Brad Tavares but with very low confidence, calling it too close to bet. He notes both fighters have declining chins and the fight could be a quick knockout or a sloppy decision. He thinks Tavares is more well-rounded and faster, but Eryk Anders could bull his way forward. He ultimately goes with Tavares due to technical edge.
Big Brady hesitantly picks Eryk Anders by split decision, calling it a '1-800 Gambler fight.' He thinks both fighters are washed but gives Anders the edge due to slightly harder punching and ability to control against the cage. He predicts a low-quality fight and even considered predicting a draw.
Cody picks Tavares, citing his experience, takedown defense, and ability to outpoint Anders. He notes Anders' declining durability and retirement announcement. He expects a close decision but Tavares edges it.
Connor does not make a clear pick for this fight, calling it a toss-up and meaningless. He criticizes both fighters as old and irrelevant, suggesting the fight should not be happening in the UFC. He does not express a preference.
James picks Eryk Anders as an underdog, citing his grappling advantage and power. He notes that both fighters have fading durability and that Anders is more explosive. He calls the fight volatile and says no result would shock him.
The host picks Tavares to win by decision, citing his superior striking and takedown defense. He believes Anders will struggle to land a knockout and that Tavares's combinations and effective damage will win rounds. He notes that both fighters are aging but Tavares is the better striker and should outwork Anders over 15 minutes.
Paul has no clear pick, expressing uncertainty about both fighters. He notes Tavares' recent losses and Anders' inconsistency. He doesn't want to bet either side.
The Guru picks Brad Tavares, emphasizing his low kicks as the key difference. He notes Anders has a wide stance and has struggled with low kicks before, and that Tavares has fought higher-level competition. He predicts a decision win, 30-27, as he doesn't see Anders finishing Tavares early.
Zane picks Brad Tavares, noting that Tavares looked decent in his fight against GM3 but struggled against Robert Brishik, who pushed a pace. He believes Anders is also slow and throws single strikes, giving Tavares enough space to look like his old self. However, he acknowledges Tavares tends to lose a round due to passivity.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 42 of 102 | 41% | 50 of 111 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:22 |
| Robert Bryczek | 1 | 68 of 138 | 49% | 77 of 149 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:22 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 17 of 40 | 42% | 25 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:22 |
| Robert Bryczek | 1 | 39 of 73 | 53% | 48 of 84 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 15 of 40 | 37% | 15 of 40 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Robert Bryczek | 0 | 9 of 28 | 32% | 9 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 10 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Robert Bryczek | 0 | 20 of 37 | 54% | 20 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 42 of 102 | 41% | 17 of 69 | 8 of 13 | 17 of 20 | 41 of 100 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Robert Bryczek | 68 of 138 | 49% | 47 of 104 | 16 of 27 | 5 of 7 | 43 of 101 | 9 of 16 | 16 of 21 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 17 of 40 | 42% | 12 of 34 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 16 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Robert Bryczek | 39 of 73 | 53% | 26 of 56 | 11 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 46 | 9 of 14 | 8 of 13 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 15 of 40 | 37% | 3 of 23 | 3 of 6 | 9 of 11 | 15 of 39 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Robert Bryczek | 9 of 28 | 32% | 4 of 17 | 3 of 7 | 2 of 4 | 9 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 10 of 22 | 45% | 2 of 12 | 2 of 4 | 6 of 6 | 10 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Robert Bryczek | 20 of 37 | 54% | 17 of 31 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 27 | 0 of 2 | 8 of 8 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tavares (-220); Bryczek (+190)
Round 1
Longtime veteran Tavares (21-10, 16-10 UFC) had his most recent contract come to an end, and after a brief time of uncertainty he was brought back to the promotion he joined by winning the 11th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” While he has faced many of the best fighters in the history of the middleweight division, he draws a Polish adversary in Bryczek (17-6, 0-1 UFC) that may be a bit less decorated but is just as dangerous given his stoppage rate above 70%. Referee Lukasz Bosacki draws the charge to handle the 185ers, who clap hands to initiate the match.
Bryczek puts his foot on the gas, chasing the longtime vet around, and he finds himself in the pocket with Tavares. This results in them both trading, and Tavares backs off and takes a body shot and a jab up top. Tavares replies with a pushing front kick, and he catches Bryczek ducking down with a pair of punches on the temple. Tavares stays on his back foot, firing off kicks as Bryczek advances towards him. Bryczek continues marching ever forward, with Tavares more than ready to counter, his right hand ready for action. Bryczek smacks the front leg of his foe with a kick, and puts his guard up to block a one-two that he expects. Bryczek swings for the fences and knocks Tavares clean off his feet. Tavares works his way up with the wall, but Bryczek is swarming him with fists to the dome and guts. Tavares ties him up to clear the cobwebs, and Bryczek settles for a few knees to the thigh before breaking off.
Tavares circles away, letting fly kicks and a pair of punches up high, and the Polish athlete is incensed and ready for destruction. He lays into Tavares with punches in bunches, dropping Tavares to a knee as he tries to put his man away. Tavares is able to get back up despite being under fire, and he even manages some looping counters. When Bryczek overcommits on his attack, Tavares times a magnificent double-leg takedown to put the heavy-handed Polish fighter on his back. The nose of the Hawaiian is busted open and leaking on the mat, but he pays it no mind as he climbs into half guard and recovers. Tavares does some work on top but is largely content to control the remainder of the round and take a possible 10-8 score off the table—although that remains to be seen if judges believe the damage was substantial enough to award such a score. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Bryczek
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Bryczek
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-8 Bryczek
Round 2
The second round kicks off with a barrage of kicks from the Hawaiian, using them to keep distance and prevent Bryczek from hurling big hands at him. The low kicks are starting to mark up the lead leg of Bryczek, who is lumbering awkwardly on it as he advances. Tavares is the quicker of the two, as Bryczek may have punched himself out in the first round, because Bryczek cannot reach him. As Bryczek plods towards his man, Tavares shoots in on his hips. Bryczek knows it is coming and defends it, and he stands up and avoids a right hand zooming at his jaw.
Bryczek bears down on Tavares, replying with his own chopping kicks as he makes his way forward. Tavares lets fly a three-punch salvo that hits nothing but air, but his technical kickboxing is stifling Bryczek for the most part. Tavares backs himself to the wall and quickly realizes he needs to reposition himself, scurrying to the side as he spams the leg kick. Bryczek no-sells a head kick as he goes after Tavares, but his offense is otherwise fairly muted. The fans do not like this pick-and-poke strategy of low intensity, perhaps spoiled by the action of the previous bouts as well as this one’s first round, and they start booing heartily. A storied veteran with a lot of decisions on his ledger, the audience has no effect on the Hawaiian. He keeps his distance and probes with kicks and one-twos until the not-so-great round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Round 3
The middleweights touch ‘em up to show some respect opening the final frame, and Bryczek gets back to his forward-or-bust strategy. Tavares welcomes this, as he is able to simultaneously hop on his bike and land enough strikes to gain the upper hand. The Hawaiian puts some mustard into a body kick, and Bryczek does not like it and twirls around to take some of the sting out of it. When Bryczek gathers his thoughts, he marches Tavares down and guns for him with big, swinging fists. Tavares’ are straighter, jabbing and getting off one-twos. With a full head of steam, Bryczek attacks. Backing Tavares up to the fence, Bryczek strings together a prolonged combination of looping punches, cracking Tavares with a heavy right hand.
Stunned, Tavares starts to go down to a knee while still under fire, and Bryczek continues battering the grizzled veteran with all he has. With Bryczek hammering away with hammerfists as some land directly on the back of the head, Bosacki steps in, and Tavares immediately protests the stoppage.
His team is equally upset about what they feel was premature referee intervention, but as the referee is the sole arbiter of the bout, that’s a wrap. Bryczek notches his first UFC victory and it is a huge scalp he collects by melting a formerly ranked fighter in Tavares.
The Official Result
Robert Bryczek def. Brad Tavares R3 1:43 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo leans towards Brad Tavares based on experience and toughness, but is surprised Tavares is nearly a 3-to-1 favorite given his age and decline. He acknowledges Bryczek's clean boxing and power, and notes that a one-punch knockout or decision win for Bryczek wouldn't surprise him. He advises against betting Tavares at these odds, warning that Bryczek is not a bum.
Big Brady is hesitant but picks Brad Tavares, as he wants to fade Tavares but cannot trust Bryczek after his poor performance. He notes Tavares has looked done since taking heavy damage, but Bryczek looked even worse, gassing quickly. He expects a decision win for Tavares.
The host expects a classic performance from Tavares but notes his deteriorating durability and decline. He acknowledges Bryczek could spoil plans with a big shot, but thinks Tavares keeps it clean and outpoints Bryczek to a decision victory.
The Guru picks Brad Tavares, dismissing Robert Bryczek as 'terrible' and 'dog [__]'. He criticizes Bryczek's debut performance and regional record, while noting Tavares has been competitive against proven UFC fighters. He expects a standup fight and predicts a 29-28 split decision for Tavares, citing his experience and well-roundedness.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 47 of 109 | 43% | 56 of 118 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 38 of 83 | 45% | 51 of 97 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 4:44 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 13 of 36 | 36% | 14 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 8 of 24 | 33% | 8 of 24 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:26 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 26 of 51 | 50% | 26 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 23 of 44 | 52% | 23 of 45 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 8 of 22 | 36% | 16 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 20 of 28 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:31 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 47 of 109 | 43% | 29 of 85 | 12 of 18 | 6 of 6 | 45 of 105 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 38 of 83 | 45% | 27 of 66 | 7 of 10 | 4 of 7 | 36 of 79 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 13 of 36 | 36% | 10 of 30 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 8 of 24 | 33% | 5 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 26 of 51 | 50% | 15 of 38 | 7 of 9 | 4 of 4 | 24 of 48 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 23 of 44 | 52% | 18 of 35 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 3 | 21 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 8 of 22 | 36% | 4 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 21 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Gerald Meerschaert | 7 of 15 | 46% | 4 of 12 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tavares (-258), Meerschaert (+210)
Round 1
As the main card carries on, the few hundred fans in the building will be treated to a fascinating clash of styles pitting the UFC middleweight decision leader against the division’s all-time top finisher. Tavares (20-10, 15-10 UFC) prefers to stand, while Meerschaert (37-18, 12-10 UFC) is hunting for his 30th submission—and Tavares has never before been submitted. Something might have to give before all is said and done here. Referee Mike Beltran draws the assignment, ready to step in at a moment’s notice. The grizzled veterans show respect for one another with a glove touch, and Tavares pops out his jab. Meerschaert surges forward, pulling back before letting go with anything. Tavares prepares for a counter when Meerschaert comes at him, dinging the grappler with a hard left hand. Meerschaert zooms forward, looking for a double and ending up pushing the Hawaiian against the fencing. When Tavares breaks free, Meerschaert goes after him and plants a left hand on the chin. He ducks down to try this strike again, and this time it lands cleaner. Tavares backs him off with a crisp boxing combo, and Meerschaert shoots in for a double but is totally shut down. Tavares misses a right hand by a matter of inches, but the body kick that follows does land. Tavares puts his fist on Meerschaert’s chin, and he dips in with a shovel uppercut that brushes past the jaw. The two crash together, and Tavares rings his foe’s bell with an elbow, giving chase with a left hand and a body kick. Meerschaert fakes a level change to buzz by his foe, and he pitches out a couple calf kicks. Tavares advances, is intercepted and still snaps out a jab. Meerschaert kicks him in the lead leg again, and he leans back and gets drilled with a long two-punch string right down the middle. Tavares clips Meerschaert a second time with a right hand, and “GM3” catches a kick and zips a kick back at his adversary’s head. Tavares comes up short with a spinning back fist, and the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Round 2
Fists are bumped to start off the second round, and Tavares gets right behind a double jab. Tavares plunks Meerschaert with a right hand and has a high kick buzz past his hair. Tavares plants a heavy leg kick that strips the legs out beneath the grappler, and Beltran allows him to stand up as Tavares does not want to hit the ground with him. Meerschaert blitzes forward, landing at the end of a pair of combinations and backing off from front kicks. He then charges again, scoring twice with a solid lefts before mashing Tavares against the cage. “GM3” slashes with an elbow on the break, and he sneaks in a left hand as Tavares clutches his jaw awkwardly. Tavares overswings, and Meerschaert ducks down to level change. Tavares stonewalls him, boots him in the face and then slams a leg kick home. Two heavy punches from the Hawaiian get through, and Meerschaert answers him with two doubled lefts. He tries this double-left attack two more times, and Tavares sees it coming and circles off. Meerschaert connects with a powerful uppercut to push Tavares back, and he hammers Tavares with a body kick after they split up. Meerschaert sells out for a single that comes up way short of succeeding, and Tavares backs him away with a front kick and a blistering uppercut. Meerschaert shells up to defend a body kick, and the front kick that follows gets through. Tavares skirts away from looping punches, and they clash legs when kicking at the same moment. Tavares slips in a one-two, gets his head snapped back and still lands. Meerschaert throws back harder, and he gets Tavares’ attention just a moment. Body kicks fly from both men, and Tavares winds up with a right hand that staggers the grappler. “GM3” shakes out the cobwebs and scores as left hand down the middle. The bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tavares
Round 3
Fists are bumped, and fighters engage right after it with clubbing punches. Meerschaert darts in for a takedown, and he runs directly into a body kick. Tavares hops back and in with a jab, and he runs forward and is tripped. Meerschaert lets him back up so he can target the body a few times, and Tavares kicks him in the guts and has to defend a takedown. Meerschaert nearly gets him down, Tavares pulls a finger off the wall and bounces off well enough to stay upright. Meerschaert clings to his side, fishing his legs in for a trip. Beltran asks for more activity as “GM3” hangs on from partial back control standing, and he kicks out Tavares’ other foot for a second of instability. He kicks the same foot again, and Tavares has to rejigger himself to not get tripped up. Meerschaert keeps attacking the feet when not trying to use his body weight to wrench Tavares down, and the Hawaiian is able to defend well enough as precious seconds tick off the clock. Beltran needs something more from the fighters, and Meerschaert exerts himself but is not able to get it down. Tavares puts his back to the fence, and his takedown defense is enough to stifle the Kill Cliff FC fighter’s every effort. Beltran breaks them apart with 70 seconds left, and Meerschaert practically runs towards his opponent flailing his fists, Tavares is more composed with straight strikes, and he has his kick parried and he rolls with a punch. Meerschaert lunges at him with two left hands to then go after a single, and Tavares breaks free with 15 seconds to go. Meerschaert runs forward, lets fly a body kick, and he slings three unsuccessful head kicks to conclude the lackluster pairing.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Tavares)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Tavares)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Meerschaert (29-28 Tavares)
The Official Result
Brad Tavares def. Gerald Meerschaert via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo notes Brad Tavares has fought everyone and has solid striking and 80% takedown defense, while Gerald Meerschaert is a good grappler but sucks on the feet and gets hit a lot. He warns that taking Meerschaert down is dangerous, but Tavares has the fight IQ to avoid that. Angelo picks Tavares but thinks the odds are high for a guy with only one win in three years, and suggests a 'win inside the distance' prop might be a sharp play.
Big Brady picks the underdog Gerald Meerschaert, citing Brad Tavares's decline after the Dricus du Plessis fight and poor recent performances. He believes Meerschaert has underrated striking and a huge grappling advantage, and expects him to submit Tavares in the second round.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Meerschaert. He emphasizes that Tavares is a neutralizer who no longer believes in his own power and doesn't follow up on damage. Connor notes that Meerschaert has become craftier on the feet and that Tavares's defensive shell will be his downfall. He calls the matchup terrible matchmaking but sees Meerschaert as the logical winner.
Tavares is clearly diminishing at 1-4 in his last five fights. Meerschaert can push a pace and get the grappling going in the first and second rounds, leading to a classic Meerschaert submission in round two or three.
The Guru picks Brad Tavares, emphasizing his takedown defense and ability to keep the fight standing. He thinks Meerschaert's body kicks and takedown attempts will be slow and predictable, and Tavares will be snappier on the feet. He expects a decision win for Tavares, though notes Meerschaert comes alive in the third round.
Zane picks Meerschaert, arguing that Brad Tavares is 'cooked' and no longer dangerous. He notes Tavares's lack of motivation, tendency to shell up when hurt, and inability to finish fights. Zane points out that Meerschaert has improved his boxing and reach usage, and has a win over Bruno Silva who knocked out Tavares. He believes Meerschaert's willingness to win and Tavares's decline make Meerschaert the clear pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JunYong Park | 0 | 65 of 149 | 43% | 73 of 159 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:42 |
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 99 of 177 | 55% | 124 of 210 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 6:32 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JunYong Park | 0 | 26 of 57 | 45% | 27 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:42 |
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 19 of 46 | 41% | 21 of 48 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 | |
| 2 | JunYong Park | 0 | 31 of 80 | 38% | 31 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 67 of 108 | 62% | 68 of 109 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 | |
| 3 | JunYong Park | 0 | 8 of 12 | 66% | 15 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 13 of 23 | 56% | 35 of 53 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 4:39 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JunYong Park | 65 of 149 | 43% | 55 of 136 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 10 | 62 of 143 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 5 |
| Brad Tavares | 99 of 177 | 55% | 76 of 151 | 4 of 6 | 19 of 20 | 91 of 167 | 3 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JunYong Park | 26 of 57 | 45% | 21 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 5 | 23 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 |
| Brad Tavares | 19 of 46 | 41% | 12 of 37 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 6 | 19 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | JunYong Park | 31 of 80 | 38% | 27 of 73 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 4 | 31 of 79 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 67 of 108 | 62% | 52 of 93 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 14 | 64 of 103 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | JunYong Park | 8 of 12 | 66% | 7 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 13 of 23 | 56% | 12 of 21 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 5 |
Angelo picks Brad Tavares, citing his experience and takedown defense. He notes that Park Jun-yong is not dangerous enough to finish Tavares, lacking one-punch power and nasty takedowns. Angelo believes Tavares will defend takedowns and land clean strikes for a straightforward win.
Big Brady picks Park Jun-yong by decision. He thinks the fight will be close and go to the judges, but he cannot pick Brad Tavares due to his decline. Tavares has taken a lot of damage and looked poor in recent fights, including a lackluster win over Chris Weidman. Park was on a five-fight win streak before a close loss to Andre Muniz. Brady expects the fight to stay on the feet and Park to do better work, though it could be a close decision.
Connor also picks Park but is hesitant, noting that Tavares still has great takedown defense and can strike. He points out that Park's best path is through grappling, but Tavares stuffs takedowns. Connor thinks Park can win a striking battle because Tavares doesn't throw combinations and is passive, but it's a risky fight for Park.
Daniel highlights Park's well-rounded skills, pace, and wrestling ability, noting that he was close to knocking out RoboCop. He criticizes Tavares's recent decline, pointing out that RoboCop walked through him with zero respect. Daniel believes Park's physicality and durability will be key, and he predicts a knockout victory, citing that Park has been overdue for his first UFC KO.
Tavares is on a rough run but this is a winnable matchup if he keeps it in the striking realm. Park has decent power but not enough to catch Tavares. Tavares will land better strikes, leg kicks, stop takedowns, and win on the scorecards over 15 minutes.
The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares, noting that Tavares cannot be taken down and has good cardio. He criticizes Park Jun-yong's striking and believes Tavares will out-strike him for a TKO or decision. He acknowledges Tavares has been KO'd recently but sees Park lacking the power to finish him.
Zane picks Park but is hesitant because Tavares has excellent takedown defense, which neutralizes Park's best weapon. He notes that Park's striking is crafty but he is short and gets hit often, and Tavares is a durable defensive striker who doesn't leave many openings. Zane trusts Park to win a kickboxing match due to his volume and trap-setting, but acknowledges it's a tough fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory Rodrigues | 0 | 37 of 84 | 44% | 42 of 90 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 71 of 123 | 57% | 79 of 135 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gregory Rodrigues | 0 | 14 of 30 | 46% | 19 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 25 of 49 | 51% | 29 of 55 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:56 | |
| 2 | Gregory Rodrigues | 0 | 18 of 39 | 46% | 18 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 22 of 40 | 55% | 26 of 46 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:22 | |
| 3 | Gregory Rodrigues | 0 | 5 of 15 | 33% | 5 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 24 of 34 | 70% | 24 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory Rodrigues | 37 of 84 | 44% | 28 of 70 | 4 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 36 of 83 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 71 of 123 | 57% | 53 of 102 | 8 of 9 | 10 of 12 | 64 of 114 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gregory Rodrigues | 14 of 30 | 46% | 10 of 24 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 25 of 49 | 51% | 19 of 41 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 20 of 43 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Gregory Rodrigues | 18 of 39 | 46% | 14 of 32 | 2 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 17 of 38 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 22 of 40 | 55% | 13 of 30 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 7 | 20 of 37 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Gregory Rodrigues | 5 of 15 | 33% | 4 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 24 of 34 | 70% | 21 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 24 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo describes Gregory Rodrigues as a powerful striker with a BJJ black belt and good takedown defense, and notes he is a threat everywhere. Brad Tavares is tough and experienced but not dangerous, with only two finishes in 15 UFC wins. Angelo believes Rodrigues' forward pressure and power will win the fight, likely by decision due to Tavares' durability.
Big Brady picks Gregory Rodrigues to win by second-round knockout. He notes that Rodrigues has power and durability issues, but Tavares has no finishing ability and is getting older. He expects Rodrigues to march forward and land a big shot, knocking out Tavares. He mentions that Tavares couldn't finish 41-year-old Matt Wyman, which was a terrible look.
Cody picks Rodrigues, noting Tavares lacks power and has not knocked anyone out in years. He thinks Rodrigues' size and pressure will be too much, and that Tavares' low volume and lack of finishing ability play into Rodrigues' hands. Cody expects a decision win for Rodrigues, possibly 29-28 or 30-27.
Tavares has a striking advantage and solid takedown defense. He should be able to control the fight with leg kicks and counter striking. Rodrigues may strike himself exhausted trying to finish. Tavares' durability is a non-issue, and his losses are to top-tier competition. At +195, this is a no-brainer spot for the veteran to win by decision.
Paul agrees, calling Tavares a gatekeeper who doesn't pose many threats. He notes Tavares' lack of knockout power and that Rodrigues is huge for the weight class. Paul thinks Rodrigues' grappling and pressure will be decisive, and that Tavares' takedown defense may not hold up. He expects a clear decision for Rodrigues.
The MMA Guru picks Gregory Rodrigues with high confidence, criticizing Brad Tavares for not finishing a compromised Chris Weidman. He believes Tavares is not high-level and lacks punch power. He expects Rodrigues to find a TKO win on the feet, as he does not think Tavares can put him away.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 0 | 37 of 92 | 40% | 39 of 94 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
| Chris Weidman | 0 | 70 of 115 | 60% | 71 of 116 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 7 of 20 | 35% | 7 of 20 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Chris Weidman | 0 | 16 of 29 | 55% | 16 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 20 of 41 | 48% | 22 of 43 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:54 |
| Chris Weidman | 0 | 27 of 44 | 61% | 28 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 0 | 10 of 31 | 32% | 10 of 31 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Chris Weidman | 0 | 27 of 42 | 64% | 27 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Tavares | 37 of 92 | 40% | 30 of 77 | 5 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 35 of 90 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Weidman | 70 of 115 | 60% | 21 of 61 | 8 of 9 | 41 of 45 | 68 of 113 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brad Tavares | 7 of 20 | 35% | 5 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Weidman | 16 of 29 | 55% | 8 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 8 | 16 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Brad Tavares | 20 of 41 | 48% | 16 of 32 | 3 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 18 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Weidman | 27 of 44 | 61% | 8 of 23 | 5 of 5 | 14 of 16 | 25 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Brad Tavares | 10 of 31 | 32% | 9 of 28 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 10 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Chris Weidman | 27 of 42 | 64% | 5 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 19 of 21 | 27 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Brad Tavares despite believing Chris Weidman is the better fighter everywhere. He cites Weidman's two-year layoff, age (39), and horrific leg injury as major unknowns. He thinks Tavares will be a step ahead and faster, but admits he could be wrong and hopes Weidman wins. He advises against betting this fight due to the uncertainty.
Big Brady picks Brad Tavares to win by third-round knockout, calling it his hot take. He believes Weidman's takedown attempts will be stuffed by Tavares' elite takedown defense, wearing on Weidman's gas tank. Brady notes Weidman hasn't impressed since 2017 and has been knocked out in all six losses, while Tavares is tough and has never been knocked out.
Cody argues that Tavares is a gatekeeper with no knockout power and all his wins are by decision against lower-level opponents. Weidman, despite the leg break and layoff, has a wrestling advantage and could control Tavares. He thinks the line is too favorable to Tavares and likes Weidman as a value underdog, likely by decision.
Daniel Levi confidently picks Brad Tavares, arguing that Weidman has been washed up since pre-pandemic and has declined significantly since USADA testing. He notes that Weidman has been knocked out in six of his last eight fights and gasses after round one. Levi praises Tavares' takedown defense and balance, and believes Tavares will stuff takedowns, get Weidman to a fatigue state, and either out-volume or knock him out. He is waiting for a better price but is comfortable with Tavares.
Lucrative James confidently picks Brad Tavares, citing Chris Weidman's horrific leg injury, age (39), and being washed before the injury. He believes Tavares will finish Weidman, as Weidman has been finished in six of his last seven fights. He sees no value on the underdog here.
Weidman has a clear path to victory via grappling. Tavares is not a knockout threat and has been taken down by wrestlers before. Weidman's durability has held up recently, and at +220 the line is too wide. He should be able to grind out a decision or possibly find a submission.
The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares over Chris Weidman. He cites Weidman's long layoff after a leg break and doubts his KO ability. He praises Tavares' takedown defense and durability, noting he hung in with Dricus du Plessis. He expects Tavares to outpoint Weidman on the feet, possibly winning by TKO in rounds 2-3 or a 30-27 decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 15 of 64 | 23% | 15 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 1 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 24 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 15 of 64 | 23% | 15 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brad Tavares | 1 | 23 of 51 | 45% | 24 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 15 of 64 | 23% | 11 of 56 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 23 of 51 | 45% | 17 of 40 | 5 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 21 of 48 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 15 of 64 | 23% | 11 of 56 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 64 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brad Tavares | 23 of 51 | 45% | 17 of 40 | 5 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 21 of 48 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Tavares (-155), Silva (+135)
Round 1
A banger at 185 pounds is on deck for the co-headliner of this Fight Night, as Tavares (19-7, 14-7 UFC) looks to hold the middleweight line against the lead-fisted Silva (22-8, 3-2 UFC). One of these two fighters will get back in the win column here and potentially push their way back into the top 15, and they will have 15 minutes at max to do so. Referee Mark Smith has donned his hard hat, and the two fighters bump fists in front of his eyes. Tavares doubles up on the jab after the bump, and Silva springs out of the way. Silva walks forward and ducks a big punch, and he misses the mark with his own heavy left hook. Silva lets go with a leg kick, and Tavares intercepts him with a powerful body kick. Tavares times a right and a left, with the left landing behind the ear and getting Silva’s attention. Tavares boots Silva upside the head, and Silva blocks most of it and throws back with a vengeance. A long jab from Tavares makes Silva stumble, but Silva gathers his bearings and knocks Tavares back with a right hand. The Hawaiian releases a kick to the ribs, a one-two and a front kick in rapid succession, and Silva attempts to tie him up and knee him in the face. The two middleweights throw from their hips, and they reset to exchange from a distance. Silva leans down to guard a body kick, and he counters a reaching Tavares with an uppercut. They trade single, long punches, and Tavares lets fly a high kick. Silva sneaks a right hand over the top to rock Tavares, and the Hawaiian wobbles back but is still very much in the fight. Silva trades back when Tavares engages with him, and Silva stings Tavares with a short combination.
“Blindado” uncoils a powerful knee and a blindingly fast right hand that gets around the guard, and Tavares collapses to his back. Smith halts the fight when Tavares goes down, and Tavares immediately complains that he was not knocked out and was still in the fight.
Regardless of the feelings of the stoppage, the result is what it is, and Silva has turned things around to record a very important knockout. Silva reminds the division of the power in his fists with this victory, and he may have claimed a spot in the top 15 at the expense of ranked Chris Curtis.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Brad Tavares R1 3:35 via TKO (Knee and Punch)
Angelo picks Bruno Silva despite his recent loss, attributing it to a bad night. He believes in Silva's raw talent, power, and BJJ, and thinks he can beat Brad Tavares who is well-rounded but not exceptional at anything. He acknowledges the risk and advises others to do their own research, noting that if you think Silva is broken, then pick Tavares. He is not betting on this fight.
Big Brady picks Bruno Silva as a dog to knock out Brad Tavares in the first round. He is hesitant because Silva looked awful in his last fight, appearing sluggish and drunk, but if the 'sober' Silva shows up, he has the power to knock out Tavares, who has been knocked out multiple times. Brady is scared by Silva's last performance and won't put a ton of money on him, but he still picks Silva to win early.
Cody picks Bruno Silva as an underdog, criticizing Brad Tavares as one-dimensional and not exceptional. He notes Tavares fades in later rounds and allows opponents to outwork him, as seen against Dricus du Plessis. Cody believes Silva has power and can land damaging strikes, possibly getting a knockout or winning a decision. He mentions Silva went 15 minutes with Alex Pereira and landed heavy shots.
Connor picks Tavares, arguing that Silva is one-dimensional and falls apart when his wild hooks are neutralized. He notes that Tavares is a solid defensive wrestler and technical striker, and that Silva's inefficiency will cause him to gas. However, he acknowledges that Silva hits hard and could catch Tavares if he gets into a lull, but overall Tavares should grind out a win.
Brad Tavares has good striking defense and durability, as shown against Dricus du Plessis where he was not knocked down. He can mix in takedowns to avoid Bruno Silva's power. Silva is knockout-reliant and has poor takedown defense; he tends to get outstruck by technical strikers. Tavares should be able to outwork Silva over three rounds, using combinations and leg/body kicks. Silva may slow down, allowing Tavares to increase output and win a decision.
Paul also picks Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody that Brad Tavares is not someone he likes as a favorite. He sees a path for Silva to win by decision or knockout, noting Tavares' durability may be fading. However, Paul admits he is not actually betting this fight, calling it a pass for betting purposes.
The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares over Bruno Silva. He notes Silva's loss to GM3 and damage from Pereira, while Tavares has a granite chin and good grappling. He thinks Tavares can use his takedowns and technical striking to win. He is not fully confident but leans toward Tavares.
Zane picks Tavares but is hesitant, noting that Tavares is fundamentally solid but hasn't evolved and often lulls in fights. He worries that Silva's power and awkwardness could catch Tavares, similar to how Dricus du Plessis did. However, he thinks Silva is too messy and inefficient, and that Tavares's defensive wrestling and jab should carry him to a decision win.
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks Bruno Silva despite his recent loss, attributing it to a bad night. He believes in Silva's raw talent, power, and BJJ, and thinks he can beat Brad Tavares who is well-rounded but not exceptional at anything. He acknowledges the risk and advises others to do their own research, noting that if you think Silva is broken, then pick Tavares. He is not betting on this fight.
Big Brady picks Bruno Silva as a dog to knock out Brad Tavares in the first round. He is hesitant because Silva looked awful in his last fight, appearing sluggish and drunk, but if the 'sober' Silva shows up, he has the power to knock out Tavares, who has been knocked out multiple times. Brady is scared by Silva's last performance and won't put a ton of money on him, but he still picks Silva to win early.
Cody picks Bruno Silva as an underdog, criticizing Brad Tavares as one-dimensional and not exceptional. He notes Tavares fades in later rounds and allows opponents to outwork him, as seen against Dricus du Plessis. Cody believes Silva has power and can land damaging strikes, possibly getting a knockout or winning a decision. He mentions Silva went 15 minutes with Alex Pereira and landed heavy shots.
Connor picks Tavares, arguing that Silva is one-dimensional and falls apart when his wild hooks are neutralized. He notes that Tavares is a solid defensive wrestler and technical striker, and that Silva's inefficiency will cause him to gas. However, he acknowledges that Silva hits hard and could catch Tavares if he gets into a lull, but overall Tavares should grind out a win.
Brad Tavares has good striking defense and durability, as shown against Dricus du Plessis where he was not knocked down. He can mix in takedowns to avoid Bruno Silva's power. Silva is knockout-reliant and has poor takedown defense; he tends to get outstruck by technical strikers. Tavares should be able to outwork Silva over three rounds, using combinations and leg/body kicks. Silva may slow down, allowing Tavares to increase output and win a decision.
Paul also picks Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody that Brad Tavares is not someone he likes as a favorite. He sees a path for Silva to win by decision or knockout, noting Tavares' durability may be fading. However, Paul admits he is not actually betting this fight, calling it a pass for betting purposes.
The MMA Guru picks Brad Tavares over Bruno Silva. He notes Silva's loss to GM3 and damage from Pereira, while Tavares has a granite chin and good grappling. He thinks Tavares can use his takedowns and technical striking to win. He is not fully confident but leans toward Tavares.
Zane picks Tavares but is hesitant, noting that Tavares is fundamentally solid but hasn't evolved and often lulls in fights. He worries that Silva's power and awkwardness could catch Tavares, similar to how Dricus du Plessis did. However, he thinks Silva is too messy and inefficient, and that Tavares's defensive wrestling and jab should carry him to a decision win.
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