UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya · Oct 05, 2019 · Catchweight (137 lb) · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya
Age 34
Height 5' 5"
Reach 69.0"
Weight 135 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 36
Height 5' 4"
Reach 65"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Khalid Taha
2.64 SLpM
32.0% Str. Acc.
4.12 SApM
46.0% Str. Def.
0.0 TD Avg
0.0% TD Acc.
61.0% 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
Khalid Taha - Fight History
KO/TKO R1 3:15 · UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa · Sep 03, 2022
LOSS vs Sergey Morozov
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moises · Jul 17, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Sergey Morozov 0 33 of 123 26% 66 of 158 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 50 of 103 48% 99 of 159 6 of 16 37% 0 0 8:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Sergey Morozov 0 3 of 19 15% 23 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 8 of 18 44% 21 of 35 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:58
2 Sergey Morozov 0 12 of 35 34% 19 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 17 of 33 51% 33 of 51 3 of 7 42% 0 0 2:53
3 Sergey Morozov 0 18 of 69 26% 24 of 75 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 25 of 52 48% 45 of 73 2 of 7 28% 0 0 2:43
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Sergey Morozov 33 of 123 26% 9 of 82 12 of 25 12 of 16 30 of 117 3 of 5 0 of 1
Khalid Taha 50 of 103 48% 45 of 94 2 of 5 3 of 4 33 of 81 6 of 7 11 of 15
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Sergey Morozov 3 of 19 15% 1 of 11 0 of 3 2 of 5 3 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 1
Khalid Taha 8 of 18 44% 7 of 15 1 of 2 0 of 1 3 of 10 0 of 0 5 of 8
2 Sergey Morozov 12 of 35 34% 3 of 20 3 of 9 6 of 6 12 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
Khalid Taha 17 of 33 51% 16 of 31 0 of 1 1 of 1 11 of 26 1 of 1 5 of 6
3 Sergey Morozov 18 of 69 26% 5 of 51 9 of 13 4 of 5 15 of 64 3 of 5 0 of 0
Khalid Taha 25 of 52 48% 22 of 48 1 of 2 2 of 2 19 of 45 5 of 6 1 of 1
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Jul 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Sergey Morozov

Cody leans towards Sergey Morozov as a live underdog, citing his ring IQ and wrestling. He believes Morozov can take Khalid Taha down and grind him out, exploiting Taha's poor takedown defense and cardio. He notes that Taha is explosive and heavy-handed, but if Morozov implements the right game plan, he can win.

"I'm gonna have to go with sergey morozov it really does come down to his ring iq and is he going to shoot the reactionary takedowns."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Jul 14, 2021 (3 days before fight)

Paul passes on this fight, calling it a 'dogger pass'. He is not sure if he will bet it and prefers to wait for weigh-ins. He acknowledges that Taha could come out looking strong, but he doesn't commit to a pick.

"I think it's a dogger pass i don't have anything on it i'm not sure if i will."
LOSS vs Raoni Barcelos
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira · Nov 07, 2020
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Raoni Barcelos 0 120 of 207 57% 129 of 219 2 of 4 50% 1 0 3:15
Khalid Taha 0 49 of 202 24% 68 of 222 0 of 1 0% 0 1 1:27
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Raoni Barcelos 0 23 of 36 63% 25 of 38 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:32
Khalid Taha 0 13 of 49 26% 25 of 62 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:58
2 Raoni Barcelos 0 54 of 89 60% 54 of 89 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 12 of 79 15% 12 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Raoni Barcelos 0 43 of 82 52% 50 of 92 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:43
Khalid Taha 0 24 of 74 32% 31 of 81 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:29
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Raoni Barcelos 120 of 207 57% 85 of 166 17 of 22 18 of 19 108 of 195 7 of 7 5 of 5
Khalid Taha 49 of 202 24% 40 of 186 5 of 10 4 of 6 49 of 193 0 of 6 0 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Raoni Barcelos 23 of 36 63% 15 of 27 4 of 5 4 of 4 18 of 31 5 of 5 0 of 0
Khalid Taha 13 of 49 26% 11 of 46 2 of 3 0 of 0 13 of 44 0 of 3 0 of 2
2 Raoni Barcelos 54 of 89 60% 34 of 65 12 of 15 8 of 9 54 of 89 0 of 0 0 of 0
Khalid Taha 12 of 79 15% 9 of 73 1 of 4 2 of 2 12 of 79 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Raoni Barcelos 43 of 82 52% 36 of 74 1 of 2 6 of 6 36 of 75 2 of 2 5 of 5
Khalid Taha 24 of 74 32% 20 of 67 2 of 3 2 of 4 24 of 70 0 of 3 0 of 1
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Raoni Barcelos vs. Khalid Taha

Round 1
Placed high on this ESPN show is a bantamweight brawl between rising contender Barcelos (15-1, 4-0 UFC) and proud German Taha (13-2, 1 NC; 1-1, 1 NC UFC). The third man inside the Octagon is referee Jason Herzog, and the touch of gloves starts the clock. After a tense 25 seconds, Barcelos kicks Taha in the face with a front kick. The German fighter ignores it and tries to jab from a distance, but he only paws off the gloves of his opponent. Taha slings a right hook, but Barcelos kicks him in the head again. The Brazilian chops the lead leg down with one kick, putting Taha down for a second with a single sweep of the leg. Taha springs back up and is already favoring his lead leg, but the two men come before one another and swing it out. Barcelos again jabs with his foot, and the calf kick once more puts Taha down to the ground. Taha springs back up, and Barcelos is in his face charging him and unloading a furious barrage of punches. As Barcelos pushes Taha into the fence, he rips a few knees on the jaw. They both slug it out a little longer, and Taha clips Barcelos on the side of the head to send the Brazilian reeling. Barcelos rushes in for a desperation takedown, and he hits it against the cage and takes top position. Taha circles around, and as he scrambles, Barcelos takes his back and fishes for a rear-naked choke. Taha fights off the choke as he gets to his knees, and crawls his way to the fence briefly. Barcelos is clinging to him like a bad penny, and he pulls Taha down as he maintains back control. Taha pushes off the hooks and blasts through to reverse the position and wind up on top. As Taha slings a few elbows from above, Barcelos throws his legs up and attacks an armbar. Using the submission to sweep position, Taha rolls through it and defends his limb before standing up. Taha continues to push through and as he stands up, he presses Barcelos to the fence and elbows his man on the temple. A wild scramble puts Barcelos on the offensive, and Taha pushes him away and swings heavy leather. Barcelos hacks at the calf once more, and when Taha charges at him, Barcelos snaps his head back with a flying knee. The two bantamweights trade punches right to the bell, ending this furiously paced opening round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos

Round 2
Barcelos jogs out of his corner but touches gloves, and he proceeds to kick Taha in the calf with both legs. Taha absorbs a left hand and fires one back, and he hops forward to deliver a left hook that bounces off the guard. Barcelos attempts to pre-counter with a few check hooks, and Taha ignores them and strides forward with a big right hand. Barcelos leaps up with a flying knee and clips Taha again, but the German’s chin is made of German steel as he bites down on his mouthpiece to swing at his opponent. Barcelos takes a few punches on the chin before he steps in with a knee, and Taha paws at him with a right hook. Three punches from Taha very nearly land on then mark, and Barcelos blocks them to stick his man with a left hand and a blocked head kick. Barcelos stabs at the midsection with his toes, and he throws another kick that lands at the peninsula south of the Equator. Herzog pauses the fight and tells Taha to take all the time he needs, as the kick hit him square. Taha is ready to resume after minute break, and Barcelos offers an apology glove touch as they resume. Barcelos walks him down with a few jabs, and Taha swings hard and comes up short. Barcelos tries to time a knee, but Taha sees it coming and scores a right hand. Barcelos clubs the lead leg, and this time, Taha fires one back at him. Barcelos jabs out with both feet, and he gets off a low leg kick and nearly lands another before Taha is on him. Taha tries to make him pay with punches, and Barcelos is quick to counter. The two to tit-for-tat with strikes one after the other, and both men decide to start ripping the body with punches in their combinations. Barcelos misses with a check knee, and Taha steps forward with a one-two that Barcelos avoids. Barcelos clicks off a few punches on the head, and the calf kick from the Brazilian lands flush once more. Barcelos slaps away punches that come at him and rolls with strikes, and he slams his shin into Taha’s leg to force the German to change stances. Barcelos clubs him with punches, and delivers a knee up the middle that hurts Taha badly. Barcelos puts his foot on the gas as he cracks Taha with another knee, and he is trying to finish the fight as few seconds are left in the round. He chases and batters Taha around the cage, but he cannot get the stoppage he seeks as Herzog takes a close look at the action. Taha may be saved by the bell as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos

Round 3
These two bantamweights clap hands to start off the final frame, and they pick up right where they left off. Barcelos flicks out a few kicks high and low, and Taha slaps his fists into the side of Barcelos’s head. Barcelos drills a knee on the jaw, and Taha eats it as he bounces off the cage. Taha tries to respond with strikes of his own, but Barcelos takes him down and starts unloading ground-and-pound from in guard. “The Warrior” scrambles his way to the fence and gets to one knee, but in the process, Barcelos takes his back and gets one hook in. As Taha sits up, the Brazilian wrenches a palm-to-palm neck crank to squeeze a vice grip on his opponent’s chin. Taha grits it out, survives the choke as it slides under the chin, and falls to his back. Barcelos drops down some thudding punches from above, and Taha keeps a rubber guard with his right leg before threatening with a leglock. The submission attempt allows him to force a scramble that gets him back to his feet, where Taha pursues a double leg takedown. Barcelos shrugs it off and breaks up, and Taha chases after him with winging punches. Barcelos snaps a left and a right off while Taha is marching forward, but Taha wades forward with an overhand right and an uppercut. The two trade overhand rights, and Taha blocks the strikes that come his way as he sneaks up an uppercut. Taha kicks the lead leg, but he eats several punches from over the top. Taha clubs him with a left hand, and Barcelos stands in front of him and knees him on the chin. Both men slug it out with everything they have, and Barcelos tries to knee him again but comes up short. Taha stands right in front of his man throwing punches, and Barcelos ducks and kicks the leg. Taha overextends on a right hand and Barcelos tries to take him down, but he cannot get it there. Barcelos scores a big knee on the jaw, and Taha wears it well and presses into a takedown. When Barcelos breaks out of the position, the two have one final slugfest right to the bell. What a fight!

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos (30-27 Barcelos)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos (30-27 Barcelos)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barcelos (30-27 Barcelos)

The Official Result
Raoni Barcelos def. Khalid Taha via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 2, 2020 (5 days before fight)
Raoni Barcelos

The host is high on Barcelos, calling him a near-complete MMA fighter with diverse skills. He expects Barcelos to use his muay thai and takedowns to overwhelm Taha, who has shown vulnerability to wrestlers. He predicts a second or third round submission, noting Barcelos' jiu-jitsu and finishing ability. He considers Barcelos a solid parlay piece due to the high price.

He predicts a second or third round submission. He mentions Barcelos is more of a parlay piece than a straight play.
"I like marcelo's to win this fight i could see him getting a finish as well too maybe his second or third round sub"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2020 (6 days before fight)
Raoni Barcelos

The MMA Guru picks Raoni Barcelos to win by unanimous decision or third-round stoppage. He believes Barcelos will out-grapple Khalid Taha, using takedowns and grinding grappling. He notes Barcelos's underrated grappling and tough chin.

third round finish
"i'm going to go with hani barcelos getting the job done by unanimous decision with the takedowns"
LOSS vs Bruno Silva
No Contest (overturned) R3 3:00 · UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya · Oct 05, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Khalid Taha 1 38 of 88 43% 74 of 127 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:39
Bruno Silva 0 20 of 50 40% 51 of 88 2 of 11 18% 0 0 7:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Khalid Taha 1 12 of 43 27% 24 of 55 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Bruno Silva 0 9 of 22 40% 26 of 39 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:13
2 Khalid Taha 0 8 of 20 40% 15 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Bruno Silva 0 11 of 23 47% 23 of 42 1 of 3 33% 0 0 4:17
3 Khalid Taha 0 18 of 25 72% 35 of 44 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:39
Bruno Silva 0 0 of 5 0% 2 of 7 1 of 4 25% 0 0 1:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Khalid Taha 38 of 88 43% 29 of 69 4 of 11 5 of 8 19 of 62 6 of 7 13 of 19
Bruno Silva 20 of 50 40% 9 of 33 8 of 11 3 of 6 10 of 31 1 of 1 9 of 18
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Khalid Taha 12 of 43 27% 8 of 31 3 of 8 1 of 4 12 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bruno Silva 9 of 22 40% 2 of 12 4 of 6 3 of 4 8 of 21 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Khalid Taha 8 of 20 40% 6 of 16 0 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 11 2 of 3 2 of 6
Bruno Silva 11 of 23 47% 7 of 17 4 of 5 0 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 18
3 Khalid Taha 18 of 25 72% 15 of 22 1 of 1 2 of 2 3 of 8 4 of 4 11 of 13
Bruno Silva 0 of 5 0% 0 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Khalid Taha vs. Bruno Silva

Round 1
To kick off our night, we have the only fight that does not feature a fighter from Oceania, as Germany's Taha (13-2, 1-1 UFC) takes on Silva (10-3-2, 0-0 UFC) from Brazil. Silva starts out strong with his walkout game, using a song normally attributed to Robert Whittaker: "Can't Be Touched" by Body Head Bangerz, most famously known as the rap group created by boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. Our referee for this 137-pound catchweight contest -- Taha missed weight -- is Greg Kleynjans. The two men touch gloves, and we begin the night. They feint and fake to find an angle, and it is Silva that strikes first, landing a low leg kick that almost buckles the leg of Taha. They come together, and both swing heavy leather, and Taha drops Silva with a left hook. Silva springs to his feet quickly and jumps into the clinch with Taha. The German stalks down Silva and throws a kick that falls short, but he has Silva backing away. "The Warrior" sits down on a right hand and even though Silva partly blocks it, it still stings him and marks his face up. Silva commits to a body kick, and Taha walks right through it while trying to wing another big right hand. Taha swings a leg kick so hard he nearly falls off balance, missing Silva, but he follows up with a hard right. As Silva backs off, he aims for a high leg kick but it misses the mark, catching Taha right in the cup. The action pauses, and Taha takes a minute before we start things up again. The Brazilian whiffs with a spinning wheel kick, and Taha presses forward into the clinch. Silva spins him around, and in the clinch fires a knee up the middle that loudly catches Taha in the groin. Taha crumples to the ground in obvious pain, and doesn't take nearly enough time to recover before the fight begins again. An angry Taha sprints toward Silva, but Silva backs away and eats a body kick. Silva just misses a spinning back fist, and then charges forward to pursue a body lock takedown, as the horn sounds to end the round.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Taha
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Taha
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Taha

Round 2
As Round 2 begins, Taha runs forward to throw a body kick, and then drops Silva with a powerful right straight. Taha blitzes forward and throws a kick as hard as he can, luckily missing the head of his opponent -- if it had landed, it would have been illegal, as Silva had a knee on the ground. Silva uses the aggression of his opponent to finally take Taha to the ground, and sitting in full guard he drops down multiple hammerfists. Posturing up for a moment only to jump back down with punches, Silva takes an upkick to the chin but uses the moment to advance his position to side control. Taha takes back side control, while exerting heavy pressure on the German. Silva briefly looks to set up an arm-triangle choke, but he is in the wrong position for it, so he bails and tries to set up some elbow strikes. The two men scramble as Taha desperately tries to get back to his feet, and he gets back to full guard but takes several hard elbows and punches in the process. Silva stands up again to return with more strikes, and instead of getting back to his feet, Taha throws a few more upkicks, allowing Silva to come back down on him. Taha spins out and gets to his knees, so Silva counters with a brief guillotine choke setup before blasting a knee to his opponent's chest as the round expires.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Silva

Round 3
Touching gloves one last time, Silva opens up the round with a spinning kick, but Taha closes the distance so it cannot land. Like the second round, Silva shoots in for a takedown, and gets his man down, but this time Taha does not stay grounded for long. Taha stands up, but embodying his nickname of "Bulldog," Silva stays tenacious in the clinch before dropping down for a single leg takedown. In the process, Taha scores a knee on the chin of the Brazilian, before going on to stuff the attempt. Silva tries for a trip before spinning out, and Taha comes on strong with several wide hooks. As Silva shoots in for another takedown in the center of the cage, Taha blasts him with a slew of loud elbows to the side of the head. Silva spins around, but Taha takes advantage and tries to cinch up a rear-naked choke. Silva falls to his back, and "The Warrior" quickly turns and jumps from mount to side control.
From that position, his sights are fully set on an arm-triangle choke, and as he pushes down Silva has no choice but to tap out or get put to sleep.
This is a big win for Taha, who usually prefers to finish his opponents with strikes.

The Official Result
Khalid Taha def. Bruno Silva R3 3:00 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
WIN vs Boston Salmon
TKO (punches) R1 0:25 · UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2 · Apr 13, 2019
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Khalid Taha 0 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Boston Salmon 1 5 of 5 100% 5 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Khalid Taha 0 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Boston Salmon 1 5 of 5 100% 5 of 5 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Khalid Taha 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Boston Salmon 5 of 5 100% 5 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Khalid Taha 0 of 0 --- 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0
Boston Salmon 5 of 5 100% 5 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 3
LOSS vs Nad Narimani
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Smith · Jul 22, 2018
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Nad Narimani 0 32 of 57 56% 59 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 2 0:35
Khalid Taha 0 45 of 69 65% 67 of 97 6 of 11 54% 0 0 10:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Nad Narimani 0 11 of 17 64% 18 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Khalid Taha 0 12 of 26 46% 16 of 33 2 of 4 50% 0 0 3:04
2 Nad Narimani 0 15 of 26 57% 23 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Khalid Taha 0 26 of 34 76% 37 of 48 1 of 4 25% 0 0 3:22
3 Nad Narimani 0 6 of 14 42% 18 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 2 0:23
Khalid Taha 0 7 of 9 77% 14 of 16 3 of 3 100% 0 0 3:41
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Nad Narimani 32 of 57 56% 24 of 44 3 of 6 5 of 7 21 of 41 7 of 11 4 of 5
Khalid Taha 45 of 69 65% 37 of 56 5 of 10 3 of 3 14 of 32 5 of 7 26 of 30
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Nad Narimani 11 of 17 64% 6 of 12 1 of 1 4 of 4 8 of 13 3 of 4 0 of 0
Khalid Taha 12 of 26 46% 7 of 17 3 of 7 2 of 2 5 of 17 0 of 1 7 of 8
2 Nad Narimani 15 of 26 57% 12 of 19 2 of 4 1 of 3 10 of 19 3 of 5 2 of 2
Khalid Taha 26 of 34 76% 24 of 31 1 of 2 1 of 1 7 of 12 5 of 6 14 of 16
3 Nad Narimani 6 of 14 42% 6 of 13 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 9 1 of 2 2 of 3
Khalid Taha 7 of 9 77% 6 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 6
Bruno Silva - Fight History
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"