Career Averages - Tagir Ulanbekov
Career Averages - Bruno Silva
Tagir Ulanbekov - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 6 of 27 | 22% | 10 of 32 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:25 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 2 | 49 of 77 | 63% | 120 of 157 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 5:34 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 5 of 24 | 20% | 5 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:25 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 0 | 16 of 25 | 64% | 36 of 45 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 5 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 0 | 13 of 24 | 54% | 47 of 64 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:32 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 2 | 20 of 28 | 71% | 37 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 2:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 6 of 27 | 22% | 3 of 18 | 2 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 25 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 49 of 77 | 63% | 36 of 60 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 13 | 25 of 41 | 0 of 3 | 24 of 33 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 5 of 24 | 20% | 3 of 16 | 1 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 16 of 25 | 64% | 7 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 9 | 16 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 13 of 24 | 54% | 11 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 5 of 12 | 0 of 3 | 8 of 9 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kyoji Horiguchi | 20 of 28 | 71% | 18 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 24 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ulanbekov (-200); Horiguchi (+170)
Round 1
Originally unceremoniously dumping the return of former title challenger Horiguchi (34-5, 1 NC; 7-1 UFC) on the prelims, the UFC came to its senses and put him on the main card. With his lone defeat in the Octagon after eight walks against all-time great Demetrious Johnson, Horiguchi is back at the age of 35 to go on another run. He will have to contend with surging Dagestani Ulanbekov (17-2, 6-1 UFC), who has technically never knocked someone out—his only TKO win came when he made Almabayev tap to strikes in 2017. What should be a solid flyweight tilt will be officiated by referee Rich Mitchell. Gloves are touched before the fists inside of them fly.
Horiguchi says hello right out of the gate with a sweeping low kick. He kicks the Russian who has a wide stance again, staying well out of range otherwise. Ulanbekov’s response goes wide, and Horiguchi whiffs with a fireball of a right hand that buzzes the tower. Ulanbekov digs a kick to the side of his foe, and Horiguchi releases another hard leg kick. Ulanbekov kicks him back, and he tries to stumble his way into a takedown shot but Horiguchi is way out of harm’s way. Horiguchi just misses a huge right, and he walks through a knee to the body so he can wrest Ulanbekov to his knees. The Russian pops out of this odd position and back to his feet, and he stalks the shorter man down. Horiguchi is light on his feet strafing from side to side, and he bounces his way in and escapes before Ulanbekov can set up a clinch. Horiguchi works the leg that is welting fast with another kick.
Ulanbekov pushes out with the ball of his foot, and Horiguchi ducks down to hurl a left hand at his foe. The Dagestan native gets Horiguchi in his clutches and shoves him to the fence, and he uses the posture to knee Horiguchi one or twice before sweeping the former Rizin champ to his seat. Horiguchi stays composed with his backside on the corner between the floor and the wall, slowly working his way upright with the fencing at his back. Horiguchi separates before absorbing much offense, and he darts in with a left hand that is shy of his intended target. Leg kicks fly from both flyweights, and Horiguchi rings Ulanbekov’s bell with a solid right. He lands another and chains it into a jumping switch kick to the torso. Horiguchi kicks Ulanbekov in the calf and trips, but he gets back up no worse for wear and lets his hands fly until the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Horiguchi
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Horiguchi
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Horiguchi
Round 2
The fighters double clap their hands before engaging. When they start fighting, Horiguchi blasts the Russian with a right hand and kicks his leg out with a powerful blow. Ulanbekov falls to his back, and the American Top Team corner bellows out nearly in unison for him to Horiguchi to start lashing out with elbows. Ulanbekov bides his time on his back and sets up a guillotine choke from his back, and Horiguchi stands up to pull his way out of the choke. Horiguchi lands strikes from on top to bust up the Russian’s nose, and Ulanbekov spins to get to his knees. Horiguchi drapes himself on the back of Ulanbekov’s neck to keep him grounded, and he threatens with a knee to the face when Ulanbekov pushes off to stand. This keeps Ulanbekov down so he does not get blasted with no way to defend himself.
Ulanbekov wall-walks to stand up, appearing a bit labored compared to the Japanese fighter with a spring in his step. Horiguchi lets go with body shots, including a powerful kick to the ribs, and Ulanbekov keeps a stiff upper lip but is feeling it now. When Ulanbekov tries for a level change, Horiguchi stifles it and forces him to stand back up. Horiguchi fires off a head kick, and he allows Ulanbekov to try to wrestle him so he can keep him grounded and work on him. This continues until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Horiguchi
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Horiguchi
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Horiguchi
Round 3
The fighters touch gloves, and it is clear who is in the driver’s seat at this point. Feeling himself, Horiguchi fires off a kick that sets up a massive flying left hook. Ulanbekov crumbles to the mat, and Horiguchi follows him down and continues to bludgeon him mercilessly. When Ulanbekov scoots his way to the wall, Horiguchi hammers him with right hands that appear to open a cut on his left eyebrow. Ulanbekov stands, and Horiguchi backs off and measures a picturesque head kick as Ulanbekov was planning on changing levels. Horiguchi follows up with a right hand that puts Ulanbekov down for the count on his backside. Horiguchi darts down to the ground and decides that rather than strike, he will remind fans that he has some submission chops too.
He promptly sinks his forearm beneath the Russian’s jaw and cinches up a rear-naked choke, and Ulanbekov has nothing left to offer in defense. Horiguchi cranks on it and tells Mitchell that he believes Ulanbekov went out, but Ulanbekov is still with it…for now. Going out on his shield, the Eagles MMA fighter does not surrender, and Mitchell recognizes when Ulanbekov passes out and intervenes.
Medical professionals attend to the defeated man, who cones to and is crestfallen after suffering his first stoppage loss. Horiguchi is back and bad to the bone, and he calls for a title shot against teammate Alexandre Pantoja, declaring while sporting an ear-to-ear smile, “I will beat your ass!”
The Official Result
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Tagir Ulanbekov R3 2:18 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo picks Tagir Ulanbekov over returning Kyoji Horiguchi. He describes Ulanbekov as a dominant forward wrestler with decent striking, while Horiguchi is older and less athletic. The stylistic matchup favors Ulanbekov, who can get Horiguchi against the cage and drag him down. Angelo expects a dominant win with many takedowns and control.
Big Brady picks Tagir Ulanbekov by decision, citing his size, underrated striking, and grappling advantage over an aging Horiguchi. He expects Ulanbekov to win the grappling exchanges and control the fight, making it frustrating for Horiguchi.
Cody picks Kyoji Horiguchi confidently, noting his superior striking and experience. He believes Horiguchi's ability to scramble and defend takedowns will be key. Cody points out that Ulanbekov has only fought lower-ranked opponents and has struggled against better competition.
Connor picks Horiguchi, relying on his elite athleticism and championship-level experience. He notes that Horiguchi's takedown game and top control are strong, but Ulanbekov's scrambling and submission threats make it risky. Connor acknowledges Ulanbekov's pressure and wrestling could cause problems, but believes Horiguchi's speed and strength will prevail.
Lucrative James picks Tagir Ulanbekov, citing Horiguchi's declining chin and recent knockout losses. He believes Ulanbekov has more power and a better chin. He expects a striking fight where Ulanbekov lands the harder shots, possibly a knockout. He also notes Horiguchi's age (35) and potential deterioration.
Ulanbekov has a smothering wrestling style and a reach advantage. Horiguchi is well-rounded but may struggle with Ulanbekov's pressure and takedowns. Ulanbekov should win a decision by controlling the fight.
Paul picks Kyoji Horiguchi, citing his high-level competition and skills. He notes that Ulanbekov is the weak link of the Khabib team and has been taken down by lesser fighters. Paul believes Horiguchi's striking and scrambling will be too much.
The MMA Guru picks Kyoji Horiguchi over Tagir Ulanbekov, though hesitantly. He notes Horiguchi's experience and wins over Sergio Pettis and Naoki Inoue. He worries about Tagir's size but believes Horiguchi's craftiness and grappling will earn a close 29-28 decision.
Zane picks Ulanbekov, citing his relentless pressure and solid defensive wrestling. He notes that Horiguchi's top game is not elite and that Ulanbekov's scrambling and submission hunting could catch him. Zane criticizes the booking as unfair to Horiguchi, but sees Ulanbekov as the more consistent fighter in the UFC context.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 68 of 118 | 57% | 78 of 134 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3:42 |
| Azat Maksum | 0 | 62 of 159 | 38% | 76 of 177 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 0 | 0 | 0:56 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 19 of 37 | 51% | 23 of 42 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:11 |
| Azat Maksum | 0 | 18 of 47 | 38% | 18 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 25 of 43 | 58% | 28 of 48 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:28 |
| Azat Maksum | 0 | 19 of 52 | 36% | 22 of 55 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:46 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 24 of 38 | 63% | 27 of 44 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:03 |
| Azat Maksum | 0 | 25 of 60 | 41% | 36 of 75 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 68 of 118 | 57% | 56 of 104 | 11 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 57 of 105 | 11 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
| Azat Maksum | 62 of 159 | 38% | 40 of 127 | 20 of 30 | 2 of 2 | 45 of 133 | 17 of 26 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 19 of 37 | 51% | 15 of 32 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 19 of 37 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Azat Maksum | 18 of 47 | 38% | 9 of 34 | 7 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 43 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 25 of 43 | 58% | 22 of 39 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 41 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Azat Maksum | 19 of 52 | 36% | 14 of 44 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 50 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 24 of 38 | 63% | 19 of 33 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 27 | 9 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
| Azat Maksum | 25 of 60 | 41% | 17 of 49 | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 40 | 12 of 20 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Tagir Ulanbekov to win, citing his size, strength, and wrestling from the Khabib camp. He notes that Tagir will be slower but will use his size to drag Azat to the ground. He acknowledges Azat's speed and scrambling ability but thinks Tagir's pressure will be enough. However, he is undecided on using him in fantasy due to his high salary and potential for a low-scoring grind.
Big Brady picks Tagir Ulanbekov, noting he is a huge flyweight with underrated striking, good wrestling, and excellent grappling with long arms and front chokes. He criticizes Maksum's performances against Tyson Nam and Charles Johnson, where he was outlanded and tired. Maksum is taking the fight on short notice. Brady predicts Ulanbekov finishes Maksum in the second or third round by submission, specifically a second-round submission.
The host expects Ulanbekov's grappling to catch up to Maksum by the second round, allowing him to continuously pressure, wear down, and possibly submit Maksum. However, the official prediction is Ulanbekov winning on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Tagir Ulanbekov, citing his preparation for Kyogi Horiguchi and his height advantage. He believes Ulanbekov's takedown defense and offensive grappling will be key, and that Maksum will struggle with Ulanbekov's body type. He predicts a decision win for Ulanbekov via control time and busier striking at range.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 42 of 75 | 56% | 100 of 138 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 6:49 |
| Clayton Carpenter | 0 | 42 of 69 | 60% | 86 of 117 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 3:01 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 19 of 32 | 59% | 26 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:30 |
| Clayton Carpenter | 0 | 18 of 29 | 62% | 30 of 43 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 10 of 19 | 52% | 30 of 41 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:20 |
| Clayton Carpenter | 0 | 15 of 20 | 75% | 24 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:32 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 13 of 24 | 54% | 44 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:59 |
| Clayton Carpenter | 0 | 9 of 20 | 45% | 32 of 44 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 42 of 75 | 56% | 35 of 68 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 27 of 55 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 18 |
| Clayton Carpenter | 42 of 69 | 60% | 20 of 40 | 9 of 14 | 13 of 15 | 25 of 50 | 5 of 6 | 12 of 13 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 19 of 32 | 59% | 15 of 28 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 9 |
| Clayton Carpenter | 18 of 29 | 62% | 8 of 17 | 3 of 5 | 7 of 7 | 13 of 22 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 10 of 19 | 52% | 9 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 6 |
| Clayton Carpenter | 15 of 20 | 75% | 11 of 13 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 8 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 13 of 24 | 54% | 11 of 22 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 3 |
| Clayton Carpenter | 9 of 20 | 45% | 1 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 17 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ulanbekov (-325), Carpenter (+260)
Round 1
The UFC emerges through the flames of Los Angeles County like an action movie to stage its first pay-per-view of the year, and it should still be a good one. While the main event has shuffled at the last minute, it may be the best of a bad situation and there should still be some fun to be had. The action kicks off with a ranked fight at 125 pounds, as talented contender Ulanbekov (15-2, 4-1 UFC) returns after over a year away against unbeaten phenom Carpenter (8-0, 2-0 UFC). Referee Blake Grice will draw the first assignment of the night, and it kicks off as the flyweights bump fists. The taller Ulanbekov takes to the center of the cage almost immediately, measuring his jab and flicking out a heavy leg kick. Booming chants for “USA” rain down in support of Carpenter, who channels their support with a solid left hand, a follow-up right and a chopping kick. Ulanbekov misses a dangerous front kick by a matter of inches, and he snipes the advancing Carpenter coming forward. Carpenter goes to the lead leg again and is forced to defend a takedown, where he not only stuffs it but turns Ulanbekov about and jams him against the fence. Ulanbekov uses his leverage to turn to the side, hit a body lock and wrench the unbeaten fighter down to the mat. Carpenter hacks from his back with elbows, but not at Ulanbekov’s head, and instead his shoulders. Ulanbekov sits up in the guard, looking for punches and elbows when he can find them. Carpenter maintains an active guard but it is not a good idea to get into a slugfest off your back, as Ulanbekov lands far cleaner and heavier. Carpenter looks to threaten with a high guard, and it gets shut down in a hurry by ground-and-pound. Again, Carpenter shifts his leg up to give Ulanbekov something extra to think about, and his rubber guard is thwarted and his eyebrow is cut open from an elbow. The two fighters explode to their feet at the same time with a minute to go in the round, and Ulanbekov advances only to walk into two low kicks. Ulanbekov parries a front kick and absorbs an inside leg kick when trying to start off some offense, but he has his best success from counters. Carpenter lets his foot fly a few times, and he shoots for a takedown that is stifled to conclude the round.
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Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Round 2
To start the round, Ulanbekov rubs at some swelling that has developed under his left eye, and he offers a glove touch that is accepted. Both men aim and miss with swinging kicks early, and Carpenter steps in to close the distance and deposit a pair of left hooks on the chin. Carpenter then follows the left with a swiping right, and it buzzes past the target. Ulanbekov sets up a number of jabs to work a front kick down the middle, and Carpenter slips it and connects with a leg kick. When Ulanbekov responds with a high kick, Carpenter catches it and bowls him over to the mat. Carpenter leaps down to establish himself on top, and he shifts to half guard to stop Ulanbekov from sweeping or reversing him. Carpenter gets dragged back to the guard, and he opens it up with a pair of slashing elbows from above. Carpenter scrambles madly springing his hips up and around in hopes of getting through to a better position. Ulanbekov times one of these hops, grabs hold of Carpenter’s shorts and tugs himself illegally to his feet. Carpenter complains, but Grice tells them to fight on. Ulanbekov wishes to take the fight to the ground, only this time with him on top, and he meanders forward to get hold of body lock and trip Carpenter to his back. Both fighters are active when the fight gets to the ground once more, with Carpenter more than willing to hack and slash with elbows. Meanwhile, Ulanbekov pummels him with his fists and the occasional elbow to stay more than busy and remain in top position. When Ulanbekov slows down for a bit, Grice calls for more activity, spurring Ulanbekov into some ground-and-pound action. A second call for action comes from Grice as the crowd starts to shower them with boos. When Carpenter attempts to explode and get back up to his feet, the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Round 3
Ulanbekov starts off the round as the aggressor, fighting behind his jab to get into grappling range. When Carpenter springs at him, Ulanbekov stays elusive enough to dodge, weave and counter with two punches down the middle. Carpenter responds with three low kicks, the third turning Ulanbekov and making him a bit tentative to absorb more. Carpenter attempts a fourth, and he changes his mind as Ulanbekov blasts him with a one-two. As Carpenter steps in without striking, another one-two from Ulanbekov catches him cleanly. Carpenter rips another low kick, and he times a left hand on the way in. Carpenter’s leg kicks have a visible effect, but he elects to push forward and grapple the Dagestan native against the fencing. While trapping him against the wire, Carpenter pounds Ulanbekov’s thigh with several knees. Carpenter leverages Ulanbekov down to a post arm, but Ulanbekov pushes off the floor and back upright. The boo birds start singing as the clinch continues, even as the fighters bring it to the middle of the cage all tied up. Ulanbekov turns the American around and starts talking to commentator Daniel Cormier, telling the former champ, “This is for you” as he hurls Carpenter down to the floor. Ulanbekov lands in full guard, and Carpenter goes all-out spamming elbows to any target, including the back of the head—which draws a warning. Carpenter hooks up rubber guard with his left leg behind the Dagestani fighter’s head, but that has no effect as Ulanbekov easily wriggles out of that setup and winds up relocating himself to side control. Carpenter turns in effort to escape, but it is too little, too late, as his spotless record is almost certainly about to dissipate. The fighters manage to work to their feet at the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (30-27 Ulanbekov)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (30-27 Ulanbekov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (30-27 Ulanbekov)
The Official Result
Tagir Ulanbekov def. Clayton Carpenter via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo picks Tagir Ulanbekov due to his significant experience advantage (17 fights vs 8) and strong wrestling. He notes that Ulanbekov can be taken down but believes Clayton Carpenter may hesitate, allowing Ulanbekov to impose his game. He warns against betting Ulanbekov at -300, suggesting instead to look for prop bets like Carpenter winning a round.
Cody picks Clayton Carpenter as an underdog, citing Ulanbekov's age (33), inactivity, and injury history. He notes that Ulanbekov has pulled out of seven fights in the UFC and has shown cardio issues. Carpenter is a young, well-rounded prospect with good wrestling and cardio. Cody believes Carpenter can scramble, take Ulanbekov down, and push the pace. He sees value in fading Ulanbekov at flyweight, where the line is too high.
Daniel picks Ulanbekov but is hesitant due to his inactivity and potential weight issues. He notes that Ulanbekov has top-five potential and had a career-best performance against Cody Durden. However, he is concerned that Ulanbekov hasn't fought since 2023 and may have trouble making weight. Daniel thinks Carpenter is a talented young fighter but Ulanbekov is ahead at this point.
Lucrative James does not make a clear winner pick but discusses the over 2.5 rounds prop favorably. He notes both fighters are high-level and unlikely to be finished, though he acknowledges submission upside for Tagir Ulanbekov if he gets the back, and the possibility of a striking exchange leading to a knockout. He leans toward the fight going to decision but does not commit to a side.
The host leans with Ulanbekov because Carpenter is a hot prospect with unknowns in defensive grappling. Ulanbekov may challenge him as no fighter has before. The host expects Ulanbekov to win on the scorecards.
Paul leans Carpenter as a value play. He notes that Ulanbekov's wrestling has not been dominant at flyweight, and he was taken down by Tim Elliott. Carpenter is undefeated and has shown good grappling and cardio. Paul believes if wrestling is negated, the fight is close, and at plus money, Carpenter is worth a shot. He plans to make a play on Carpenter.
The MMA Guru picks Tagir Ulanbekov over Clayton Carpenter. He notes that Carpenter's path to victory relies on grappling against short, stocky flyweights, but Ulanbekov is rangier and has good takedown defense. He believes Ulanbekov is better at range on the feet and has equally good grappling, so he expects Ulanbekov to do more damage at range and win a close fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 1 | 24 of 41 | 58% | 45 of 63 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 5 | 1 | 6:03 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 32 of 43 | 74% | 55 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 1 | 18 of 34 | 52% | 25 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 2 | 1 | 2:11 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 23 of 33 | 69% | 35 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:29 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 6 of 7 | 85% | 20 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 3:52 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 9 of 10 | 90% | 20 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 24 of 41 | 58% | 19 of 35 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 32 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 4 |
| Cody Durden | 32 of 43 | 74% | 22 of 31 | 3 of 3 | 7 of 9 | 24 of 34 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 18 of 34 | 52% | 13 of 28 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 29 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 |
| Cody Durden | 23 of 33 | 69% | 14 of 22 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 9 | 18 of 27 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 6 of 7 | 85% | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 |
| Cody Durden | 9 of 10 | 90% | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ulanbekov (-170), Durden (+142)
Round 1
Two wrestle-friendly flyweights will toe the line as the prelims continue, in a classic matchup of Russia vs. Georgia—with a twist. Representing the Motherland and Dagestani fighters everywhere will be Ulanbekov (14-2, 3-1 UFC), and his foe Durden (16-4-1, 5-2-1 UFC) hails from Georgia, albeit in the United States. Ready for a potential 15-minute affair, referee Chris Tognoni laces his shoes up tightly to keep up with the 125ers. There is no glove touch to start things off. Durden races out to attack, and Ulanbekov is right there to fire off several leg kicks. Durden responds with one, and Ulanbekov goes up top with a one-two and several jabs. Ulanbekov parries a kick with his knee and pushes out a front kick. Durden charges at him, and Ulanbekov sits down on a right hand and smashes Durden in the face with a right hand. Durden topples over to his back, and Ulanbekov leaps at him and snatches up a guillotine choke, even pulling guard to lock it down. Durden deftly rolls through to survive the dangerous submission attempt, and the scramble that ensues is wild and frantic, and it results in them both standing up again. When upright, Ulanbekov drives a knee into Durden’s jaw, and Durden shakes it off as the two tie up. Durden presses tightly until Ulanbekov pushes off, and both flyweights are hellbent for leather as they separate, nailing one another with fierce punches. Durden gets the better of the final exchange before they back off to catch their wind, and Ulanbekov settles down and flicks out a number of jabs. Durden crashes the pocket, and Ulanbekov stands him up and gets pushed to the wall. Ulanbekov uses his foe’s momentum against him and hits a body lock with a trip to dump the Georgian on his back. Durden hits the ground and hacks upward with an elbow, and he attacks with a number of additional elbows while Ulanbekov lords over him. Durden muscles his way back to a knee with the wall at his side, and Ulanbekov gets a hook in the side and drags him down. The Dagestani fighter gets both hooks in and rides Durden like a bucking bronco, allowing Durden to flail and spin to no avail. Ulanbekov cinches up a body triangle, and he locks down a rear-naked choke that is clamped on top of Durden’s jaw. Durden toughs it out and makes it to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Round 2
The 125ers are amped up and ready to get back to it, and Ulanbekov offers a glove touch and gets decked in the face by his opponent. Ulanbekov shakes it off and counters with a left, and Durden is out of the way in time. Durden jabs his way in, and he nails Ulanbekov with an overhand right. Ulanbekov lowers his base and flips Durden around him to throw the American on his back, and Durden holds on tight until he gets elbowed in the chops. Durden sets up a high guard in an effort to threaten or keep Ulanbekov honest, and he gets off a sharp elbow when Ulanbekov looks to get his own ground-and-pound going. The crowd grows a little restless as Ulanbekov maintains top position, and Durden hurries to get back up but gives his back up in the process. Ulanbekov slips in a body triangle and uses his toes to hang on illegally in the position. Tognoni admonishes him multiple times, and as he does, Ulanbekov sets up rear-naked choke. Durden fights the hands, all while Ulanbekov is hanging on his back and interlinking his toes in the fencing. Ulanbekov softens Durden up from behind with punches while looking for an opening on the neck, riding the fighter from Georgia like a mean-spirited L.L. Bean backpack. Tognoni slaps Ulanbekov’s toes out of the fence once more, and Ulanbekov maintains his body triangle locked around Durden’s waist.
Ulanbekov fishes for another rear-naked choke, and he settles for it over the jaw to give it a full-throated squeeze. Durden falls to his back in a last-ditch effort to escape the precarious position, but there is nothing more he can do. The forearm of the Dagestani competitor does not even need to slip under the chin, as his vice-like grip forces Durden to surrender.
This pillar-to-post performance for Ulanbekov announces him as a threat to the rest of his talent-stacked division.
The Official Result
Tagir Ulanbekov def. Cody Durden R2 4:25 via Submission (Face Crank)
Angelo picks Cody Durden as an underdog, citing his pressure wrestling and recent momentum. He notes that both are pressure wrestlers but gives Durden an edge in takedown defense. He plans to monitor line movement before betting.
Big Brady picks Tagir Ulanbekov to win by second-round submission, specifically a guillotine. He notes Durden's tendency to make mistakes on the mat (subbed 3 times in career) and Ulanbekov's nasty guillotine. Brady believes Ulanbekov will get the better of striking exchanges, forcing Durden to wrestle and expose his neck. He recalls Ulanbekov nearly submitting Allan Nascimento, who is a much better grappler than Durden.
Cody picks Durden as an underdog, citing Ulanbekov's age (33), injury history (six fight pullouts), and questionable cardio. He notes that Ulanbekov has struggled against wrestlers and has been taken down by lesser opponents. Cody believes Durden's chain wrestling and improved cardio will allow him to outwork Ulanbekov, especially in a three-round fight. He expects a close decision.
Daniel Vreeland picks Cody Durden as his dog, stating that Durden will out-wrestle Tagir Ulanbekov and win a decision. He believes Durden will do enough grappling to secure the win.
Lucrative James has the least read on this fight. He leans toward Tagir Ulanbekov winning a split decision, but he is not confident. He notes that both fighters have finishing upside but the over 2.5 rounds is at -235, which he considers a horrific price. He is passing on betting this fight.
The host picks Ulanbekov but is not happy with the minus 170 line. He thinks Ulanbekov's best path to victory is via submission, capitalizing on a mistake from Durden. He notes that Durden often shoots desperation takedowns and could get caught in a guillotine. He acknowledges Durden could win minutes with his striking and pressure, but expects Ulanbekov to find a submission. He suggests a small play on the submission prop if the odds are favorable.
Paul picks Ulanbekov, stating that Durden's wrestling-heavy style will be difficult against Ulanbekov's grappling. He notes that Ulanbekov is from the Khabib camp and has solid takedown defense. Paul believes Ulanbekov's skills will be too much for Durden, who relies on wrestling but may struggle against a fellow grappler.
The Guru picks Tagir Ulanbekov over Cody Durden, citing Ulanbekov's reach advantage, better striking at range, and takedown defense from Team Dagestan. He believes Durden's standup is poor and that Ulanbekov will do more damage. He predicts a 29-28 decision win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 9 of 14 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:34 |
| Nate Maness | 0 | 4 of 10 | 40% | 23 of 30 | 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 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 9 of 14 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:34 |
| Nate Maness | 0 | 4 of 10 | 40% | 23 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 4 of 9 | 44% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Nate Maness | 4 of 10 | 40% | 2 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 4 of 9 | 44% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Nate Maness | 4 of 10 | 40% | 2 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Angelo picks Maness as a heavy underdog, citing his better boxing, takedown defense, and ability to stick to a game plan. He notes Ulanbekov looked bad against Tim Elliott, not wrestling enough and being taken down easily. He considers a half-unit moneyline bet or a +3.5 prop.
Big Brady likes Ulanbekov's grappling and control, expecting him to take Maness down and keep him there. He notes Maness's poor get-up game and the fact that Maness is cutting to flyweight for the first time, which could affect his cardio. However, he is wary of Maness's ability to pull off wins and plans to stay away from betting on this fight.
Cody picks Nate Maness as a live underdog. He notes that Ulanbekov has not looked impressive in the UFC, with close split decisions against Bruno Silva and Alan Nascimento, and a loss to Tim Elliott where he was taken down and outstruck. Maness has shown heart and takedown defense, surviving Tony Gravely's wrestling and knocking him out in the second round. At 125 pounds, Maness may have better takedown defense and striking. Cody thinks Maness can keep the fight standing and land combinations, making Ulanbekov desperate and shooting takedowns. He recommends waiting for weigh-ins to see Maness at 125.
Daniel Levi picks Tagir Ulanbekov, having bet him at -175 for two units. He believes Ulanbekov's grappling and top control will be too much for Nate Maness, who struggles to get up from bottom. He notes Ulanbekov's toughness and recent training with Khabib's team, and expects a dominant performance.
The host is concerned about Ulanbekov's inability to control opponents on the ground and his close fights. He acknowledges Maness's durability and striking power, but thinks Ulanbekov can land enough takedowns and clinch work to win a decision. He is not confident enough to bet at -190 and will stay away.
Paul agrees with Cody, picking Nate Maness as an underdog. He highlights Maness's takedown defense against Johnny Munoz (2 for 16) and Tony Gravely (1 for 6), and his ability to come back from adversity, as seen against Gravely where he broke his jaw and still won. Paul notes that Maness is moving down to 125, which could be an X-factor, as he may be stronger and have better takedown defense. He thinks Maness's striking is superior to Ulanbekov's, and that Ulanbekov's camp may underestimate Maness because Umar Nurmagomedov beat him easily. Paul locks in Maness as an underdog pick.
The MMA Guru picks Tagir Ulanbekov, criticizing Maness's performance against Umar Nurmagomedov where he accepted being on bottom. He notes Ulanbekov's quality grappling, evidenced by a split decision win over Allan Nascimento. He predicts Ulanbekov will control the fight, winning 29-28 by taking dominant positions in later rounds.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Elliott | 1 | 79 of 179 | 44% | 117 of 227 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:52 |
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 90 of 186 | 48% | 111 of 212 | 2 of 10 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 4:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Elliott | 1 | 36 of 82 | 43% | 44 of 94 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 38 of 78 | 48% | 38 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:26 | |
| 2 | Tim Elliott | 0 | 23 of 52 | 44% | 44 of 76 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 21 of 45 | 46% | 26 of 50 | 1 of 7 | 14% | 0 | 0 | 1:28 | |
| 3 | Tim Elliott | 0 | 20 of 45 | 44% | 29 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 31 of 63 | 49% | 47 of 84 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 3:01 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Elliott | 79 of 179 | 44% | 30 of 113 | 15 of 26 | 34 of 40 | 64 of 160 | 15 of 19 | 0 of 0 |
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 90 of 186 | 48% | 70 of 162 | 15 of 19 | 5 of 5 | 65 of 158 | 23 of 26 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Elliott | 36 of 82 | 43% | 16 of 52 | 6 of 14 | 14 of 16 | 31 of 76 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 38 of 78 | 48% | 30 of 68 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 34 of 73 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Tim Elliott | 23 of 52 | 44% | 9 of 35 | 5 of 7 | 9 of 10 | 14 of 40 | 9 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 21 of 45 | 46% | 18 of 41 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 35 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Tim Elliott | 20 of 45 | 44% | 5 of 26 | 4 of 5 | 11 of 14 | 19 of 44 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 31 of 63 | 49% | 22 of 53 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 19 of 50 | 10 of 11 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
It’s the U.S. vs. Russia up now in the flyweight division, as former title challenger Elliott (17-12-1, 6-10 UFC) will try to become the second fighter to beat Ulanbekov (14-1, 2-0 UFC) as a pro. Having laced up his shoes, referee Chris Tognoni is now prepared for what could be a thrilling, fast-paced grappling affair for as long as it lasts. The gloves get touched, and Elliott swings with a spinning back kick that is well out of the way. Elliott turns through to score a leg kick, and Ulanbekov dings him up with two jabs and a one-two. Elliott keeps his hands down, and Ulanbekov cracks him with a right hand and follows it with a front kick. Elliott ignores the strikes to wade forward, throwing unorthodox strikes like stomp kicks to the knee and whipping uppercuts. The American charges ahead and secures a quick takedown, and Ulanbekov fights his way back to his knees. Elliott blasts him in the face with a knee, and it is unclear if Ulanbekov’s knee was off the ground as to whether it was illegal or legal, but it appeared that Ulanbekov’s knee was down. Despite this, we continue, and Elliott shouts at his man to come on and fight him. Elliott blitzes forward, landing punches and low kicks, and evading the strikes with odd, bobbing head movement. Ulanbekov replies with a punch to the chest, and he checks a kick but gets smacked with a left hand. Ulanbekov is much more composed with jabs, but as he flicks one out, the ex-title challenger darts forward and lands another takedown. The Russian is not down for more than one second before exploding back up, and Elliott is quick to chase him down and land another. Ulanbekov sweeps him after a wide scramble, and he gets back to his feet. Tognoni calls time as Elliott sticks his hands out to strike, and he warns Elliott from keeping his fingers outstretched while Elliott protests. The fight resumes, and Elliott lands a front kick to the body and a low kick. Elliott dips a few punches, eats a couple more, and slings a left hook that slides off the side of Ulanbekov’s head. Elliott tries to step in with an elbow, and as he does, Ulanbekov drills him with a few punches. Elliott laughs them off, keeps his self-described movement awkward, and he turns his hips while launching a massive left hand. The strike sends Ulanbekov crashing down to the mat, and he appears to get back up after the flash knockdown only into the hands of Elliott, who takes him down. Ulanbekov powers his way back up, gets popped with another questionable knee when he was standing, and he starts talking to his corner. The wild and crazy round ends in the clinch.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elliott
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Elliott
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Elliott
Round 2
The gloves get touched to start the second round, and Elliott comes out with a brief swarm of punches. Ulanbekov is energized, and he returns fire with a salvo of his own. Elliott just misses with a huge overhand right, and he windmills a left that follows that blows Ulanbekov’s hair back. The Russian mixes things up with a takedown try, and Elliott sprawls well and pops right back up. Ulanbekov gets off a few right hands, appearing to have started to time the head movement, and he ignores the counters from Elliott to score a hard right hand. When Elliott marches forward, Ulanbekov hits a double that puts the former title challenger on his seat momentarily. Elliott scoots his way to the wall to power back up, and when Ulanbekov tries to secure a mat return, Elliott scrambles to wind up on top. As they both get back up to their feet, Elliott lands a few punches that make Ulanbekov blow his nose out. Ulanbekov drills Elliott in the jaw with a right hand, and Elliott comes forward to clinch. Elliott grabs his foe’s glove and cracks Ulanbekov with a punch from his other hand, and Ulanbekov protests to draw a warning from Tognoni. They both try to set up a takedown after this confusion, and a furious scramble ensues where Elliott is able to take top position and even snag mount for a couple seconds. Ulanbekov fights his way back up, and he lifts Elliott in the air but cannot wrangle him, as the former title challenger circles around to take top position until Ulanbekov bucks him off. They tie up, and start belting one another with short elbows and punches. Elliott grabs Ulanbekov’s glove again and tries to slug him in the face, but Ulanbekov is able to evade the blow and he shoots for a double that plows Elliott in the wall. Ulanbekov holds on tight, not letting Elliott get space, and ignoring when Elliott starts chattering at him. Elliott fights off one takedown, and he throws up a guillotine right when the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Elliott
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Elliott
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Elliott
Round 3
The last round begins with no glove touch, as replays show several uncalled illegal moves that Elliott got away with in the previous round, all while Ulanbekov’s coach Khabib Nurmagomedov is incensed. Dundasso is alive and well in the Octagon tonight. The action starts off with Elliott attacking, working the body with kicks and a few punches. Ulanbekov replies with a single crisp elbow, and he backs off and marks Elliott up with a one-two. A cut opens up on the corner of Ulanbekov’s eye, but it does not appear to be from a punch but rather from when they clacked heads when they were tied up. They clinch up again just long enough for Ulanbekov to work the body with several knees, and Ulanbekov hops back and dives forward with a double-leg takedown. Elliott sprawls, using the fence as his ally, but Ulanbekov lifts his leg off the ground to drop Elliott to a knee. Ulanbekov tries to elevate the ex-title challenger again, to no avail, as Elliott is able to get his feet beneath him to keep himself upright. With his hands clasping Elliott from behind, Ulanbekov gets off several emphatic knees to the back of Elliott’s thigh. Ulanbekov hops on to the back, circling over to get one hook in. As Elliott tries to escape, he leans over and Ulanbekov crawls on to his back to take it and secure a body triangle. From there, the Russian attacks a rear-naked choke, and Elliott grimaces but grits it out. Elliott legally fights the hands, holding on to the wrist instead of the inseam of a glove, and he stops the choke but cannot stop punches connecting to the side of his head. Ulanbekov keeps his body triangle tight, landing unanswered shots, and he pounds away until the final bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Elliott)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Elliott)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Elliott)
The Official Result
Tim Elliott def. Tagir Ulanbekov via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Ulanbekov but thinks the odds are too wide. He notes Ulanbekov is a dominant wrestler but has been taken down and outstruck in the UFC. He thinks Elliott's experience and jiu-jitsu could make it closer. He would make Ulanbekov a -150 favorite, not -300.
Big Brady picks Tagir Ulanbekov to win by submission in the second or third round. He notes that Ulanbekov is younger, longer, and has good grappling and submission skills. Brady points out that Tim Elliott has been submitted five times and has not beaten a high-level opponent in years. He believes Ulanbekov will win the grappling exchanges and eventually submit Elliott. Brady also mentions that Elliott's best wins are against lower-tier fighters, while Ulanbekov represents a step up.
Cody leans Elliott as a live underdog, noting Ulanbekov has not looked impressive in the UFC and has cardio and top control issues. He thinks Elliott's unorthodox striking and scrambling ability could cause problems. However, he is wary of Elliott's cardio and the 'Dagestan father's plan' narrative, so he calls it a dog-or-pass.
Daniel Levi picks Tagir Ulanbekov to win, possibly by submission. He criticizes Tim Elliott's attitude, cardio, and recent performances. He believes Ulanbekov's relentless takedown style and Dagestani pressure will wear Elliott down. He notes that Elliott has been submitted multiple times and that Ulanbekov has a mounted guillotine threat. He predicts Ulanbekov will submit Elliott or win a dominant decision.
Ulanbekov has good grappling and scrambling, but his fights are often close. Elliott is a tricky veteran who could pull off an upset if he's in shape. Ulanbekov should win most of the grappling exchanges and get top position, but Elliott's hip tosses and awkward style could cause problems. The over 2.5 rounds is a better play than betting Ulanbekov straight.
Paul picks Ulanbekov but expects a dicey fight. He notes Ulanbekov's wrestling is good but his top control is not dominant, and Elliott is tough to hold down. Paul thinks Ulanbekov's takedowns and pace could win rounds, but Elliott's scrambling and volume make it close. He calls it a stay-away but leans Ulanbekov.
The MMA Guru picks Tim Elliott as a big underdog over Tagir Ulanbekov, expressing surprise at the odds. He criticizes Ulanbekov's performances, calling him the 'runt of the litter' from Dagestan, and notes he struggled against short-notice opponent Alan Nascimento. He believes Elliott's pace, grappling, and chin will overwhelm Ulanbekov, predicting a close 29-28 split decision where Elliott out-hustles him. He mentions Elliott's experience and Ulanbekov's red flags like razor-close fights and gifted decisions.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 18 of 40 | 45% | 62 of 87 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 1 | 1 | 12:04 |
| Allan Nascimento | 0 | 25 of 37 | 67% | 74 of 86 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0:16 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 5 of 18 | 27% | 5 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 1 | 3:09 |
| Allan Nascimento | 0 | 10 of 17 | 58% | 11 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 4 of 10 | 40% | 26 of 33 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:07 |
| Allan Nascimento | 0 | 12 of 15 | 80% | 32 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 9 of 12 | 75% | 31 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:48 |
| Allan Nascimento | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 31 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 18 of 40 | 45% | 16 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 8 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 14 |
| Allan Nascimento | 25 of 37 | 67% | 13 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 10 of 10 | 14 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 10 of 10 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 5 of 18 | 27% | 3 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
| Allan Nascimento | 10 of 17 | 58% | 3 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 6 | 8 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 4 of 10 | 40% | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Allan Nascimento | 12 of 15 | 80% | 8 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 6 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 9 of 12 | 75% | 9 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 12 |
| Allan Nascimento | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Good evening, Abu Dhabi, and good morning, fight fans! UFC 267 is upon us at the island, with 14 huge fights bucking the recent trend of no rankings relevance by putting on a barrage of battles with immediate divisional implications for most. We kick things off in the flyweight division in the first of eight matchups pitting Russia against the world, commencing with Dagestan’s Ulanbekov (13-1, 1-0 UFC) against the debuting Brazilian Nascimento (18-5, 0-0 UFC). The gloves get touched in front of referee Dan Movahedi, and let the early morning violence begin! Ulanbekov takes the center of the cage and has his lead leg kicked early. Ulanbekov tries to counter the Brazilian over the top, but Nascimento slips the strike and lands with a few more low kicks. Mixing things up, Nascimento throws out a front kick that collides with the chest and forces Ulanbekov to exhale sharply. Ulanbekov times a leg kick of his own to surprise Nascimento, and he pulls back to ding Nascimento with a right hand on the way out. Ulanbekov leaps in the air with a knee, and Nascimento grabs hold of him and falls on his back from a body lock to drag Ulanbekov into his guard. The Brazilian throws his legs up for a triangle, and although he cannot set it up fully, he does use it to sweep his opponent and put him on his back. Nascimento does not keep his foe grounded for long, as they both walk together up the wall in a tight clinch. A trip from Ulanbekov allows him to plant Nascimento down on the ground again, but Nascimento is quick to defend with a leglock to force Ulanbekov to protect himself. A scramble ensues, and Ulanbekov latches on to a guillotine choke that is incredibly tight. The Brazilian does not panic, instead slowly and miraculously working his way out of the dangerous position even after Ulanbekov mounts him. Although he winds up on his back, Nascimento does escape the submission and stays busy on his back with additional submission setups. Ulanbekov remains in half guard, only to have to fight off a kimura sweep attempt from his opponent. Ulanbekov steps over to free his arm, and the round ends with an armbar attempt from Nascimento.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Round 2
Both hands get touched to start off the second round of this fun flyweight fight. Ulanbekov backs off to establish his jab in the early stages of the round, but Nascimento crashes in repeatedly to try to land clubbing power punches. Ulanbekov keeps his opponent at bay long enough to dart in low, and a double leg by Nascimento’s ankles drops the Brazilian to his knees. Nascimento fights his way back to his feet, and after they stall out, Movahedi warns them to keep going. This prompts Ulanbekov to drop low for a single, and although he pulls Nascimento’s leg out beneath him, Nascimento isolates Ulanbekov’s right arm with a kimura trap. Nascimento continues to torque the arm, and he threatens briefly with a triangle off his back as well to turn this armlock into something successful. The Russian does not appear remotely concerned, and he wrenches his arm free from the two-on-one grip while Nascimento’s guard closes around his midsection. Trying to stay busy, a few short elbows get off from Nascimento, who is find himself getting grinded out by the gritty grappler. Nascimento turns his high guard into a triangle try, but that too falls short when Ulanbekov pushes his legs to the side. This opening allows Nascimento to slash at his opponent with unexpectedly heavy elbows, and the looming question may be whether Ulanbekov is winning this lengthy exchange simply by being on top. As Ulanbekov turns to take a better position, Nascimento snatches an armbar, and when there is no tap to be found, he elbows Ulanbekov on the side of the head until and after the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nascimento
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nascimento
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nascimento
Round 3
The flyweights hug it out to start the last round in a competitive battle, and Ulanbekov surges out of his corner to hit a takedown. Nascimento is instantly ready with a kimura sweep, and he turns this into a triangle choke to keep Ulanbekov honest. Like all the previous submission attempts and setups, Ulanbekov pays it little mind and calmly breaks the grip to take comfortable top position. The activity level seems to favor Nascimento at this point, even on his back, as he is constantly throwing his legs up for subs or landing short strikes. The Brazilian’s high guard continues to make Ulanbekov cautious of passing to a better position, although Ulanbekov does work his way over to half guard without exposing himself to possible harm. The Russian grinds his elbow on his opponent’s face, and Movahedi tells them to keep going. Ulanbekov answers the call for action by scoring a solid single elbow that makes Nascimento’s head bounce off the canvas. Ulanbekov clings to Nascimento like a problematic ex, not letting “Puro Osso” get any space to maneuver or finagle any savvy submissions like before. Nascimento rolls to his side, and he is quick to tie up a kimura that he turns to an armbar. Ulanbekov stands up to get a better position, and Nascimento grabs his wrist when he lowers himself into the guard so that he can get hold of a partial armbar. Nascimento continues to kick his legs when Ulanbekov gets out of the submission move, and he stays active while Ulanbekov lands a few partial strikes to end what could be a very, very closely scored matchup.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Ulanbekov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Ulanbekov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Ulanbekov)
The Official Result
Tagir Ulanbekov def. Allan Nascimento via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Big Brady picks Tagir Ulanbekov to win by decision. He notes that Ulanbekov's wrestling is his bread and butter, with phenomenal control time, and he expects Ulanbekov to take Nascimento down at will. He acknowledges Nascimento is solid but thinks Ulanbekov's wrestling will be the difference, leading to a comfortable decision. He mentions the line of -350 seems a bit off but still picks Ulanbekov.
Cody is hesitant but leans Ulanbekov, noting his excellent wrestling and Dagestani pedigree. However, he acknowledges Ulanbekov looked bad against Bruno Silva and has had many pullouts. He thinks Ulanbekov should win but suggests live betting Nascimento if Ulanbekov gasses. He calls Ulanbekov a potential 'apple pie [__]'.
Daniel slightly leans with Tagir Ulanbekov, but views it as a pass due to the high price. He notes Ulanbekov has been underwhelming and questions his performances. Daniel acknowledges Nascimento's scrambling ability and thinks the fight could be close. He expects Ulanbekov to win a close decision, especially in Abu Dhabi.
Ulanbekov is the better wrestler and scrambles well, likely accruing top control time. Nascimento is a jiu-jitsu guy but Ulanbekov should reverse bad positions. However, the -350 price is too steep until Ulanbekov proves himself in the UFC.
Paul passes, citing Ulanbekov's lack of physicality and poor performance against Bruno Silva. He thinks Ulanbekov is a potential 'apple pie [__]' and doesn't want to lay -400. He sees Nascimento as a live dog but doesn't commit.
The MMA Guru picks Tagir Ulanbekov over Allan Nascimento. He notes that Ulanbekov has good pressure and cardio, and expects him to take over in later rounds after Nascimento fades. He sees a similar fight to Ulanbekov's bout with Bruno Silva, where Ulanbekov won by pressuring and winning exchanges. He gives the first round to Nascimento due to his early explosiveness and submission threat, but believes Ulanbekov will win rounds two and three for a 29-28 decision.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 47 of 114 | 41% | 59 of 134 | 4 of 8 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:21 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 46 of 122 | 37% | 69 of 152 | 5 of 11 | 45% | 0 | 0 | 3:47 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 20 of 40 | 50% | 20 of 42 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 13 of 48 | 27% | 19 of 55 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 8 of 18 | 44% | 18 of 32 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 25 | 48% | 25 of 42 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 2:26 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 0 | 19 of 56 | 33% | 21 of 60 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 21 of 49 | 42% | 25 of 55 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:33 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tagir Ulanbekov | 47 of 114 | 41% | 20 of 81 | 10 of 12 | 17 of 21 | 40 of 104 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 46 of 122 | 37% | 38 of 110 | 3 of 5 | 5 of 7 | 45 of 119 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 20 of 40 | 50% | 8 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 13 | 19 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 13 of 48 | 27% | 8 of 39 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 5 | 13 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 8 of 18 | 44% | 2 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 7 | 7 of 16 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 12 of 25 | 48% | 11 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | 19 of 56 | 33% | 10 of 46 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 49 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 21 of 49 | 42% | 19 of 47 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 20 of 46 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
We begin this deceptively solid Fight Night event in the lowest men’s division, as Ulanbekov (12-1, 0-0 UFC) makes his long-awaited UFC debut against Brazil’s Silva (10-4-2, 1 NC; 0-1, 1 NC UFC). Drawing the assignment for this flyweight matchup is referee Lukasz Bosacki, and the two men respectfully touch gloves to check in the fight card tonight. Silva immediately slams his shin into the calf of the newcomer, and he does this again as Ulanbekov recoils. The Russian walks forward with a jab and a high kick, but the kick gets blocked. Silva attacks the lead leg again, and he steps back out of the way from a front kick. The primary attack from the Brazilian so far is this low leg kick, and he spins himself around trying to connect with one. He drills Ulanbekov’s lead leg again, and the Russian bites down on his gumshield and scores a right hand. Silva dances out of the away and cracks the calf again, and Ulanbekov is already showing signs of discomfort. They come together and brawl, and Silva covers up and backs off. When Ulanbekov ducks down to punch the body, Silva spins with a wheel kick that goes over his opponent’s head. Silva jacks up the lead leg of his opponent with more kicks, and Ulanbekov is already lifting his leg up out of concern from eating those shots. When he does, Silva snipes him with a right hand that staggers the Russian. Silva gets countered with a right hand but walks through it to attack the leg again, and he falls over when it gets checked. Ulanbekov does not take advantage of this in the moment and allows Silva to reset, only to be greeted by a takedown attempt. Silva bowls his opponent over, but Ulanbekov springs back to his feet and the two clinch up on the fence. From there, Ulanbekov uses a body lock takedown to drag Silva down, and he tries to set up the Dagestani handcuff as he traps Silva’s legs beneath his own leg triangle. The Brazilian powers out and pops back up, where he strides forward to slug it out. When Ulanbekov answers him, Silva nearly kicks the lead leg out from beneath his opponent. Ulanbekov tries to give one back to him, but “The Bulldog” slides out of the way in time. Ulanbekov dips and scores a right hand, and ducks a spinning back fist to land right. Both men land single clean right hands, and Silva wings a spinning back kick that glances off the torso. The two bantamweights swing it out to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
A glove touch opens this round, and Ulanbekov is a man on a mission as he stalks Silva down. The Brazilian absorbs a few heavy punches, including one that opens a cut on the corner of his right eye, but he commits to a nasty leg kick that makes Ulanbekov stumble. Ulanbekov backs off to land a few jabs, and Silva takes them all flush as his nose reddens up. Ulanbekov keeps sticking out a piston-like jab and Silva gets frustrated, swinging a leg kick as they close distance. Ulanbekov grabs him and tosses him down, where he is already in half guard. Locking down Silva’s legs and preventing the Brazilian from escaping, Ulanbekov gets off a few stiff right hands as Silva scoots to the fence. The Brazilian manages to make his way back up momentarily, but Ulanbekov trips him back down. When Silva again powers back up, Ulanbekov tries to slide over the top and snatch up a submission. He falls to the ground and Silva leaps down, but he cannot do anything with the position as the Russian muscles his way back to his feet. Ulanbekov jams Silva into the fence, and uses the placement to drop down for a double leg takedown and land it. Silva sits on his backside until he regains his posture and stands up, and he pushes his opponent back to the other side of the cage. The Brazilian elevates his opponent and puts him down, but Ulanbekov springs right back up as the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov
Round 3
Shortly after the two touch gloves, Silva restarts his assault of the lead leg. Ulanbekov tries to make him pay for it, but his more effective strikes are his jabs. Silva stands in front of him and kicks him in the body, but he takes a one-two as a response. Silva winds up on a power right hand but comes up short, and Ulanbekov is able to keep his range with long left hands. When Silva reaches with a right hand, Ulanbekov shoots from a distance for a double, but the Brazilian sprawls and stuffs it in the center of the cage. Silva loads up on a right hand but gets jabbed and disrupted a few times, and Ulanbekov follows one jab with a solid right hook that snaps the head back. Ulanbekov tries to turn the damage into a takedown, but Silva sees it coming and stays upright. Silva walks forward as Ulanbekov attempts to rest, and Silva shoves him over and dives on top. Ulanbekov kicks his way free from the position, and the two are back on the feet. Silva tries to punch his way in but Ulanbekov grabs him into a clinch, so Silva works him to the body as they are both bent over while Silva protects himself from a potential takedown. Ulanbekov scrambles around to take Silva’s back, and he hits a quick takedown when he pushes Silva to the fence. Silva spins about and gets to his knees, and when he stands up, Ulanbekov takes his back. Silva is warned for grabbing the glove, and Ulanbekov pursues a takedown but gets reversed as Silva winds up on top for a moment. Ulanbekov stands up with ease, and his subsequent attempt is stuffed as Silva turns the tables on him by attacking a double of his own. The Brazilian transitions to a single, and Ulanbekov keeps his balance as he hops around on one leg, before breaking the grip and getting free. Silva unloads with a right hand, and the two men clinch up for a moment to take deep breaths. This brief respite is for a purpose, and when they separate, they swing wildly and constantly like two tornadoes clashing together. Silva lands the cleaner of the shots but they both score and keep trading right to the final horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Ulanbekov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Ulanbekov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ulanbekov (29-28 Ulanbekov)
The Official Result
Tagir Ulanbekov def. Bruno Silva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Big Brady picks Ulanbekov confidently, citing advantages everywhere: solid striking, very good wrestling, and volume. He expects Ulanbekov to get takedowns at will and win a dominant decision. He notes Silva is a BJJ black belt but believes Ulanbekov can avoid submissions. He includes Ulanbekov in a parlay with Barboza.
Daniel picks Tagir Ulanbekov but acknowledges the line is too wide. He thinks Ulanbekov is one-dimensional with grappling and not a top-tier Russian prospect. He notes that Bruno Silva has fought tough competition and could make it close. However, he believes Ulanbekov's size and wrestling, plus the 'Russian connection' in Abu Dhabi, will edge him the win.
Ulanbekov is a high-level Dagestani wrestler with a strong frame and cardio; Silva fades late and has questionable jiu-jitsu. Ulanbekov will control the fight with takedowns and top pressure, likely winning by decision or late finish.
The Guru picks Ulanbekov, praising his skills as a member of Team Khabib and noting he is a heavy favorite. He believes Silva lacks quick finishing ability and cannot out-skill Ulanbekov over three rounds. He predicts Ulanbekov will wear Silva down and submit him via guillotine choke in the first or second round.
Bruno Silva - Fight History
The host picks Bruno Silva, noting that Silva is better on the mat and can counter while moving forward on the feet. He believes Silva's opportunistic takedowns and slick transitions will give him the edge. He also mentions that Silva does not accept bottom position and is quick to attack submissions.
AJ picks Bruno Silva due to his well-rounded game, strong wrestling, and experience against elite competition. He views Cháirez as having questionable fight IQ and less proven wins. AJ expects Silva to outwork Cháirez over three rounds, possibly winning a decision, and notes Silva's toughness and activity as green flags.
Angelo picks Bruno Silva, citing his power and output advantage. He believes Silva will be the one moving forward and dictating pace, making Cháirez uncomfortable. He notes that when pressured, Cháirez tends to back up and doesn't fight as comfortably, and may get taken down where he throws up random submissions.
Big Brady picks Édgar Cháirez to win by third round knockout. He thinks the market is low on Cháirez after a poor performance in Mexico City, but expects Cháirez to return to his aggressive style. He notes that Bruno Silva is older and has been finished multiple times, and that Cháirez has a good chance to land a big shot late.
Édgar Cháirez is the underdog but has power and range with head kicks and jabs. Bruno Silva is past his prime and likely won't take the fight to the ground. Cháirez will win by decision, using his reach advantage and boxing, as Silva's recent performances have been poor.
Cody picks Cháirez as a slight underdog, noting it's a 50/50 fight. He cites Cháirez's youth, reach advantage, and better gas tank. Silva is older and may slow down. He prefers the plus money on Cháirez.
Bruno Silva is picked because he has faster hands, more power, and better wrestling than Édgar Cháirez. Cháirez struggled against Felipe Bunes and has a tendency to pull guard and sit in his guard. Silva's aggressive pressure and ground and pound should overwhelm Cháirez. The host expects a decision win, as both are durable.
Silva has more pathways to victory with his grappling and wrestling advantage. Chavez has been taken down by lesser wrestlers. Silva should bank the first round with takedowns and win a decision.
Lucrative James picks Édgar Cháirez, citing Bruno Silva's age (36) and recent decline at flyweight, where fighters peak young. He notes Cháirez's finishing ability, having hurt top fighters like Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira, and Silva's increased vulnerability. He predicts Cháirez will hurt Silva on the feet and secure a submission, possibly a guillotine or rear-naked choke.
Silva's pressure, calf kicks, and boxing combinations should overwhelm Cháirez, who lacks one-punch knockout power. Silva dictates the pace and avoids submission threats, grinding out a decision. The -135 line is acceptable.
Paul picks Silva but is hesitant, noting both fighters are durable and the fight likely goes to decision. He prefers the over 2.5 rounds prop as the best bet. He admits Silva is a fan pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Johnson | 0 | 85 of 162 | 52% | 110 of 189 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 73 of 136 | 53% | 101 of 171 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:43 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Johnson | 0 | 18 of 34 | 52% | 18 of 36 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 19 | 63% | 15 of 22 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 | |
| 2 | Charles Johnson | 0 | 33 of 60 | 55% | 38 of 65 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 27 of 53 | 50% | 37 of 66 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 | |
| 3 | Charles Johnson | 0 | 34 of 68 | 50% | 54 of 88 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 34 of 64 | 53% | 49 of 83 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:29 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Johnson | 85 of 162 | 52% | 43 of 101 | 30 of 46 | 12 of 15 | 61 of 132 | 24 of 30 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 73 of 136 | 53% | 52 of 106 | 14 of 21 | 7 of 9 | 71 of 131 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Johnson | 18 of 34 | 52% | 7 of 18 | 7 of 10 | 4 of 6 | 11 of 26 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 12 of 19 | 63% | 6 of 11 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 12 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Charles Johnson | 33 of 60 | 55% | 17 of 37 | 10 of 16 | 6 of 7 | 29 of 56 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 27 of 53 | 50% | 18 of 39 | 6 of 9 | 3 of 5 | 27 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Charles Johnson | 34 of 68 | 50% | 19 of 46 | 13 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 21 of 50 | 13 of 18 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 34 of 64 | 53% | 28 of 56 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 32 of 60 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Johnson (-200); Silva (+170)
Round 1
Keith Peterson is the referee. Silva with an inside low kick early. Johnson shoots behind a punch. Silva defends and they’re in the clinch. Johnson lands a hook on the break. Johnson fakes a shot behind a left. Johnson with a front kick. The American shoots from long distance and Silva defends easily. Silva shoves his foe into the fence. Silva backs off. A right lands for Johnson, who follows with a leg kick. A sharp right connects for the Brazilian. Silva kicks the body. Johnson appears to be bothered by the pressure. Silva clinches again and locks his hands. Johnson lands an elbow in close quaters and Silva backs off. Silva lands in an exchange. They trade low kicks. Silva with a right as Johnson moves forward. Johnson partially lands a high kick. Johnson mixes in a low kick and a front kick. Silva answers by kicking the body. Silva keeps the pressure on late in the round.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Round 2
Johnson kicks the body and they trade in the pocket. Silva blocks a head kick. Silva is pressuring and Johnson is forced to defend a takedown. Johnson lands a knee and shoves his foe away. A jab lands for Johnson before Silva shoots. Johnson denies the takedown and the flyweights clinch against the fence. Silva backs off and Johnson lands a combination. A kick by Silva lands below the belt and time is called. Johnson is ready to go right away. They trade low kicks. Silva again looks for the takedown, shoving Johnson into the fence. Johnson lands a knee before they separate. Johson lands a kick and Silva counters. A straight left gets through for Johnson. Silva clinches behind an uppercut and they break quickly. Johnson fires a high kcik, but it doesn’t land clean. Another uppercut for Silva, who clinches with his opponent again. Johnson lands a short elbow in close. Silva lands a combination against the fence. A body kick lands for Johnson. The flyweights clash heads in the clinch and Johnson seemed to get the worst of it. Time is called. Silva fires a front kick and it lands low. It’s the second low blow of the round, and Johnson is in more pain than he was from the first foul. No point is taken, however. Johnson grabs a leg but lets it go. Silva with a body kick before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Round 3
Johnson catches a kick and lets the leg go. Johnson lands a left and they clinch. Inside leg kick for Johnson, and they clinch in the center of the cage. Silva shoves Johnson into the fence. Silva drops low in pursuit of the takedown, but Johnson defends well. Jonson jabs and they trae in close quarters. Both men land before the flyweights clinch. They battle for position before separating. This time Johnson initiates the clinch. Silva lands a combination at range and he’s pressuring Johnson, who is in defense mode. Silva ties up with his opponent against the cage. Johnson denies a takedown attempt. Johnson with a high kick on the break. Silva tries a spinning back elbow. Johnson with kicks and a right hand in hopes of creating space. Silva closes the distance again, shoving Johnson into the fence. He briefly gets the American down, but he’s up in short order. Silva moves in and lands an uppercut before clinching. They battle it out in the clinch, and Johnson lands a nice knee. Silva moves forward and goes back to the uppercut. Jonson responds with a slashing elbow. Silva keeps moving forward. but Johnson is landing plenty of offense. Both men are slugging it out in the waning moments of the fight. Johnson is finding the mark quite often. Another elbow lands for Johnson. They trade right up until the final horn, with Silva getting in a few more shots.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (30-27 Johnson)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (30-27 Johnson)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (30-27 Johnson)
The Official Result
Charles Johnson def. Bruno Silva via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Charles Johnson but admits nervousness due to Bruno Silva's one-punch knockout power. He notes Johnson's excellent footwork, hand speed, and cardio, and believes if Johnson gets going early, he can avoid the big shot and win a decision. He acknowledges Johnson has been knocked out before but thinks his high IQ will prevail.
Big Brady picks Charles Johnson to win by third-round knockout, but expresses wariness due to Johnson's recent knockout loss and chin concerns. He likes the stylistic matchup, noting Silva's front-loaded power and tendency to fade, but worries Johnson might get knocked out early. He calls Johnson inconsistent.
Cody picks Bruno Silva as a dog, citing his wrestling, power, and durability. He notes Johnson's takedown defense issues and recent knockout loss. He thinks Silva can win by decision or submission.
Connor also picks Charles Johnson, emphasizing that Bruno Silva lacks the ability to adjust strategically, while Johnson can figure out his opponent as the fight progresses. He notes that Silva's wins come from opponents making the same mistakes, which Johnson does not do. Connor sees Johnson's adaptability as the key factor.
James picks Charles Johnson to win by decision, but expresses concern about Johnson's quick return after a knockout loss. He notes Johnson's superior cardio, volume, and tools, but worries about his durability and potential recklessness. He believes Johnson is the better fighter overall but is uncertain how he will approach the fight.
The host picks Johnson to win by decision, expecting him to outclass Silva on the feet. He highlights Johnson's reach advantage, defensive grappling, and ability to get back to his feet quickly. He believes Johnson's striking will be too much for Silva, and that Silva's power and grappling won't be enough to overcome Johnson's technical edge.
Paul picks Bruno Silva, noting he bets him every fight. He likes his wrestling and power, and thinks he can outgrapple Johnson. He expects a close fight but Silva has value at plus money.
The Guru picks Charles Johnson, believing he will walk down Bruno Silva as the fight progresses. He notes Johnson's size advantage (5'9" vs 5'4") and reach, and that Silva fights in bursts and lacks consistent finishing ability. He predicts a TKO in the second round.
Zane picks Charles Johnson, citing Johnson's ability to adjust and evolve during fights, unlike Bruno Silva who tends to make the same mistakes repeatedly. He notes that Silva's wins come against fighters who repeat errors, while Johnson adapts and finds solutions. Zane acknowledges Silva's danger but believes Johnson's flexibility gives him the edge.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 1 | 46 of 74 | 62% | 60 of 92 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 1 | 0 | 4:49 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 0 | 31 of 108 | 28% | 56 of 136 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:42 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 20 of 33 | 60% | 20 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:40 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 0 | 10 of 31 | 32% | 15 of 37 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:42 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 1 | 12 of 18 | 66% | 26 of 36 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:25 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 0 | 7 of 31 | 22% | 27 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 14 of 23 | 60% | 14 of 23 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:44 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 0 | 14 of 46 | 30% | 14 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 46 of 74 | 62% | 30 of 57 | 14 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 44 of 72 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 31 of 108 | 28% | 18 of 86 | 11 of 15 | 2 of 7 | 23 of 95 | 8 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 20 of 33 | 60% | 13 of 25 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 10 of 31 | 32% | 5 of 20 | 3 of 6 | 2 of 5 | 7 of 26 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 12 of 18 | 66% | 8 of 14 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 7 of 31 | 22% | 6 of 29 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 6 of 29 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Bruno Silva | 14 of 23 | 60% | 9 of 18 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 14 of 46 | 30% | 7 of 37 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 10 of 40 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Park (-250); Silva (+200)
Round 1
The good news for these two flyweights is that one of them will get back in the win column. The bad is that the losing party will be on or will continue their losing streak, and that is not a great place to be after the UFC signed more fighters from this year’s Contender Series than any other. Silva (14-7-2, 1 NC; 4-4, 1 NC UFC) has dropped two straight after registering a mighty four-fight finish streak, while South Korea’s Park (10-1, 3-1 UFC) is aiming to bounce back from his first career defeat. Referee Sal Ram draws the charge for these action-packed 125ers, who race together to bump fists.
The athletes immediately start with jabs from either side, trying to figure out how far away they need to be to engage. Silva is the aggressor, although neither man commits to much in the opening 55 seconds. The Brazilian races forward with a flurry of punches, and Park ducks them and hits a counter double to take the wind out of Silva’s sails. Park climbs on from the side, and before he can get his legs around his foe, Silva explodes up to his feet. Silva leaps forward after his opponent to score a pair of scooping uppercuts, and Park shrugs them off and drops to his knees in pursuit of a takedown. Silva sprawls and spins around to take the back.
Silva lifts Park up from behind and slams him to the floor, and Park works his way up and knees Silva in the sternum to break. Silva’s uppercut scores again, but this time Park is waiting for it with a counter overhand right. Silva sneaks in an uppercut that bloodies Park’s mouth, who smiles at him and fires back with a vengeance. Silva hops back and forth between stances, and his swiping left hand further damages Park’s lower mandible. Silva aims that punch at the same target again, and Park stands him up with a head kick. Silva pushes off and a finger scrapes the eye, and Park protests but the foul is not called. A few seconds later, Ram tells Silva to watch his fingers. Silva answers with a hacking elbow that splits a cut open on the top of Park’s hairline. Blood dribbles down his forehead, and he looks for a spinning back elbow but Silva is out of the way in time. When Silva escapes, he points at Park. They both trade short punches on the inside when clashing together, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
A high-five is shared to open things up, and Park reintroduces himself with a chopping low kick and a pair of looping hooks. When Silva fires back, Park clips him with a right on the temple. The Brazilian puts everything behind a leaping left hook, and he knocks the South Korean to the canvas. The speedster Silva leaps on top and keeps Park from standing, assuming back control and following Park’s scrambles to briefly threaten. Park spins and works his way upright, chasing Silva around the cage, whipping an elbow at his man. Both men swing for the bleachers with right hooks, and Silva gets his fist on Park’s face first and disorients him. “Bulldog” bull-rushes his man and tackles him to the mat, and he tosses aside a submission setup to establish top control.
Silva smothers to keep Park from escaping, and Park tries creative scrambles, twist and turns to get out. Silva maintains his position by securing half guard, only for Park to pull his own feet beneath himself so he can pop back up to his feet. Silva rushes right at him, bullying the South Korean to the fence and working him over with short but effective left hands. Silva lifts Park’s leg up, and Park threatens by wrapping his arms around the neck. Silva backs off, and he welcomes the opportunity for Park to swing on him because he is hitting harder and more accurately. A pair of uppercuts get Park’s attention, and Silva manages to bowl Park back over and reestablish himself on top. Silva largely holds Park down for the remainder of the round, smacking him with the occasional ground strike.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 3
Ram calls time when the round begins to bring in the doctor and check on Park’s lip that is split. He is cleared to continue without issue. The fighters come together and touch gloves, and then go right after it. Park starts to smile as he connects with quick punches, and he swings while cognizant that a level change is coming. Park shuts down a takedown shot and he cracks Silva, forcing Silva to sprint away to recover. Park marches his man down, laying into him and shutting down takedown efforts. Silva just misses with a spinning back fist, and Park is still on him giving him everything he can handle. Silva replies with an uppercut, and Park catches him with a right hand. “Bulldog” steps in with a crisp knee to the solar plexus, and he catches a kick and wrenches Park to the floor. Park turns over immediately so he can post off and stand, and Silva grabs him from behind and mat returns him. Park’s mouth hangs open after the damage he has taken in this match, and Silva wraps his hooks around the waist and threatens with a choke. Park spins all the way around the break up the submission and get to his knees, but Silva follows him every step of the way. Silva hops on to snatch up an unusual rear-naked choke without a single hook in, crouched behind his adversary squeezing the life out of him. It only takes seconds before Park frantically taps out, with the choke completely locked up and going nowhere. Silva immediately releases his grip and climbs atop the cage to perform a skillful back flip, nearly sticking the landing but not having quite enough left in the tank to keep himself upright. Instead, he backwards somersaults and has a laugh, having sprung the upset by placing Park on his first career losing streak.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Hyun Sung Park R3 2:15 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo picks Bruno Silva as an underdog, arguing he is tough, gritty, and dangerous everywhere. He notes Silva's recent losses were to elite strikers (Joshua Van, Manel Kape) and believes he can win a dogfight. He acknowledges Park's grappling and power but questions his resume and durability.
Big Brady notes Park is unproven against top competition but likes his youth, power, and slick grappling. He worries about Bruno Silva's age, damage taken, and questionable durability. He thinks Park will pressure and finish Silva as the fight goes on, predicting a third-round finish.
Cody picks Silva, citing his power and durability. He notes Park has been knocked down by lesser competition and has poor durability. Silva is a dog who fights for your dollar. Cody expects Silva to win by knockout or decision.
Connor picks Bruno Silva, highlighting Silva's dynamic counter-punching and ability to find big shots even when losing. He notes that Park has thrived on athleticism and size but lacks technical depth, and that Silva's right hand is a major threat to Park's square stance. Connor also points out that Park's only real test was against Tatsuro Taira, who dominated him, and that Silva is a much tougher step up.
James is torn on this fight. He acknowledges Bruno Silva's skills but questions his durability and age (35) after two brutal knockout losses. He also notes Park's finishing ability but doubts his cardio if the fight goes long. James plans to do more tape study before making a final decision.
The host sees this as a great spot for Park to get back in the win column, utilizing his athleticism, speed, and power advantages over the veteran Bruno Silva. He expects Park to land a seminal blow in the second or third round and win by knockout.
Paul picks Silva, agreeing with Cody. He notes Park's striking is not elite and his durability is questionable. Silva has fought tougher competition and has power. Paul sees value at plus 215.
The MMA Guru picks Bruno Silva over Kyung Ho Kang Park (Park Hyun-sung). He notes Silva's dangerous striking and BJJ, and believes he won't be submitted. He thinks Park's loss to Tatsuro Taira shows he is bottom-of-the-barrel flyweight level. He predicts a hard-fought split decision win for Silva, taking him as an underdog.
Zane also picks Bruno Silva, citing Silva's underrated toughness and ability to figure out opponents who crash into him. He notes that Park has been pushed past his level of experience and has no easy answers to problems. Zane believes Silva is a lot more difficult than he gets credit for, and that Park's athleticism won't be enough.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 76 of 149 | 51% | 77 of 150 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Joshua Van | 3 | 125 of 217 | 57% | 149 of 241 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:01 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 22 of 40 | 55% | 22 of 40 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joshua Van | 1 | 28 of 55 | 50% | 28 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 22 of 49 | 44% | 22 of 49 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Joshua Van | 2 | 52 of 93 | 55% | 76 of 117 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:55 | |
| 3 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 32 of 60 | 53% | 33 of 61 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joshua Van | 0 | 45 of 69 | 65% | 45 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 76 of 149 | 51% | 37 of 101 | 13 of 19 | 26 of 29 | 73 of 146 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Joshua Van | 125 of 217 | 57% | 108 of 196 | 11 of 14 | 6 of 7 | 97 of 177 | 4 of 5 | 24 of 35 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 22 of 40 | 55% | 7 of 22 | 2 of 4 | 13 of 14 | 22 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joshua Van | 28 of 55 | 50% | 24 of 48 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 26 of 52 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 22 of 49 | 44% | 9 of 33 | 5 of 8 | 8 of 8 | 22 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joshua Van | 52 of 93 | 55% | 45 of 86 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 33 of 65 | 2 of 3 | 17 of 25 | |
| 3 | Bruno Silva | 32 of 60 | 53% | 21 of 46 | 6 of 7 | 5 of 7 | 29 of 57 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Joshua Van | 45 of 69 | 65% | 39 of 62 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 38 of 60 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 8 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Van (-625), Silva (+455)
Round 1
Vitor Ribeiro will oversee our last preliminary fight. Silva immediately scores a knockdown with his opening leg kick. Van pops back up. Both men are feeling each other out early. Silva scores with several inside leg kicks. Van fires back with a jab and then a straight right hand just barely misses. Silva scores again with a leg kick. Van lands a right-hand counter and then sneaks in an uppercut after Silva tries to flurry. The sharp striking of Van is really hurting Silva each time he lands. Silva tries to enter by charging forward. A straight right that is followed by a left hook floors Silva. Van is in complete control. Van lands a left hook as Silva misses with an overhand right. Silva goes back to his leg kicks, which is the only success he is having. Silva is eating jabs.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Van
Round 2
Van comes out aggressive to start the second round. Silva clinches with Van to slow down the pace, but can't keep control of him. Van is working his jab while avoiding the punches of Silva. Van sneaks in a jab as Silva tries to throw a hook. Silva's face is reddened, while it doesn't look like Van has taken a single punch. Silva goes back to leg kicks, which are still effective. Nice hook to the body for Silva, who tries to throw a front kick, but it misses. Van drops Silva with a straight right hand that came as Silva was rushing forward. Van scores with ground and pound, but Silva gets back to his feet and charges for a takedown. While successful, Silva can't keep Van on the ground. Van lands a right hook that wobbles Silva. Van lands a knee to Silva as his opponent was changing levels. Van is in guard and lands punches before letting Silva up as the round expires.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Van
Round 3
Silva uses the outside and lands a nice body kick. Van is working his jab well and then slips in a right straight. It feels as if every punch Van throws finds its mark. A nice 1-2 lands for Van, who follows it up with an uppercut. Silva is throwing back, even if he's outgunned and is showing some serious toughness. Van eats a right hand, which Silva follows with a leg kick. So far, this is Silva's best round, but he's still getting pieced up. A right hand for Van lands, bloodying the nose of Silva. A heavy jab lands for Van before landing another 1-2. Silva walks into a right hook, which stuns him. Van takes full advantage as he charges forward with uppercuts that knock Silva down, and then
Van rains down punches for the TKO victory
.
The Official Result
Joshua Van def. Bruno Silva via TKO (Punches); R3, 4:01.
Angelo picks Joshua Van because of his rapid improvements and clean technique. He acknowledges Bruno Silva's power and toughness but thinks Bruno is sloppy and older. He worries about Joshua's chin after the Charles Johnson KO but believes Joshua's striking will be too clean. He notes the odds are becoming unusable at 5-to-1.
Big Brady picks Joshua Van but acknowledges this is his toughest test. He likes Van's volume, pressure, and pace, and thinks he will break Silva in the later rounds. He notes Silva's power and that Van has been finished before, but expects Van to overcome early adversity and knock Silva out in the third round. He cites Silva's history of being finished in the third round.
The fight may be competitive early, but Van's classic style is expected to take over as he batters Bruno Silva through the last 12.5 minutes. Van wins on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Joshua Van, citing his composure, distance control, and improving takedown defense. He notes Bruno Silva is underrated and has power, but Van can slow the fight down and build momentum. He predicts a unanimous decision win for Van, possibly 30-27, with a scare if Van's back is taken.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manel Kape | 1 | 111 of 168 | 66% | 111 of 168 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 57 of 112 | 50% | 60 of 115 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manel Kape | 0 | 32 of 48 | 66% | 32 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 19 of 34 | 55% | 21 of 36 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Manel Kape | 0 | 39 of 66 | 59% | 39 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 27 of 43 | 62% | 28 of 44 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Manel Kape | 1 | 40 of 54 | 74% | 40 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 11 of 35 | 31% | 11 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manel Kape | 111 of 168 | 66% | 71 of 127 | 18 of 19 | 22 of 22 | 109 of 165 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Bruno Silva | 57 of 112 | 50% | 27 of 74 | 21 of 29 | 9 of 9 | 55 of 110 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manel Kape | 32 of 48 | 66% | 21 of 37 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 9 | 31 of 47 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 19 of 34 | 55% | 7 of 18 | 10 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Manel Kape | 39 of 66 | 59% | 25 of 52 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 9 | 38 of 65 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 27 of 43 | 62% | 13 of 27 | 7 of 9 | 7 of 7 | 26 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Manel Kape | 40 of 54 | 74% | 25 of 38 | 11 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 40 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Bruno Silva | 11 of 35 | 31% | 7 of 29 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Kape (-345), Silva (+275)
Round 1
Keith Peterson will referee the final flyweight fight on the UFC calendar. Kape's striking looks extremely quick. Silva throws out some kicks but eats a right hand for leaving it out. Nice leg kick by Kape, who then follows it up with punches. A big overhand right for Silva lands. A low blow hits Kape. The fight is restarted after a brief break. Silva keeps getting caught by Kape after he throws out leg kicks. Kape is the faster fighter. Kape gets kicked in the groin again. No point is taken. Kape finishes off the round in control and misses a spinning back fist.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Round 2
Silva charges forward, trying to get a takedown attempt, but it's unsuccessful. Kape catches Silva with a hook. Silva gets hurt with a right hook. Kape taunts him and then lands a huge right hand as well. Silva's power is just not respected by Kape. Yet another low blow as Kape goes down. Peterson finally takes a point from Silva. Kape looks reenergized. After hitting Silva with a right hook, Kape mocks him and dances as he avoids another punch. Incredible theater here and quite embarrassing for Silva, who is getting clowned up despite landing several illegal strikes. A solid right hand lands for Silva. Kape finishes the round with a solid body kick.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Kape
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Kape
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Kape
Round 3
Silva comes out recklessly swinging as he knows he needs a finish. A right hand cracks Kape, but he doesn't show any signs of being hurt. Kape is continuing to piece up Silva, landing a combination of punches to the body. Silva walks backward into the fence while Kape lands hooks to the body. Silva charges forward and lands a left hook.
Kape lands a brutal body kick, and Silva turtles up. Kape continues with a flurry of punches, and Silva falls to the floor.
Peterson waves it off as Silva has no fight left in him.
The Official Result
Manel Kape def. Bruno Silva via TKO (Punches); R3, 1:57.
Angelo picks Kape as the cleaner, more technical striker with better footwork. He notes Kape's speed, explosiveness, and ability to bounce in and out of range, while Silva is a tough bruiser who is good everywhere but not technical. He expects Kape to win by decision due to Silva's toughness, and sees value in Kape's odds.
Big Brady picks Manel Kape to win by second-round knockout, but is hesitant due to Kape's inconsistency. He notes Kape has looked like a star in some fights but has also had terrible performances where he did nothing. He thinks Kape has a major skill advantage and should finish Silva, but is not sure he will show up.
Cody picks Bruno Silva as a live underdog, citing Manel Kape's history of tentative performances and poor output. He notes Silva's power, durability, and recent knockout wins, and believes Silva's willingness to push the pace will expose Kape's tendency to sit back. Cody also mentions Silva's training at Fight Ready with high-level partners.
Connor picks Kape, acknowledging Silva's toughness and well-roundedness but noting that Kape's athleticism and speed are superior. He thinks Silva's best chance is to pressure, but that plays into Kape's counterpunching. Connor expects a slow fight where Kape eventually lands a big shot.
Daniel Vreeland picks Manel Kape to win by knockout, citing Kape's fast hands and explosiveness. He notes that Bruno Silva is tough and will stand and trade, which plays into Kape's strengths. Vreeland believes Kape can hurt Silva more than Cody Durman did, and that a finish is likely. He mentions Kape's past issues with overconfidence but thinks he will perform well here.
Lucrative James picks Manel Kape to win, citing Kape's accuracy, athleticism, and durability. He acknowledges Bruno Silva's power and grappling upside, but believes Kape's sharpshooting and ability to land heavy blows will prevail. He notes Silva's recent poor performance against Cody Durden and Kape's overall skill advantage, though he admits Silva has value as an underdog.
Kape's explosiveness, power, and speed will be too much for Bruno Silva. He will land the more damaging strikes, which could lead to a finish, but the prediction is for Kape to win on the scorecards.
Paul leans towards Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody that the price is too high on Kape. He notes Kape's inconsistency and Silva's power and durability. Paul sees this as a dogger pass situation and is willing to take the plus money on Silva.
The MMA Guru picks Manel Kape, acknowledging Bruno Silva's underrated skills and finishing ability but believing Kape's takedown defense and durability are underrated. He notes that Kape has never been finished and has gone the distance with champions like Pantoja. He predicts Kape will win by TKO or decision, possibly with a flying knee. He dismisses Silva's wins as against lower-level competition.
Zane picks Kape despite his low-output style, because Kape's speed and explosiveness are too much for Silva. He notes that Silva is a counterpuncher who may struggle to time Kape's sporadic attacks, and that if Silva pressures, he risks getting countered. Zane thinks Silva will eventually get frustrated and get 'nuked'.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 28 of 63 | 44% | 31 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 2:35 |
| Cody Durden | 1 | 42 of 73 | 57% | 45 of 77 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 24 of 57 | 42% | 25 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 22 of 47 | 46% | 23 of 48 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 6 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 2:23 |
| Cody Durden | 1 | 20 of 26 | 76% | 22 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 28 of 63 | 44% | 20 of 52 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 27 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 42 of 73 | 57% | 31 of 57 | 6 of 10 | 5 of 6 | 24 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 21 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 24 of 57 | 42% | 16 of 46 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 24 of 57 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 22 of 47 | 46% | 13 of 33 | 5 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 21 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 4 of 6 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 20 of 26 | 76% | 18 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 21 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Durden (-122), Silva (+102)
Round 1
In the only other fight on the billing beyond the main event with UFC-ranked fighter, top-15 Durden (16-5-1, 5-3-1 UFC) would like nothing more than to put a rough face crank submission loss in December behind him. He will meet fellow grappler Silva (13-5-2, 1 NC; 3-2, 1 NC UFC) in the center of the cage, in what could be an interesting clash of styles on the mat. Referee Chris Tognoni is ready whether it lasts three minutes or all three rounds, and he commences the match as the 125ers bump fists. Durden is quick to lash out with a body kick, and he walks Silva down and marks Silva’s left eye up early with punches. Durden changes levels, and the two bonk heads as Tognoni tells them to be careful. Durden keeps chasing after his opponent, and Silva pushes him away and lands a sweeping leg kick. Silva races forward to tie the American up, and he lands a knee to the guts while Durden looks to trip Silva up. Durden scores a right at the break, and chases to land another long right hand before Silva can zip away. Silva pushes off with the ball of his foot, and he jabs the body and avoids a front kick. Durden clips his opponent with three punches, and he ducks when Silva tries to spin with a back fist to counter. Durden sits down on a chopping kick, and he evades a scooping uppercut and stops a takedown effort in its tracks from the Brazilian. Durden surges forward, fighting behind his jab, and he swipes with a left hook on his way in. Durden attacks with a leg kick, and he is countered with an overhand right. Durden connects with two hooks, and he meanders forward pawing with hooks until committing to one up top and another to the body. Silva misses with another big uppercut, but his front kick does land cleanly. Durden winds up with a huge right hand that busts into Silva’s nose, reddening his cheek and nose, and he wears it well. Durden parries a body shot, swipes out with a left hand and drills Silva with a right hand. Silva cries foul, and Tognoni pauses the action and calls for a replay to confirm that Durden’s fingers grazed the eyeball. The Brazilian needs a doctor to come in and wipe away his eye, and Tognoni goes to calmly warn Durden for the accidental foul. Silva informs Tognoni that he can continue, but needs a little more time to recover—he has four more minutes, and no booing crowd to urge him to return to combat sooner than he should. Silva tells Tognoni his eye is spasming, but he can keep going, and they get back to it after two minutes of recovery. Both men rush at one hellbent for leather, and the proceed to throw it hard. Both men tag the other, and Durden is warned for outstretched fingers. Silva kicks low as blood trickles out of his nostril, and Durden turns with a back kick that plants square in the solar plexus. Durden points to his success, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Round 2
The flyweights clock in for the second round, and Silva is smiling and ready to return to action. He strikes first in the form of a leg kick, and Durden answers him with a twitchy right hand. Durden finds success with it and beans the Brazilian with two more, putting “Bulldog” on skates. Silva backs off and shoots for a takedown, and Durden catches a brabo choke. Silva turns the proper direction, and he fights off a subsequent anaconda choke. Durden tries a third time to land a similar submission, and Silva survives all three and lowers himself to his back. Silva tries to tug off the fence links to find a better angle, and Durden lays flat on top of him. Silva wall-walks to his knees, and Durden is on him and drags him back down when Silva pops up. Durden stays glued to his man, but Silva explodes back to his feet and walks Durden down.
“Bulldog” walks through a jab and drills Durden in the jaw with a ferocious uppercut, knocking his mouthpiece clean out and sending the American crashing to the canvas. Silva pounces and unloads with relentless right hands, pouring it on and drawing blood that sprays the mat as he beats Durden down. Silva continues landing as Tognoni asks for Durden to fight back, and when Durden’s arms go limp, he intervenes.
This is a crazy comeback for Silva, who turns the tables with just one punch and may have performed some unauthorized dental work on the soon-to-be-unranked contender. This sport never fails to surprise, and no fighter is ever totally safe while the cage door is locked and both competitors are still in the fight.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Cody Durden R2 2:58 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Cody Durden because his aggressive wrestling pace will be too much for Bruno Silva, leading to a close decision. He notes that Silva has power and could land a knockout, but Durden's chin is a concern. He does not mention a bet, but is confident in the pick.
Cody picks Bruno Silva, highlighting his striking advantage and the fact that he accepted the fight before Durden, indicating confidence from training together. He notes Silva's defensive wrestling is solid and that Durden will struggle to take him down. He also mentions Silva's submission win over Tyson Nam as impressive.
Daniel Vreeland picks his friend Cody Durden, citing Durden's superior wrestling, volume, and training with Pantoja. He acknowledges Bruno's explosive power and opportunistic submissions but believes Durden will outwork him everywhere. Vreeland warns against underestimating Durden's standup and submission defense.
Silva is a +100 underdog. He has a slick boxing approach and BJJ black belt, and his takedown defense and ability to work back to his feet should frustrate Durden. Durden will put himself in danger with his wrestling, and Silva can capitalize with a submission or TKO. Silva's inactivity (16 months) is a concern, but his skills should be enough to get the win.
Paul also picks Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody's points about Silva's striking and the familiarity from training. He thinks Silva has an advantage on the feet and that Durden will be in trouble if he tries to grapple. He also notes the submission prop as a possibility.
The MMA Guru picks Cody Durden, trusting in his activity. He notes Bruno Silva has been inactive, fighting only once since 2021, while Durden has been consistently fighting. He highlights Durden's wins over Jake Hadley and Charles Johnson, and believes Durden is more disciplined and focused. He also mentions Durden is bigger for the division.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 38 | 31% | 12 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tyson Nam | 1 | 23 of 45 | 51% | 27 of 50 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:53 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 35 | 34% | 12 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tyson Nam | 0 | 19 of 36 | 52% | 19 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tyson Nam | 1 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:53 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 12 of 38 | 31% | 6 of 31 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tyson Nam | 23 of 45 | 51% | 14 of 33 | 5 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 21 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 6 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 12 of 35 | 34% | 6 of 28 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tyson Nam | 19 of 36 | 52% | 10 of 24 | 5 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tyson Nam | 4 of 9 | 44% | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Silva (-195), Nam (+165)
Round 1
Moving right along, flyweights take center stage as two of the heavier handed competitors in the division meet. Fresh off a first-round knockout last August, Nam (21-12-1, 3-3 UFC) at 39 years of age looks to prove he still has some life left, and he steps into the cage against Brazilian bulldog Silva (12-5-2, 1 NC; 2-2, 1 NC UFC). Aware that this one could end in a moment’s notice, referee Chris Tognoni is prepped and ready for what happens next. There is no thought of offering a glove touch, and instead the two want to engage. Silva introduces himself with a whipping leg kick, and Nam smiles at him as he walks him down. Nam hand-fights with his left hand outstretched, and he follows a pawing left with a straight right. Silva circles away as Nam gives chase, with Nam lining up his right hand. Silva darts forward with two hooks, doing enough to make Nam smiles again. The Brazilian fires off another nasty low kick, and his subsequent combination flusters Nam. Silva spins with a back fist that collides perfectly off the side of Nam’s head, and the elder statesman simply grins at him. Tognoni warns Nam for outstretched fingers, and Silva boots his foe in the body. Nam continues to walk Silva down, and they trade low kick for low kick. Silva slides a right hand around the guard, and Nam practically ignores it as he kicks the inside thigh in response. Silva shoots in suddenly for a takedown, and Nam tosses it aside and ducks a looping punch. When Silva aims a kick to the ribcage, Nam catches him with an overhand right. Silva backs off as the jabs from Nam aim at his face, and he connects with a clean right hand while backing away. Nam bears down on him with a short salvo of punches, and Silva is mostly out of harm’s way in time. Silva goes for a takedown to keep Nam honest when Nam backs him against the wall, but Nam keeps his forward momentum when there is nothing to the entry. Nam blocks a spinning back fist as he marches onward, and he eats a body kick when trying to throw hands. Nam gets off his own body kick and scores a few punches to follow before the close round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
The bantamweights meet in the middle, but it is Silva that takes a backward step when Nam comes at him faster. Nam pushes out jab after inaccurate jab, and Silva times a spectacular front kick up the middle that smashes into Nam’s jaw and sends in crashing to the canvas. Silva leaps down on top in the blink of an eye into Nam’s guard, and he pummels a dazed Nam with ground strikes.
As Nam looks to escape and get his bearings, Silva slithers around to take the back as Nam is standing up. “Bulldog” snatches up a rear-naked choke without even getting a hook in, and Nam falls to the mat as Silva secures the back take. Silva gets his hooks in, and he crushes with his grip while Nam tries and fails to fight the hands and break the grip. As he is attempting to free himself from the submission, Nam goes out,
and Tognoni recognizes this and calls a halt to the match immediately. This is a big win for Silva, who may find himself with a number next to his name next week as he becomes the first man to submit the well-traveled Nam.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Tyson Nam R2 1:23 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo leans toward Bruno Silva because he has more ways to win, being well-rounded with power, wrestling, and submissions. He acknowledges Tyson Nam's one-punch knockout power but prefers the versatility. He suggests the best bet might be Tyson Nam inside the distance (decision no action) due to Nam's toughness and Silva's potential rust from a two-year layoff.
Big Brady picks Bruno Silva because he believes Silva will be the more active striker and has a clear grappling advantage. He notes that Tyson Nam relies on landing a big shot and doesn't grapple, and at 39 years old it's hard to favor him. Brady expects Silva to mix in takedowns and win by decision, as Nam's 100% takedown defense hasn't been tested by grapplers.
Cody picks Silva but is hesitant due to the two-year layoff. He acknowledges Silva's momentum before the layoff and his training, but notes ring rust concerns. He prefers a prop on Nam by KO if the price is right.
Connor picks Nam, favoring his pressure and counter-striking style. He notes that Nam is comfortable in the pocket and accurate with his right hand, while Silva tends to become frantic under pressure and may give Nam the openings he wants. He acknowledges Silva's toughness and tricky entries but thinks Nam's experience and timing will prevail.
I think Silva's improvements in combination striking and his ability to take the fight to the ground will be key. He can avoid Nam's power by dragging him to the mat and controlling the fight there. Nam's decision-making is poor when he can't knock opponents out. Silva should win by decision, but be cautious of Nam's knockout power.
Paul picks Silva, noting his improvements and durability. He thinks Silva's wrestling and chin will be too much for Nam, who is a one-dimensional banger. He likes the -200 price relative to other favorites on the card.
The MMA Guru picks Bruno Silva over Tyson Nam, despite Nam being the popular pick. He believes Silva is technical and has improved his boxing, making him dangerous. He notes Nam is 39 and questions his ability to get another KO win. The Guru predicts Silva will win by TKO finish.
Zane picks Silva, believing his durability and power will be the difference. He notes that Silva is very hard to knock out and will create exchanges, while Nam's low output could be a problem if Silva pressures him. He thinks Silva will do a little more over three rounds, but acknowledges it's a close fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 1 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Victor Rodriguez | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 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 | Bruno Silva | 1 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Victor Rodriguez | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 6 of 12 | 50% | 4 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 |
| Victor Rodriguez | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 6 of 12 | 50% | 4 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 |
| Victor Rodriguez | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Switching gears to the flyweights once more, what happens when a man named “Bulldog” takes on a fighter that goes by “Vicious”? In this meeting, Brazil’s Silva (11-5-2, 1 NC; 1-2, 1 NC UFC) squares off against Alaska native Rodriguez (5-3, 0-1 UFC), in a battle of two fighters aiming to even their UFC records to .500. The 125-pound pairing draws oversight from referee Chris Tognoni, who cracks his neck and observes a clean glove touch right before the action begins. The flyweights come out tentative, reaching at one another with jabs from a great distance. Both men wind up with right hands, and neither find their mark as the action is largely stalled. Silva gets off a slapping leg kick, and he twirls out of the way and tags Rodriguez behind the ear with a big right hand. The Alaska native is hurt, and Silva steps in with a knee that rings Rodriguez’ bell.
“Bulldog” smells blood, and he blitzes forward with a massive overhand right that smashes into the side of Rodriguez’ head and puts him down. Rodriguez falls to his knees and may be out cold, and Tognoni rushes in to halt the contest as Silva chains together some punches that are purely academic at that point.
A one-punch knockout is rare at the flyweight division, and even more rare to take place within the first minute. That is two knockouts in just over two months for the Brazilian, who holds up a sign that says “$75K Dana” as he asks for post-fight bonus money. On his way out of the cage, Silva breakdances his way to his interview.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Victor Rodriguez R1 1:00 via KO (Punches)
Big Brady confidently picks Bruno Silva, calling this a massive step down in competition. He highlights Silva's well-rounded skills (striking, wrestling, BJJ) and expects a first-round submission. He notes Rodriguez has never seen a third round and has been finished by questionable opponents.
Cody Saftic picks Bruno Silva, noting that Silva has shown improvement and is training with high-level partners. He believes Rodriguez is a low-level regional fighter who was knocked out by Adrian Yanez in his UFC debut. Saftic thinks Silva's well-rounded game and momentum will be too much for Rodriguez, and that Silva will get a finish. He acknowledges the price is high but sees value.
Daniel Levi picks Bruno Silva, stating that Silva is better everywhere—more explosive, more comfortable—and that Victor Rodriguez comes from a weak Alaskan regional scene and does not belong in the UFC. He predicts Silva will handle Rodriguez easily, possibly by first-round knockout or submission. He advises against laying the -350 price but is confident in the win.
Matt is very confident Bruno Silva finishes Victor Rodriguez, likely in the first or second round. He highlights Silva's performance against JP Buys, where he knocked him out in the second round, and his close fight with Woolen Backoff where he showed good takedown defense. He dismisses Rodriguez's power as a threat, noting Silva has faced heavier hitters. He recommends Silva inside the distance or the under 2.5 rounds, calling it a steal.
Paul Shaughnessy picks Bruno Silva but is hesitant due to the price. He notes that Silva looked good against JP Buys but that Buys is not UFC caliber. He questions whether Silva's improvements are real and whether he can handle a step up. However, he acknowledges that Rodriguez's competition level is very low and that Silva should win. He suggests passing on the moneyline.
The MMA Guru predicts Bruno Silva will win by second-round TKO. He notes Silva's improving pacing and cardio, and expects Rodriguez to have range at flyweight but Silva will make it messy. The finish will come via a counter hook over the top after slipping Rodriguez's jab.
Expert Picks (4)
Big Brady picks Ulanbekov confidently, citing advantages everywhere: solid striking, very good wrestling, and volume. He expects Ulanbekov to get takedowns at will and win a dominant decision. He notes Silva is a BJJ black belt but believes Ulanbekov can avoid submissions. He includes Ulanbekov in a parlay with Barboza.
Daniel picks Tagir Ulanbekov but acknowledges the line is too wide. He thinks Ulanbekov is one-dimensional with grappling and not a top-tier Russian prospect. He notes that Bruno Silva has fought tough competition and could make it close. However, he believes Ulanbekov's size and wrestling, plus the 'Russian connection' in Abu Dhabi, will edge him the win.
Ulanbekov is a high-level Dagestani wrestler with a strong frame and cardio; Silva fades late and has questionable jiu-jitsu. Ulanbekov will control the fight with takedowns and top pressure, likely winning by decision or late finish.
The Guru picks Ulanbekov, praising his skills as a member of Team Khabib and noting he is a heavy favorite. He believes Silva lacks quick finishing ability and cannot out-skill Ulanbekov over three rounds. He predicts Ulanbekov will wear Silva down and submit him via guillotine choke in the first or second round.
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