UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira · Mar 14, 2020 · Flyweight · Completed
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Age 33
Height 5' 5"
Reach 68"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 36
Height 5' 4"
Reach 65"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - David Dvořák
3.48 SLpM
43.0% Str. Acc.
3.29 SApM
59.0% Str. Def.
0.58 TD Avg
30.0% TD Acc.
70.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Bruno Silva
3.95 SLpM
51.0% Str. Acc.
4.69 SApM
51.0% Str. Def.
2.01 TD Avg
25.0% TD Acc.
72.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
David Dvořák - Fight History
LOSS vs Steve Erceg
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana · Jun 10, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Steve Erceg 0 53 of 114 46% 56 of 117 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:57
David Dvořák 0 54 of 140 38% 56 of 142 3 of 4 75% 1 0 1:29
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Steve Erceg 0 20 of 46 43% 20 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
David Dvořák 0 16 of 56 28% 16 of 56 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Steve Erceg 0 23 of 49 46% 23 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:10
David Dvořák 0 18 of 51 35% 18 of 51 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:04
3 Steve Erceg 0 10 of 19 52% 13 of 22 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:47
David Dvořák 0 20 of 33 60% 22 of 35 3 of 3 100% 0 0 1:25
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Steve Erceg 53 of 114 46% 26 of 77 10 of 19 17 of 18 46 of 102 4 of 7 3 of 5
David Dvořák 54 of 140 38% 28 of 101 16 of 26 10 of 13 46 of 131 7 of 8 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Steve Erceg 20 of 46 43% 8 of 31 3 of 6 9 of 9 20 of 46 0 of 0 0 of 0
David Dvořák 16 of 56 28% 8 of 41 1 of 5 7 of 10 16 of 56 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Steve Erceg 23 of 49 46% 12 of 34 4 of 7 7 of 8 19 of 40 1 of 4 3 of 5
David Dvořák 18 of 51 35% 11 of 40 6 of 10 1 of 1 15 of 48 2 of 2 1 of 1
3 Steve Erceg 10 of 19 52% 6 of 12 3 of 6 1 of 1 7 of 16 3 of 3 0 of 0
David Dvořák 20 of 33 60% 9 of 20 9 of 11 2 of 2 15 of 27 5 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
David Dvorak vs. Steve Erceg
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dvorak (-260), Erceg (+220)

Round 1
Across this $80 pay-per-view, just six of the 11 bouts on the billing feature at least one competitor with a number next to their name, with three on the main card. The first rankings-worthy bout tonight comes all the way down in the early prelims, as Dvorak (20-5, 3-2 UFC) looks to hold the line and turn things around at the expense of debuting Australian Erceg (9-1, 0-0 UFC). When the cage door closes, referee Mitch Cadlick takes charge. The fighters elect to clap hands to introduce themselves, and the fight begins with Erceg looking for his distance with range-finding jabs. Dvorak moves busily from side to side, and he lands a solid low kick to start his own tally. Erceg whips a head kick at his man that is circling away, and Dvorak is moving well enough to avoid the worst of it. Dvorak chops down the calf with a few more blows, and Erceg walks forward to throw hands and has his chin checked in an exchange. Erceg shakes it off and responds with a low kick of his own. Erceg dodges a punch and wings a left hand that tags Dvorak square on the temple, and Dvorak staggers to the side for a few steps before regathering his thoughts. Erceg does not overextend himself, and instead of makes Dvorak come at him. Dvorak cracks his foe with a solid right hand, and Erceg takes a funny step but is responds with two punches. Dvorak reaches him with a right hand over the top, and they keep hacking at one another’s calves. Dvorak dodges a big right hand and bounces off the fencing, and his calf gets kicked hard. “The Undertaker” does not let him off the hook, instead kicking right back at him. Dvorak whiffs on a heavy right hand and has his guard up just in time to block a head kick. Dvorak stutter-steps into a low kick and one to the body, and he feints and fakes to smack Erceg in the face with a pair of crisp fists. Erceg comes up short on a high kick, and he times a right hand as Dvorak is ducking. Dvorak goes back to the calf with another kick, and he spins with a kick that grazes the chest. The round ends as Erceg gives chase.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak

Round 2
In the start of the second round, Dvorak strides to the middle of the cage, but he gives ground and gets back to his circular movement. Dvorak digs a left to the body and a left to the head, and Erceg takes them both cleanly without issue. Dvorak is out of the way before he gets reached, and the two start trading jabs from a safe distance. Dvorak comes up short on a right hand and slams his shin on Erceg’s calf. Erceg checks it, but the damage is done as it landed with a thud. Dvorak gets tagged with a right hand when looking for a winding punch, and he gathers his thoughts and sticks Erceg with a straight right hand on the way out. Dvorak digs another left to the body and follows it with a head shot, and Erceg is just delayed enough to miss on the counter and get kicked when Dvorak escapes. Dvorak catches a body kick and knocks the newcomer back with a right hand, and Erceg gathers his balance and lashes out with a five-punch combo that is all guarded. Dvorak ducks into a left hand and dodges a subsequent blow, and he is low enough to allow him to stifle a double-leg entry from the Aussie. Erceg flicks out a jab, only to get met with a stern low kick. The kicks from Dvorak have forced Erceg to change stances, and he checks a kick and takes a funny step. Erceg misses the mark and eats a straight right hand, and he marches forward to cracks Dvorak with a right hand. Erceg follows it with a lightning-quick head kick, cracking Dvorak and hurting him badly. Dvorak is shaken up, and Erceg attacks for a standing guillotine choke to drag the Czech fighter to the mat. Dvorak drops down and slides his head out, so Erceg re-adjusts the position to lock it back down again. Dvorak again survives the choke, and he claims half guard with 30 seconds to spare. Erceg manages to get off an upkick as he finds some space, and he fights his way up to his feet and lands a right hand and a big left just before the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Erceg
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Erceg
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Erceg

Round 3
The last round kicks off with a glove touch, and the pace is not as frenetic as it was when the previous frame ended. Dvorak flicks out several jabs, and he slides around a left hand to land a straight right. Erceg loads up on power shots, and Dvorak’s movement is back and he is evasive enough to avoid the worst of it. Dvorak eats a jab and a right hand, and he checks a leg kick but cannot block a stabbing body kick. Erceg absorbs a front kick to the ribs in an answer, and the two meet in the middle and throw hands. Erceg throws himself off-balance, allowing Dvorak to kick him hard. As the two crash together, Dvorak falls to his knees and Erceg takes his back. Erceg abandons the position instead of overcommitting to it, and they both stand up. Dvorak is quick to catch a kick and drive the newcomer to the wall, and he starts kneeing Erceg with stern shots. Erceg powers his way out of the position and they return to the center of the cage to slug it out. Dvorak shoot in for a low sing-leg takedown, and he grabs the leg as Erceg defends with a guillotine choke. Dvorak bails on it and stands up, and he reaches with a right hand and changes levels quickly for a double. The Aussie throws up a guillotine, and he has nothing this time as Dvorak snatches his head out of it and drops down a few elbows. Erceg scrambles brilliantly and stands up before Dvorak can follow up, and he succeeds in bowling “The Undertaker” over and threatening the neck. Dvorak hits a sweep to roll Erceg over, and the two power back to their feet in the clinch. Dvorak meets him with a knee before they split, and he succumbs to a takedown and is quick to reach the fence and stand back up. Erceg lands the mat return, but Dvorak is only down for a matter of seconds. Dvorak works his way up once more, and he eats a knee while Erceg hangs on him from behind. Erceg lands a knee to the body, and a few punches on the side of the head right before the final bell sounds. The close fight ends, and it could go either way. Regardless of the winner, Erceg impressed the masses with his skills, taking a ranked fighter to the bitter end on short notice.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Erceg (29-28 Erceg)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Erceg (29-28 Erceg)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Erceg (29-28 Erceg)

The Official Result
Steve Erceg def. David Dvorak via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2023 (6 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Angelo picks David Dvořák, noting his solid striking, forward pressure, and takedown defense. He criticizes Steve Erceg's striking, calling it unimpressive with a wide stance and limited head movement. He believes Dvořák's experience and fundamentals will prevail, and mentions that if odds are around -175, he would bet on Dvořák.

"David Dvorak should absolutely get this done"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2023 (7 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Big Brady picks David Dvořák because he is a significant step up in competition for Steve Erceg, who is taking the fight on short notice. Dvořák has fought top flyweights and has good takedown defense and striking. Erceg has shown good grappling but is unlikely to take Dvořák down. Dvořák should win a decision by being the better striker and stuffing takedowns.

"I think it's a matchup where it's just a little bit too soon for Earth it gets a little bit too much of a step up... give me Dvorak stuff the takedowns keep it on the feet and just be …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 7, 2023 (3 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Cody picks David Dvořák, citing his experience and cardio advantage. He notes that Erceg has mostly first-round finishes and faded in his only decision win. Dvořák has gone the distance with top-10 opponents and has better striking and wrestling. He believes Erceg's short-notice debut and cardio issues will be his downfall.

"I am going to take David Dvorak but uh one of these dogs are going to come through I think he's got a decent chance but uh I again I got to settle with the favorite got to go with …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2023 (1 day before fight)
David Dvořák

Connor also picks David Dvořák, noting that Erceg is a good scrambler but his level of competition has been low. Dvořák is a much better striker and has solid takedown defense; Connor points out that Bruno Silva took Dvořák down three times but Dvořák spent only a minute and a half on the mat and had two sweeps. He thinks Erceg's awkward striking and tendency to get surprised by takedowns will be a problem against a well-rounded fighter like Dvořák.

"But still i'm taking dvorak dvorak is a very competent well-rounded fighter."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2023 (2 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Daniel Levi picks David Dvořák, arguing that Erceg is a first-round finish or bust fighter who gassed against a 2-0 opponent. He notes that Dvořák has fought top-5 competition and shown toughness, surviving a Kimura from Manel Kape. He believes Dvořák can win in multiple ways and will take over if the fight goes past the first round. He sees Erceg's cardio as a major liability.

"my pick is Dvorak to kind of Welcome this guy to the UFC"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked Jun 10, 2023 (fight day)
Steve Erceg

James likes the value on Steve Erceg as a +235 underdog. He notes Erceg has good grappling, back takes, and submission ability, plus a height advantage and momentum with a 9-1 record. Dvořák is coming off two losses. James acknowledges Erceg might gas but showed he can push through. He thinks if it becomes a grindy grappling affair, it favors Erceg. However, he still believes Dvořák should win, so it's a value play rather than a strong conviction pick.

"I like Steve ursic I think he can get the grappling going I think if this turns into a grindy grappling Affair it favors Steve ursig a little bit more so I'm gonna stay versing side here definitely for the …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jun 6, 2023 (4 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Dvořák is a solid all-around fighter with good striking combinations and underrated grappling, but his recent losses show he may have a ceiling. Erceg is a dangerous debutant with an 8-fight win streak and a black belt in BJJ, but the step up in competition is a question. The odds are too wide at -285; only a sprinkle on Erceg or a play on Dvořák if the line drops to -150/-160. Prediction is Dvořák by decision, but low confidence.

Over 2.5 rounds, Dvořák wins by decision
"I think that Dvorak is going to be a little bit too strong in the grappling situations and I think he'll be able to land with a little bit more emphasis in terms of his striking"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 7, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Steve Erceg

Paul leans toward Erceg as a dog, noting that he is tall for flyweight and a decent counterpuncher. He thinks Erceg's grappling is opportunistic and could give Dvořák problems. However, he is not confident enough to bet him, citing Erceg's cardio issues and short notice. He ultimately passes on betting but picks Erceg for the show.

"I think it would still be a dog or pass situation but I think I'm going to lean towards a pass but ersek will be the pick for the purposes of the show"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2023 (5 days before fight)
David Dvořák

The MMA Guru picks David Dvořák over debutant Steve Erceg, citing Dvořák's superior regional career and experience against top flyweights. He notes Dvořák submitted a dangerous opponent in the second round and has fought the best, keeping fights competitive. He believes Dvořák's experience will be the difference against a newcomer, predicting a 29-28 decision.

"I'm gonna go with David Dvorak not because I don't think Steve urseg is gonna be anything in his career"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2023 (1 day before fight)
David Dvořák

Zane picks David Dvořák, describing him as a very competent, well-rounded fighter with solid striking fundamentals (volume one-twos, low kicks) and good takedown defense. He notes that Erceg is a fun scrambling grappler but has poor wrestling and gets taken down easily early. Dvořák has never been submitted and is tough to outmaneuver on the ground. Zane thinks Erceg will have to outwrestle Dvořák to get the fight to the ground, which is unlikely given Dvořák's skills.

"I'm taking to vorac. Yeah, I mean not it not a super easy guy to out wrestle."
LOSS vs Manel Kape
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland · Dec 17, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Manel Kape 0 33 of 94 35% 55 of 122 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:42
David Dvořák 1 58 of 119 48% 67 of 136 0 of 0 --- 2 1 0:57
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Manel Kape 0 6 of 15 40% 16 of 26 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:59
David Dvořák 0 2 of 9 22% 7 of 18 0 of 0 --- 2 1 0:17
2 Manel Kape 0 14 of 33 42% 25 of 48 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:29
David Dvořák 1 37 of 63 58% 38 of 68 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:40
3 Manel Kape 0 13 of 46 28% 14 of 48 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:14
David Dvořák 0 19 of 47 40% 22 of 50 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Manel Kape 33 of 94 35% 17 of 68 6 of 12 10 of 14 31 of 91 1 of 2 1 of 1
David Dvořák 58 of 119 48% 33 of 85 19 of 26 6 of 8 44 of 99 5 of 5 9 of 15
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Manel Kape 6 of 15 40% 2 of 9 0 of 2 4 of 4 5 of 14 0 of 0 1 of 1
David Dvořák 2 of 9 22% 2 of 7 0 of 1 0 of 1 2 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Manel Kape 14 of 33 42% 6 of 19 5 of 8 3 of 6 13 of 32 1 of 1 0 of 0
David Dvořák 37 of 63 58% 22 of 45 14 of 16 1 of 2 24 of 44 4 of 4 9 of 15
3 Manel Kape 13 of 46 28% 9 of 40 1 of 2 3 of 4 13 of 45 0 of 1 0 of 0
David Dvořák 19 of 47 40% 9 of 33 5 of 9 5 of 5 18 of 46 1 of 1 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
David Dvorak vs. Manel Kape
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Kape (-240), Dvorak (+200)

Round 1
Flyweights grace the cage next in a surprisingly important matchup for divisional relevance, surprising in how low this fight is placed for one that will determine a top-10 fighter at 125 pounds. Dvorak (20-4, 3-1 UFC) currently resides within that range, while Kape (17-6, 2-2 UFC) aims to break in and likely hunts for a dramatic finish to get there. With only five decisions across their 37 pro wins, referee Keith Peterson expects no nonsense here. There is no bad blood, as the contenders touch ‘em up before aiming to knock the other’s block off. The fighters are tentative to begin, heavily respecting the power of the other. Dvorak stays on the outside well out of striking range, and he scores one calf kick before darting away. Kape lines up his heavy overhand right but does not launch it, as Dvorak strafes away. Kape begins to showboat by putting his hands behind his back, hoping that he will draw Dvorak into an engagement, and he switches stances to give chase. Dvorak sinks in another powerful calf kick, and Kape is quick to changes stances to protect that lead wheel. Kape walks into a kick, and Dvorak continues to move and do circles around the cage. When Dvorak goes after another kick, Kape springs into action with a few punches, and Dvorak escapes in the nick of time. Kape charges and scores an uppercut, and as he attempts to follow it, Dvorak intercepts him and hits a speedy takedown to land in side control. When “The Undertaker” looks to pass to mount, Kape drags him back to his guard and closes it. Dvorak exerts heavy shoulder pressure and tries to weigh heavily, and Kape throws a few strikes from off his back. Kape gets stacked up and cracked with a left hand, and he fights off a Kape triangle or armbar setup. Kape isolates the left arm for a kimura, possibly looking to sweep his foe, and Dvorak settles for elbows to the thigh and side to answer. Kape keeps cranking the arm, and he gets it out and puts it behind Dvorak’s back and rolls his foe over. Dvorak fights with all his might to tough it out, and Kape torques it to a nasty angle but does not get the tap he seeks. The round ends before he can achieve the submission, but it might have won him the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Kape

Round 2
Doctors check Dvorak between rounds to make sure his left arm has not taken any serious damage, as he held it walking back to his corner. He shows the medical staff he can stretch his arms just fine, and he is cleared to continue. The second round begins cautiously again, as Dvorak does not throw much from that hurt wing, but he doubles down with right hands when Kape comes at him. Kape waits for the perfect shot, staying in the center of the cage without using much offense, and springing into action every so often. Dvorak sees the blitzes coming and circles away from the power, moving laterally when Kape changes stances to chase. Kape bears down on his man and cracks him with two short punches, and he hops away when “The Undertaker” wings a right hand at him. Dvorak times a big right over the top, but it is one-and-done as Kape counters and misses. Dvorak thumps a calf kick home to prompt a change in stances, and he walks straight into a flying knee. Kape lines up a right hook and ducks straight into a head kick, but he eats it without issue and plods forward. Kape points at his damaged opponent and staggers him with a short salvo, doing enough to make Dvorak falls to his back. Dvorak aims upkicks while Kape attempts to finish the job, and he survives and even throws a wild kick off his back to nearly slap Kape in the face. “Starboy” calls him to stand back up, and he marches forward to rip the body with a pair of punches, Kape knows his foe is in trouble, and he bust him up with punches to the head and ribcage. Dvorak is tough, and he absorbs a clean spinning back elbow on the jaw and times the movement perfectly to shove Kape over, move on top and take Kape’s back. Nearly able to reach for a rear-naked choke, Dvorak elects to heel kick the side and posterior until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Kape

Round 3
Fists get bumped to start off the last round, and Dvorak’s movement and footwork is back beneath him after having the minute to clear his head. Dvorak swings and misses with two lunging hooks, and he dips back when Kape swats at him with a left hook. Dvorak begins to press forward, and he reaches up with spinning high kick. Kape dodges and showboats to look around and away, and Dvorak lunges in to strike. Kape intercepts him with a low kick and a short left hand, but Dvorak continues to move and throw in response. Dvorak gets a right hand over the top, and he closes in and gets uppercutted for his work. Kape is in his element, sniping with strikes and busting the Czech fighter’s nose open. When Kape leaps in, Dvorak pushes off with his fingers out, and Kape calls an eye poke. Peterson sees the possible foul, assesses that it was a legal but odd push-off, and restarts them. Dvorak goes low with a calf kick and scores a left, and Kape begins to start dribbling an invisible basketball. Dvorak races in with a takedown, knowing he is likely down on the scorecards, and Kape is too slick to get hold of him for long. Dvorak comes in with a jab, and Kape puts his hands behind his back and leans forward. When Kape attempts to set up a knee, Dvorak catches him with a left hook, but Kape does not mind. Dvorak lands again, and Kape gets caught but still continues to motion and make fun of his opponent. Dvorak gets hit on the way in, but he connects with his own punches until they crash together. Peterson checks to make sure the two did not clash heads, and he resets them in the clinch. Dvorak pushes off and swings with all his might, tagging Kape with a left and a right. Kape dances out of the way and swaggers off, with “The Undertaker” unable to catch him before the final bell rings.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kape (30-27 Kape)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kape (30-27 Kape)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Kape (30-27 Kape)

The Official Result
Manel Kape def. David Dvorak via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2022 (6 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Angelo picks David Dvořák, believing his technical soundness and leg kicks will neutralize Manel Kape's explosiveness. He expects a somewhat boring fight similar to Dvořák's last one, with Dvořák chopping down the tree and taking a decision. He notes Kape can be hesitant and lets opponents set the pace.

Plans to bet on Dvořák plus 3.5 (bet online exclusive) because he thinks Dvořák can win or at least lose a 29-28 decision
"I like Dvorak to chop down the tree and take the decision this is a striker for Striker but I do think it's gonna be a pretty boring fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

Big Brady likes Kape to finish Dvořák, noting Kape's 94% finish rate as a flyweight. He acknowledges Kape can be low-volume and has lost decisions when he doesn't let his hands go, but in recent fights he's been more active. He thinks Kape's takedown defense has improved, and if he keeps it on the feet he'll land a big shot. He predicts a second-round knockout.

Kape wins by KO in round 2
"I like cop here I think is very dangerous I like him to finish Dvorak and I will say he does finish him in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

Cody picks Kape, noting his dynamic striking and power. He thinks Kape has turned a corner with his aggression and volume. He notes Dvořák is durable but low output, and Kape's shots will matter more. He expects Kape to get the job done.

"sign me up from mental copy get the job done"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

Connor picks Kape, citing his fight-changing power and athleticism. He notes Dvořák got rocked multiple times by Nicolau and Kape is faster and more powerful. He thinks Kape's pressure will be effective and that Dvořák's consistency may not overcome Kape's danger.

"I just can't really look at that nikolov fight in particular and see dvorak just getting rocked so many times without leaning towards mano cop"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 17, 2022 (fight day)
David Dvořák

Dvořák has many paths to victory if he stays safe. He was a -125 favorite against Nico last time, showing his potential. After one loss, Kape is now a big favorite, which doesn't make sense. If the fight goes the full 15 minutes, the +205 will look good. Dvořák needs to stay conscious.

1 unit at +205
"Dvorak has a lot of uh paths to Victory here if he can stay safe uh which is possible"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 14, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

Paul picks Kape but is not confident, noting both fighters are low volume. He thinks the minus 235 is scary if it goes to decision. He sees Dvořák as the value side but picks Kape for the show.

"I'll pick cop for the purposes of the show but not a spot that I have very very much confidence in"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Lean picked Dec 13, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Manel Kape

The MMA Guru picks Manel Kape over David Dvořák, believing Kape should have beaten Matheus Nicolau and has looked impressive against Zhalgas Zhumagulov and Ode' Osbourne. He questions Dvořák's level, noting his close fight with Nicolau and lack of explosiveness. He sees Kape as more explosive with higher finishing potential and good work on the outside, where Dvořák operates. He predicts a 29-28 or 30-27 decision win for Kape.

"I'm going to be going with manil cap here over David Dvorak"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 15, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

Zane picks Kape, noting he is a more dangerous, faster, harder-hitting fighter. He thinks Dvořák is consistent but Kape's power is rare at flyweight. He acknowledges Dvořák could find a back take in a scramble but expects Kape to hit him hard enough to prevent that.

"It is really just a simple athleticism pick like cop it's just a more dangerous faster harder hitting fighter"
LOSS vs Matheus Nicolau
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus · Mar 26, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Matheus Nicolau 1 36 of 81 44% 46 of 94 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:48
David Dvořák 0 39 of 110 35% 60 of 134 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:25
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Matheus Nicolau 0 6 of 16 37% 6 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
David Dvořák 0 12 of 26 46% 12 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Matheus Nicolau 1 17 of 35 48% 26 of 45 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:46
David Dvořák 0 19 of 48 39% 20 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Matheus Nicolau 0 13 of 30 43% 14 of 33 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
David Dvořák 0 8 of 36 22% 28 of 59 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:25
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Matheus Nicolau 36 of 81 44% 21 of 62 10 of 13 5 of 6 33 of 77 1 of 1 2 of 3
David Dvořák 39 of 110 35% 25 of 87 6 of 13 8 of 10 33 of 99 4 of 7 2 of 4
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Matheus Nicolau 6 of 16 37% 4 of 12 2 of 3 0 of 1 5 of 15 1 of 1 0 of 0
David Dvořák 12 of 26 46% 10 of 21 0 of 2 2 of 3 10 of 24 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Matheus Nicolau 17 of 35 48% 9 of 26 5 of 6 3 of 3 15 of 32 0 of 0 2 of 3
David Dvořák 19 of 48 39% 10 of 36 5 of 7 4 of 5 17 of 44 2 of 3 0 of 1
3 Matheus Nicolau 13 of 30 43% 8 of 24 3 of 4 2 of 2 13 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
David Dvořák 8 of 36 22% 5 of 30 1 of 4 2 of 2 6 of 31 0 of 2 2 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Mar 20, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Matheus Nicolau

Angelo picks Matheus Nicolau but says his brain and gut are split. He notes that while David Dvořák is more comfortable everywhere, Nicolau has better wrestling and solid grappling, giving him more ways to win. He calls it razor thin.

"the pick is nikolai but this is another razor thin fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Matheus Nicolau

Big Brady picks Matheus Nicolau as an underdog to win a close decision. He notes that Nicolau has fought better competition and is more well-rounded, with solid wrestling and BJJ. He is concerned about Nicolau's chin, as he has been knocked out twice, but believes he can mix in takedowns and win a competitive fight. He thinks the line should be closer to a pick'em.

"I'm gonna side with a dog here and nick allowed to win a very close decision in this one."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Matheus Nicolau

Cody agrees with Nicolau, noting his adaptability and wrestling. He thinks Dvořák is talented but untested. He expects Nicolau to implement a good game plan and win a decision.

"i'm with you nikolao going on the card for yours truly"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Mar 24, 2022 (2 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Daniel Levi leans David Dvořák, citing Nicolau's questionable chin and confidence since the Dustin Ortiz KO. He thinks Dvořák's pressure and wrestling will grind out a close decision. He acknowledges Nicolau is a live dog and the fight could go either way, but slightly favors Dvořák.

"I slightly leaned to vorack here but i'd be happy if you talked me on the uh nickel out here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 23, 2022 (3 days before fight)
David Dvořák

The host favors Dvořák, praising his disciplined striking, combination punching, and takedown defense. He believes Nicolau will be outgunned on the feet and will need to take the fight to the ground to have success, but Dvořák's takedown defense looks good. He expects Dvořák to win a decision, noting that Nicolau has a good chin but will be put on his back foot.

Dvořák by decision at +155
"i'm a big david dvorak fan um again combinations uh great discipline doesn't have really any wasted movement"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Matheus Nicolau

Paul picks Nicolau as an underdog, citing his talent and game planning. He notes Dvořák's lower level of opposition and potential grappling issues. He thinks Nicolau can expose Dvořák's weaknesses and win a close fight.

"i think the tooth nikon might be the guy to pull it off"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 21, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Matheus Nicolau

The MMA Guru picks Matheus Nicolau as an underdog over David Dvořák, arguing that Nicolau is more well-rounded and has better performances against common opponents. He compares Nicolau's close decision loss to Manel Kape (who had a close fight with Alexandre Pantoja) to Dvořák's close decision win over Jordan Espinoza, favoring Nicolau's resume. The Guru also notes Nicolau's recent activity and age parity, predicting a decision win.

"i'm going to go with matthias nikolao over david dvorak"
Submission (rear-naked choke) R1 2:18 · UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt · May 22, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
David Dvořák 0 9 of 28 32% 9 of 28 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:23
Juancamilo Ronderos 0 11 of 32 34% 12 of 33 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 David Dvořák 0 9 of 28 32% 9 of 28 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:23
Juancamilo Ronderos 0 11 of 32 34% 12 of 33 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
David Dvořák 9 of 28 32% 4 of 19 4 of 8 1 of 1 9 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Juancamilo Ronderos 11 of 32 34% 5 of 25 2 of 2 4 of 5 8 of 27 3 of 5 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 David Dvořák 9 of 28 32% 4 of 19 4 of 8 1 of 1 9 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Juancamilo Ronderos 11 of 32 34% 5 of 25 2 of 2 4 of 5 8 of 27 3 of 5 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 18, 2021 (4 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Big Brady picks Dvořák, citing his superior striking output and defense. He notes Dvořák's high finish rate (79%) compared to Paiva's 35%, and expects Dvořák to outland him over three rounds. He sees the fight staying standing and predicts a decision win, though he'd have interest if the line drops further.

Dvořák by decision; would bet if line drops
"i'll take the vork to win by decision give me the vorak"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked May 19, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Juancamilo Ronderos

Cody Saftic picks Juancamilo Ronderos as a dog, noting that Dvořák's competition level is questionable and that Ronderos has more experience against better opposition. He believes Ronderos's pressure and awkward striking will test Dvořák, and that the fight is closer to 50-50. He likes the plus money value.

"i got it marked closer to 50 50 and so for that reason i'm going to label a dog or pass and go with rolly and payback plus 115"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked May 20, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Juancamilo Ronderos

Daniel Levi picks Juancamilo Ronderos (referred to as 'Holiyon Paiva' in transcript, likely a mispronunciation of Juancamilo Ronderos), citing his durability, brawling style, and training at Alpha Male. He acknowledges Dvořák's technical skills and positional advantages but is concerned about Dvořák's chin, noting he got wobbled in previous fights. He thinks Ronderos can edge it out but calls it a dog or pass situation.

"i'm gonna go with pivot to edge it out man i think it's a dog or pass situation and you know i'm rolling with my favorite flyweight prospect uh holly and piva"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 19, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Juancamilo Ronderos

Matt picks Juancamilo Ronderos (referred to as Holly and Paiva) as a strong dog pick. He believes Paiva's outside striking and movement will trouble Dvořák, who has fought more willing opponents. He notes Paiva should have won the Kai Kara-France fight and was competitive against Zhalgas Zhumagulov. He thinks Paiva's reach and technical striking will earn him a decision, and calls this one of his stronger dog leans.

"i do like paiva here uh i do think he ends up getting the decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked May 19, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Paul Shaughnessy does not make a clear pick for this fight. He discusses the matchup but does not state a preference, instead deferring to Saftic's analysis. He seems uncertain and does not offer a pick.

"yeah i don't know this one's got me bugged out"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 22, 2021 (fight day)
David Dvořák

The MMA Guru predicts David Dvořák will win by third-round TKO. He expects Ronderos to come out aggressively in the first round looking for a finish, but Dvořák will defend and then invest in leg kicks in the second round. By the third round, Dvořák's cardio and accumulated damage from front kicks and leg kicks will lead to a TKO finish against the cage.

"david dvorak's going to win this one i think he's going to win it by third round tko"
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley · Sep 19, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
David Dvořák 0 50 of 162 30% 50 of 162 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Jordan Espinosa 0 68 of 146 46% 69 of 147 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 David Dvořák 0 15 of 48 31% 15 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jordan Espinosa 0 18 of 41 43% 18 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 David Dvořák 0 15 of 52 28% 15 of 52 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Jordan Espinosa 0 19 of 54 35% 19 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 David Dvořák 0 20 of 62 32% 20 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Jordan Espinosa 0 31 of 51 60% 32 of 52 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
David Dvořák 50 of 162 30% 16 of 119 14 of 20 20 of 23 47 of 156 3 of 6 0 of 0
Jordan Espinosa 68 of 146 46% 30 of 90 8 of 19 30 of 37 61 of 135 7 of 11 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 David Dvořák 15 of 48 31% 5 of 35 3 of 5 7 of 8 15 of 48 0 of 0 0 of 0
Jordan Espinosa 18 of 41 43% 8 of 23 2 of 7 8 of 11 18 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 David Dvořák 15 of 52 28% 7 of 43 4 of 5 4 of 4 14 of 50 1 of 2 0 of 0
Jordan Espinosa 19 of 54 35% 9 of 38 2 of 5 8 of 11 17 of 51 2 of 3 0 of 0
3 David Dvořák 20 of 62 32% 4 of 41 7 of 10 9 of 11 18 of 58 2 of 4 0 of 0
Jordan Espinosa 31 of 51 60% 13 of 29 4 of 7 14 of 15 26 of 43 5 of 8 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 17, 2020 (2 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Big Brady picks David Dvořák due to better cardio and a 14-fight win streak. He notes Espinosa tends to gas out and is chinny, while Dvořák has a good submission game. He expects Dvořák to win a decision, possibly with a submission if Espinosa shoots.

"i'm gonna go with dvorak in this fight due to the fact that he's going to have the bitter cardio"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 18, 2020 (1 day before fight)
Jordan Espinosa

The host favors Jordan Espinosa's speed, mobility, and takedown defense, believing he will outpoint David Dvořák. He notes Dvořák's questionable competition and struggles against mobile fighters, while Espinosa has shown improved striking and defensive wrestling. He expects Espinosa to win a decision, using his quick jab and movement to frustrate Dvořák.

"I like espinoza in this fight i think he just outpoints dvorak here."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 11, 2020 (8 days before fight)
Jordan Espinosa

The host picks Jordan Espinosa over David Dvořák, citing Dvořák's lack of impressive wins on his record and Espinosa's experience and momentum from his last performance. He notes that Dvořák hasn't faced top competition and that Espinosa's recent win over Mark de la Rosa shows he's in good form. The host acknowledges he's rooting for Dvořák as a newcomer but doesn't see him getting past Espinosa.

"I'm picking Jordan Espinosa to win as weird as that sounds... I'm probably going to be going with Jordan Espinosa here getting the job done over David Dvořák."
WIN vs Bruno Silva
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira · Mar 14, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
David Dvořák 0 45 of 97 46% 60 of 112 3 of 11 27% 0 0 1:32
Bruno Silva 0 67 of 133 50% 92 of 161 0 of 1 0% 0 2 1:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 David Dvořák 0 19 of 33 57% 23 of 37 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:51
Bruno Silva 0 14 of 38 36% 21 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 David Dvořák 0 8 of 21 38% 10 of 23 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:13
Bruno Silva 0 17 of 35 48% 29 of 48 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:05
3 David Dvořák 0 18 of 43 41% 27 of 52 1 of 5 20% 0 0 0:28
Bruno Silva 0 36 of 60 60% 42 of 66 0 of 1 0% 0 1 0:07
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
David Dvořák 45 of 97 46% 25 of 69 12 of 17 8 of 11 35 of 82 8 of 10 2 of 5
Bruno Silva 67 of 133 50% 35 of 86 24 of 37 8 of 10 51 of 107 14 of 24 2 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 David Dvořák 19 of 33 57% 11 of 23 3 of 4 5 of 6 15 of 26 2 of 2 2 of 5
Bruno Silva 14 of 38 36% 6 of 27 6 of 8 2 of 3 13 of 35 1 of 3 0 of 0
2 David Dvořák 8 of 21 38% 3 of 13 3 of 5 2 of 3 6 of 19 2 of 2 0 of 0
Bruno Silva 17 of 35 48% 8 of 21 6 of 11 3 of 3 12 of 26 3 of 7 2 of 2
3 David Dvořák 18 of 43 41% 11 of 33 6 of 8 1 of 2 14 of 37 4 of 6 0 of 0
Bruno Silva 36 of 60 60% 21 of 38 12 of 18 3 of 4 26 of 46 10 of 14 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Bruno Silva vs. David Dvorak

Round 1
Moving down to flyweight, Silva (10-4-2, 0-1 UFC) tries to put Brazil on the board today against the debuting Czech prospect Dvorak (17-3, 0-0 UFC). Serving as the referee is Julio Catarino, and a touch of gloves kicks off this contest. Silva begins the bout by whiffing on a low kick, while Dvorak is similarly short with a jab. Silva times it with a low kick after changing stances, and then races in and is tagged with a jab while faking a spin. When Silva scores a low kick, Dvorak comes over the top with a left that marks up Silva’s eye immediately. The two load up and come together, and they do not gauge the distance correctly as they clash bodies together so they miss their punches. They do again, and this time Silva lands a left on the break. The Czech fighter takes a kick and then a punch from Silva, and eats a spinning back kick flush without any issue. Silva rushes in and the two clash heads, so when he backs away, Dvorak lands a few punches on the break. Silva shoots in and gets stuffed, so Dvorak makes him pay with some heavy punches. “The Undertaker” scores a heavy body kick, forcing Silva to consider a takedown, but Dvorak shucks it off and we return to the center of the cage. Silva closes the distance and Dvorak greets him on the way in with a few quick punches, leading Silva to back off. The Brazilian stings Dvorak with a right hand in an exchange, and cracks him on the chin with a front kick. Dvorak stumbles and is in a bad way, allowing Silva to crash forward and hit the takedown by practically bull rushing Dvorak over. Silva passes to half guard, but Dvorak protects himself from worse position by backing himself against the fence. Silva chains together a few punches to conclude the round, possibly stealing it back.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Silva

Round 2
The two men both open up with front kicks to the body, and as Dvorak goes low with a kick, Silva considers taking a takedown. Dvorak fights it off and throws a body kick, before landing another that draws a reaction from the Brazilian. “The Undertaker” is pushing the pace now, and stuffs a quick takedown from Silva followed by some short knees up the middle. Silva rushes in, intent on landing a takedown, and Dvorak shoves him away. Silva tries to emulate the success of the previous round with a big front kick to the face, but Dvorak ducks out of the way. The Czech fighter stuffs another takedown, standing Silva up and landing a few punches on the way out. Silva spins himself into a fury as he misses with a spinning back fist, so Dvorak counters the momentum by scoring a front kick to the breadbasket. Silva lands a few punches that Dvorak shrugs off, and Dvorak loads up with a right hand and then a body kick. Silva returns fire with the similar combination, but only lands the kick. Dvorak commits to the body kick again, and this time Silva catches it and takes Dvorak down. Dvorak scrambles and reverses position, landing on top where he takes half guard while trying to smack him with elbows. The action stalls as Dvorak is unable to get punches off, but finally pulls his arm free to drop down two short elbows. Silva times the offense to shove Dvorak off of him, and the two trade quick punches until Dvorak leaps in the air with a flying knee. The knee glances off the target, and Silva clinches him up to ride out the remainder of the round against the cage wall.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak

Round 3
They touch gloves to clock in the final round, and Silva is the first to score in the round by thumping the body with a kick. Dvorak comes up short with an overhand left, while Silva aims at the legs with a few kicks. Dvorak nearly kicks the leg out, thereby forcing Silva to miss with a booming right hook. Silva tries to land a few more one-hitter quitters, and Dvorak is out of range so Silva changes tactics to pursue a takedown. He hits it, and immediately circles around to take Dvorak’s back. Silva tries to get his hooks in, but “The Undertaker” does not linger in the position as he spins about and gets on top. Silva kicks his way out of the position, and this wild exchange leads to the two back on the feet. They jab their way in, and Dvorak chains together a few punches ending with a right. They both target the body, and Dvorak lifts up a powerful knee and then a kick that Silva absorbs. Dvorak tags him with a left, and Silva is a standing target as Dvorak lands a few more punches and a kick right down the middle. They come together, and Dvorak scores a few knees before Silva has to push him away after eating them. Three solid punches knock the head back of Silva, but the Brazilian composes himself and shoots in for a takedown. He gets stuffed, but nails Dvorak on the break with a huge right hand. These guys are swinging ferociously with one minute left, and both score big hooks. A left from Dvorak hurts Silva, who appears stunned. He shakes out of it, and throws a few body kick but “Bulldog” is gassed. Dvorak nearly lands his own takedown, but they stay standing and clinch up. They throw wildly, with Dvorak intent on driving knees home while Silva is winging hooks in the clinch. The round ends, and again we may have a close one on our hands. Silva sports some mighty sunglasses with spikes covering them as we get to the official decision.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak (29-28 Dvorak)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak (29-28 Dvorak)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Dvorak (29-28 Dvorak)

The Official Result
David Dvorak def. Bruno Silva via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Mar 12, 2020 (2 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Daniel picks the dog Dvořák, noting his size and length advantage. He thinks Bruno Silva has a suspect chin and that Dvořák might drop him. He also mentions the lack of crowd might help Dvořák think more smoothly in his debut.

"I'll take the dog I'll go the opposite side David I think that uh somewhere along the lines Bruno will get dropped"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2020 (8 days before fight)
David Dvořák

The host picks David Dvořák over Bruno Silva. He notes that Dvořák lost his UFC debut at bantamweight on short notice but is now returning to flyweight, his natural division. He expects Dvořák to bring hype and win by finish in the second round.

finish in the second round
"I think he's gonna get a big win over Bruno Silva perhaps by finish in the second round"
Bruno Silva - Fight History
SCHED vs Édgar Cháirez
13
138 MMA Expert Confident picked May 30, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"I'm taking Bruno Silva."
AJ
AJ DeVito Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

over 2.5 rounds minus 130; Silva by decision
"I got Bruno Silva to win. I'm not doubting Bruno Silva in this spot. I think Bruno Silva is more crafty than Edgar Shyz."
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 31, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"I am going to pick Bruno because I think he has the power and the output advantage."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Édgar Cháirez

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.

by third round knockout
"I'm going to take Edgar Charz here to win. And I think he's going to hopefully, you know, show up this time."
BU
Bum MMA Expert Confident picked May 30, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Édgar Cháirez

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.

decision win; underdog pick
"Give me Edgar Shyz by decision."
FI
Fight Night Picks Expert Confident picked May 31, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

Bruno Silva wins by decision; agrees with -135 line
"I am going with Bruno Silva in this matchup. ... I think Bruno Silva is going to be the aggressor."
GR
Greedo Plays MMA Expert Confident picked May 30, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"I'm going to go Bruno Silva to win this one by decision."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Lean picked May 30, 2026 (7 days before fight)
Édgar Cháirez

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.

Édgar Cháirez via submission
"I'll pick Egaris in this fight. I'll pick him to win the fight via submission."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

Silva by decision
"I think Silva is going to continuously move forward. I think he's going to chop away at the lead leg of Chyz."
LOSS vs Charles Johnson
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos · Mar 14, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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 Sherdog
Charles Johnson vs. Bruno Silva
BETTING 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
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Charles Johnson

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.

"Charles Johnson is going to be the pick. I'm a little nervous."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Mar 9, 2026 (5 days before fight)
Charles Johnson

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.

"give me Charles Johnson to win this fight by third round knockout."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"Bruno Silva's could be primed to pull off an upset here for sure."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Charles Johnson

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.

Silva opened at +145, currently +160; Johnson opened at -170, currently -185
"I think the, the, I'm going to go with Johnson as well. It's, it's really unclear to me, honestly. Like I, I, I think either guy could go out, but it's essentially like ever present danger from Bruno Silva versus …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Hesitant picked Mar 8, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Charles Johnson

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.

"I definitely going to pick Charles Johnson here."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 10, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Charles Johnson

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.

"I think Johnson should be able to stay away from that power. I think he picks Bruno Silva apart."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 11, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"I pretty much bet Bruno Silva every single fight. I don't see any reason to stop now."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 14, 2026 (fight day)
Charles Johnson

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.

Prediction: second round TKO
"I'm going to go with Charles Johnson by TKO in the second round."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 13, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Charles Johnson

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.

Silva opened at +145, currently +160; Johnson opened at -170, currently -185
"I'm still going to pick Johnson. I don't think that I'm, I think Perez is always capable of pulling out performances like that in Paris is an ancient either."
Submission R3 2:15 · UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen · Oct 18, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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 Sherdog
Hyun Sung Park vs. Bruno Silva
BETTING 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)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

Underdog pick, Bruno Silva wins by dogfight
"I am actually going to pick Bruno Silva here. I think he's a good underdog."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Park Hyun-sung

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.

Park wins in round 3 (KO or sub)
"I'm going to side with uh Hung Park to get it done. I think he's going to kind of put it on Bruno Silva more and more as the fight goes on... give me Hong Park to win this fight. …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"Bruno Santos is one of those guys that overperforms. So, if you can get him at dog money, he's going to fight for your dollar."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

Park opened -300, now -210; Silva opened +250, now +180. Connor expects the odds to tighten further.
"I'm gonna take Bruno Silva and it might just be the wrong size of the age or the wrong part of the size and age demographic where Silva can't find that kill shot."
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Oct 14, 2025 (4 days before fight)

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.

"I can't help but feel like Bruno Silva might pull off the upset in this fight. But that's only if these things are true. One, Hung Park isn't as good as maybe his record shows... And then two, if Bruno …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Park Hyun-sung

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.

win by knockout in round 2 or 3
"Look for Park to eventually land that seminal blow in the second or third round to win this fight by knockout."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Oct 15, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"plus 215. It's dog or pass for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 16, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

underdog pick, split decision victory
"I'm going to go with Bruno Silva getting this one done. ... Bruno Silva split decision victory."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"I'm going with Bruno Silva. I have a big soft spot for him and I still think Park is a great athlete with a ton of potential, but I think he's been pushed past the point of familiar."
LOSS vs Joshua Van
KO R3 4:01 · UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2 · Jun 07, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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 Sherdog
Bruno “Bulldog” Silva vs. Joshua Van
BETTING 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.
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Joshua Van

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.

"Josh is going to be the pick. The odds just continue to run away and eventually they're going to get to unusable territory, but five to one favorite."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 3, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Joshua Van

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.

Van by KO in round 3
"I think Joshua Van's going to break Bruno Silva and I think he's going to knock him out in the third round."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Joshua Van

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.

"I expect Van's classic style to come through as he batters Bruno Silva through the last maybe 12 and 1/2 minutes of this fight and winning this fight on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 4, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Joshua Van

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.

Finish prediction: decision win.
"I've got Joshua Van getting this one done."
LOSS vs Manel Kape
TKO (body kick and punches) R3 1:57 · UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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 Sherdog
Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva
BETTING 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.
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 8, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Manel Kape

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.

Likely decision win; sees value in odds.
"Bruno Silva is good but Manel cop is better it's literally that simple... cop wins this fight likely a decision because of the toughness on the other side and I think there's still some value in his odds."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

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.

"I'll go Manel cop I'll take him to win this fight by second round knockout I think he has a major skill Advantage here but the problem with cop is I don't think he always um utilizes all his skills"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"I actually got Bruno Silva yeah partly because this is a crazy number and one it's a flya away fight but that aside it's like Bruno Silva is one of these guys that's going to give you full effort."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

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.

Kape opened at -254, now -357; Silva opened at +219, now +293
"I would, if I had to guess, I think we'd see a bit of both. Slow burn. Silva gets touched a little more, gets frustrated, comes out really hot, trying to get some momentum back and gets nuked."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

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.

by KO
"I'm gonna go manell cap to come out here knock out Bruno Bulldog Silva and earn a title shot"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Manel Kape

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.

"I think Manel cape's going to win I just think he's too much of a sharp shooter I think he's too accurate I think he's too athletic I think he hits too hard."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

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.

wins by decision
"I believe the explosiveness power and speed of cop will end up being too much for Bruno here I look for a cap to land the more damaging and significant strikes which could lead to a finish But ultimately my …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"I think it's another dogger pass type of situation I just don't really know how invested I want to be in Bruno Silva this week."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Manel Kape

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.

flying knee TKO possibility
"I'm going to go with Manel cap regardless and I'm going to say he gets this one done by TKO maybe a decision where he hurts Bruno Silva on a few occasions though instead"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Manel Kape

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'.

Kape opened at -254, now -357; Silva opened at +219, now +293
"I think it might be close, but it just hard, very hard to see burn herself actually winning. Isn't it?"
WIN vs Cody Durden
TKO (punches) R2 2:58 · UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba · Jul 20, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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 Sherdog
Cody Durden vs. Bruno Silva
BETTING 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)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jul 14, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Cody Durden

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.

"I think the wrestling pace is going to be too much I think Cody squeezes out a close decision here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"I got Bruno Silva man so that's that's the pick for me on this one."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Cody Durden

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.

"I think Cody outworks this guy um and everywhere too like on the feet I think he's gonna out volume him and when he decides to mix in his takedowns as long as you know he doesn't get caught in …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

submission
"I'm going to call Bruno Silva Club in sub as I think that deran will put himself into too much danger and I think Silva is dangerous enough to eventually find that big shot and put Duran away"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jul 17, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"Bruno Silva is also the pick for me."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jul 16, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Cody Durden

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.

"I'm going to trust in the activity as I said Bruno Silva's been a little bit out of the game recently"
WIN vs Tyson Nam
Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 1:23 · UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili · Mar 11, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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 Sherdog
Tyson Nam vs. Bruno Silva
BETTING 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)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Mar 5, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

Tyson Nam inside the distance (decision no action) bet suggestion
"I'm gonna lean Bruno because he has more ways to win this fight and I can't be picking people just praying for a one punch knockout so Bruno's gonna be the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

win by decision
"I think Silva does get the fight down to the mat mixing on the takedowns um being higher output on the feed and ultimately coming away with the decision here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

considering Tyson Nam by KO if plus 400
"I'll pick a dog to open the show but um don't love it may not even yeah probably won't even bet it"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Tyson Nam

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.

Silva opened +130, now -196; Nam opened -150, now +162. Connor is surprised Silva is such a heavy favorite.
"I'll favor nam just because I think he is very comfortable in those in that kind of fight like getting lots of opportunities to counter while getting to pressure."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

Silva by decision
"I'm gonna go Bruno bulldog logs over by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 8, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"are you still taking Bruno Silva absolutely"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 7, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

by TKO
"I'm actually gonna go with Bruno Silva by finish over Tyson Nam by TKO"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean picked Mar 9, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"I think I'm gonna pick Silva just because I think neither of these guys are gonna go to sleep all right I think he's just gonna do a little more than them."
KO (punches) R1 1:00 · UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt · May 22, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.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
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
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 Sherdog
Bruno Silva vs. Victor Rodriguez

Round 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)
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 18, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

Silva by first-round submission
"i'm going to say bruno silva wins by first round submission"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 19, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

Silva by TKO/KO
"i think he gets the job done i'm going to agree with you the pro the light the line's probably a little bit off but there's not a whole lot that i can take away from victor rodriguez that i …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked May 20, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

first round knockout or submission
"i think bruno is going to run through this guy in the first round and uh i just think victor rodriguez does not belong here at all man"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 19, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

Bruno Silva inside the distance (-115), under 2.5 rounds (-145), Bruno Silva round 1 (+250), round 2 (+400)
"i'm going bruno silva uh and i'm going with him by finish probably first or second round"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked May 19, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Bruno Silva

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.

"-340 bruno silva sounds pretty scary to me what's your take"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 22, 2021 (fight day)
Bruno Silva

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.

"i think bruno silva's improving at this point in his career and i think he's actually gonna get a second round tko"
Expert Picks (2)
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Lean picked Mar 12, 2020 (2 days before fight)
David Dvořák

Daniel picks the dog Dvořák, noting his size and length advantage. He thinks Bruno Silva has a suspect chin and that Dvořák might drop him. He also mentions the lack of crowd might help Dvořák think more smoothly in his debut.

"I'll take the dog I'll go the opposite side David I think that uh somewhere along the lines Bruno will get dropped"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 6, 2020 (8 days before fight)
David Dvořák

The host picks David Dvořák over Bruno Silva. He notes that Dvořák lost his UFC debut at bantamweight on short notice but is now returning to flyweight, his natural division. He expects Dvořák to bring hype and win by finish in the second round.

finish in the second round
"I think he's gonna get a big win over Bruno Silva perhaps by finish in the second round"