vs
-500 +425
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 · Feb 24, 2024 · Featherweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2
Age 31
Height 5' 9"
Reach 70.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 39
Height 5' 9"
Reach 71.0"
Weight 145 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Career Averages - Muhammad Naimov
2.51 SLpM
40.0% Str. Acc.
3.35 SApM
44.0% Str. Def.
1.49 TD Avg
30.0% TD Acc.
68.0% TD Def.
0.2 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Erik Silva
2.06 SLpM
67.0% Str. Acc.
1.52 SApM
40.0% Str. Def.
3.26 TD Avg
80.0% TD Acc.
60.0% TD Def.
0.0 Sub. Avg
Muhammad Naimov
Moneyline
BetWay -500
KO/TKO
BetWay +200
Submission
FanDuel +360
Decision
FanDuel +210
Erik Silva
Moneyline
BetMGM +425
KO/TKO
BetRivers +1600
Submission
BetRivers +1200
Decision
BetRivers +1050
Muhammad Naimov - Fight History
LOSS vs Mairon Santos
KO R3 0:21 · UFC 323 · Dec 06, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muhammad Naimov 0 18 of 48 37% 35 of 69 0 of 5 0% 0 0 2:08
Mairon Santos 1 27 of 45 60% 43 of 61 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:47
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muhammad Naimov 0 11 of 18 61% 20 of 30 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:00
Mairon Santos 0 7 of 15 46% 15 of 23 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
2 Muhammad Naimov 0 6 of 26 23% 14 of 35 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:08
Mairon Santos 0 16 of 24 66% 24 of 32 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:25
3 Muhammad Naimov 0 1 of 4 25% 1 of 4 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Mairon Santos 1 4 of 6 66% 4 of 6 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muhammad Naimov 18 of 48 37% 7 of 29 6 of 10 5 of 9 13 of 40 5 of 8 0 of 0
Mairon Santos 27 of 45 60% 11 of 27 8 of 10 8 of 8 19 of 34 7 of 8 1 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muhammad Naimov 11 of 18 61% 3 of 9 5 of 5 3 of 4 8 of 14 3 of 4 0 of 0
Mairon Santos 7 of 15 46% 2 of 9 3 of 4 2 of 2 6 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Muhammad Naimov 6 of 26 23% 3 of 18 1 of 4 2 of 4 4 of 22 2 of 4 0 of 0
Mairon Santos 16 of 24 66% 6 of 13 5 of 6 5 of 5 10 of 17 6 of 7 0 of 0
3 Muhammad Naimov 1 of 4 25% 1 of 2 0 of 1 0 of 1 1 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
Mairon Santos 4 of 6 66% 3 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1 3 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 3
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 30, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Mairon Santos

Angelo picks Mairon Santos because he sets a better pace, moves forward, and has power in both hands and feet. He notes that Naimov is well-rounded but lacks urgency and danger, often just trying to win minutes rather than finish. Angelo expects the optics of Santos moving forward and Naimov slowing the pace to favor Santos. He also mentions the over on the round line as a potential bet due to both fighters' durability.

over 2.5 rounds (potential bet)
"Marian Santos is the pick. The odds are widening."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 26, 2025 (10 days before fight)
Mairon Santos

Big Brady picks Mairon Santos over Muhammad Naimov. He criticizes Naimov's volume, cardio, and cheating, calling him one of the biggest cheaters in the UFC. He believes Santos is the better striker with more volume and room for growth, and expects Santos to win by decision as long as he stuffs takedowns and his chin holds up.

Santos by decision
"I think he's the cleaner striker. More volume. As long as he can stuff the takedowns, as long as that chin holds up against Naimov, I think he gets the job done. And I think he gets the job done …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Mairon Santos

Cody picks Santos, citing his youth, takedown defense, and striking. He notes that Santos trains with Fighting Nerds and has improved. He believes Naimov is one-dimensional and low-volume, and that Santos will stuff takedowns and outpoint him. He expects Santos to win by decision.

"Myron Santos, I I love the kid, you know, Matt. He's the ultimate fighter. I really like him. I think he's going to be a really solid prospect."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Mairon Santos

Connor picks Mairon Santos, noting that Santos is a physical phenom with explosive power and speed. He acknowledges that Santos can be inactive and has poor positioning, but believes Naimov is so hittable that Santos will land big shots. Connor cites Naimov's lack of defense and Santos's power advantage.

"I think I'll take, uh, I'll take Santos as well, just because Naimov is so hittable."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 27, 2025 (9 days before fight)
Mairon Santos

Daniel picks Santos, citing his technical striking, improved takedown defense, and overall skill. He believes Santos will dictate the fight on the feet and outclass Naimov, who is solid but not special. He sees Santos as a future top-15 fighter.

"I do think that Myron Santos is going to put some kind of striking clinic on Muhammad Nimov and get this win."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 29, 2025 (7 days before fight)
Mairon Santos

Lucrative James believes Mairon Santos is the better striker and will light up Muhammad Naimov on the feet. He notes Naimov's grappling-heavy game plan will cause him to gas out, while Santos' youth and improvement give him a higher ceiling. He predicts Santos wins, possibly by finish or decision, and is confident in the pick.

"I'm predicting Maranos fairly confidently in this one."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Mairon Santos

The host believes Santos is physical enough to stop Naimov's takedowns and is the better striker. He expects Santos to counter Naimov's power shots effectively, batter his legs, and eventually secure a knockout victory.

knockout victory
"I believe Santos is physical enough to stop the takedowns of Naimov and be the better striker... eventually lead to a knockout victory."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Mairon Santos

Paul agrees, noting that Santos is a much better striker and that Naimov's takedowns are his only path. He believes Santos will defend takedowns and win a decision. He mentions that Santos by decision is around even money and is a good play.

"I expect him to do better in this fight. Stay off those takedown attempts from Naimov. He's a much better striker than Naimov."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 3, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Mairon Santos

The Guru picks Mairon Santos over Muhammad Naimov, citing Santos' superior standup and damage ability compared to Naimov's control-based wins. He notes that Naimov's recent victories were close decisions relying on control time, while Santos has a clear win over Sadique Youssef and a KO of Kofley. The Guru believes Santos will finish Naimov in round two by KO.

round two KO
"The frogman will get it done in round two by KO over Muhammad Nimov."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Mairon Santos

Zane picks Mairon Santos, noting that Santos is more dangerous moment to moment and has the physical tools to compete. He acknowledges that Naimov could use pressure and wrestling to neutralize Santos, but believes Santos's power and explosiveness give him the edge. Zane calls it a good matchup.

"I'm going to pick Santos, but the good fight, honestly, both guys, yeah, both guys have something to prove."
WIN vs Bogdan Grad
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. · Jun 21, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muhammad Naimov 0 18 of 54 33% 70 of 119 1 of 3 33% 1 0 2:53
Bogdan Grad 0 31 of 64 48% 49 of 88 3 of 10 30% 0 0 5:09
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muhammad Naimov 0 10 of 22 45% 24 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:23
Bogdan Grad 0 15 of 30 50% 23 of 39 1 of 3 33% 0 0 2:04
2 Muhammad Naimov 0 6 of 21 28% 12 of 29 0 of 1 0% 1 0 0:00
Bogdan Grad 0 10 of 21 47% 15 of 27 1 of 4 25% 0 0 2:01
3 Muhammad Naimov 0 2 of 11 18% 34 of 51 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:30
Bogdan Grad 0 6 of 13 46% 11 of 22 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:04
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muhammad Naimov 18 of 54 33% 11 of 45 3 of 3 4 of 6 16 of 50 2 of 4 0 of 0
Bogdan Grad 31 of 64 48% 7 of 30 14 of 19 10 of 15 18 of 46 13 of 18 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muhammad Naimov 10 of 22 45% 6 of 17 1 of 1 3 of 4 9 of 19 1 of 3 0 of 0
Bogdan Grad 15 of 30 50% 3 of 12 6 of 9 6 of 9 5 of 18 10 of 12 0 of 0
2 Muhammad Naimov 6 of 21 28% 3 of 17 2 of 2 1 of 2 5 of 20 1 of 1 0 of 0
Bogdan Grad 10 of 21 47% 3 of 11 4 of 6 3 of 4 10 of 19 0 of 2 0 of 0
3 Muhammad Naimov 2 of 11 18% 2 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Bogdan Grad 6 of 13 46% 1 of 7 4 of 4 1 of 2 3 of 9 3 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Angelo picks Muhammad Naimov, but with reservations. He thinks Naimov is slightly better everywhere and will win a close decision, but notes that Naimov doesn't chase finishes and may coast. He acknowledges Bogdan's finishing ability and the risk of a finish if Bogdan's cardio holds. He fades Naimov for fantasy due to low scoring potential.

Mentions Bogdan Grad at $7,400 as a good price if he has cardio; predicts decision.
"I think Naimov wins this fight. I think Naimov wins a close fight just like his last one."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 18, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Big Brady picks Muhammad Naimov, citing his power as a key factor. He notes that Bogdan Grad absorbs a high volume of strikes (8 per minute) and that Naimov has knockout power, having slept Jamie Mullarkey and hurt others. Brady thinks Naimov is more durable and has takedown defense to keep the fight standing. He predicts Naimov wins by first-round knockout, though he acknowledges Grad has more heart.

first round knockout
"I like Naimov to win. I'm going to take him to win this fight by first round knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Connor picks Naimov, agreeing that Naimov's athleticism and strength will overwhelm Grad, who is not strong in tie-ups and relies on outlasting opponents. He notes that Naimov's mistakes and over-aggression won't be punished by Grad, who lacks the athleticism to capitalize. He believes Naimov will be able to impose his will and win the fight.

"I think he can beat Bogdan Grad. Yeah. That's not a lot of deafness to Bogdan Grad's name, is there? It's not an athleticism that's going to take over in situations."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Bogdan Grad

The host doesn't understand the love for Naimov outside of power punching. He thinks if Naimov can't get Grad out early, Grad will push a pace and pressure that Naimov can't keep up with, leading to a submission in the second or third round.

"I never understand the big love on Naimov outside of the power punching that he brings to the table. But if he can't get Grad out of there early, I'm expecting Grad to push a pace and pressure that Naimov …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

The MMA Guru picks Muhammad Naimov, criticizing Bogdan Grad's lackluster performances. He notes Naimov's power and ability to manhandle opponents, and despite a loss to Felipe Lima, he sees Naimov as the better fighter. He predicts a dominant decision or first-round finish.

Naimov wins by decision or first-round finish
"I'm going to go with Muhammad Nimov here. I think he's still good. He's still very good."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Zane picks Naimov, citing his superior athleticism and physicality compared to Grad. He notes that Grad is a pace fighter who relies on accumulation, but lacks strength in tie-ups and is foot-slow. Naimov, despite being reckless, is strong and powerful in the clinch and will maul Grad. He draws a parallel to Rębecki vs Orolbai, where the more brutish fighter won.

"I got to pick Naimov and that, you know, for defining it on the same characteristics, you got to take the same kind of winner. Yep. Agreed."
WIN vs Kaan Ofli
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov · Feb 01, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muhammad Naimov 0 32 of 92 34% 79 of 176 2 of 2 100% 0 0 5:36
Kaan Ofli 0 31 of 66 46% 57 of 97 0 of 6 0% 0 0 3:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muhammad Naimov 0 14 of 34 41% 32 of 56 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:55
Kaan Ofli 0 11 of 27 40% 23 of 41 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:21
2 Muhammad Naimov 0 10 of 33 30% 25 of 51 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:16
Kaan Ofli 0 11 of 21 52% 19 of 31 0 of 3 0% 0 0 2:03
3 Muhammad Naimov 0 8 of 25 32% 22 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:25
Kaan Ofli 0 9 of 18 50% 15 of 25 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muhammad Naimov 32 of 92 34% 23 of 79 8 of 12 1 of 1 22 of 73 6 of 6 4 of 13
Kaan Ofli 31 of 66 46% 5 of 30 16 of 21 10 of 15 14 of 44 17 of 22 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muhammad Naimov 14 of 34 41% 7 of 23 6 of 10 1 of 1 10 of 30 4 of 4 0 of 0
Kaan Ofli 11 of 27 40% 2 of 12 7 of 9 2 of 6 6 of 21 5 of 6 0 of 0
2 Muhammad Naimov 10 of 33 30% 8 of 31 2 of 2 0 of 0 8 of 31 2 of 2 0 of 0
Kaan Ofli 11 of 21 52% 1 of 10 4 of 5 6 of 6 6 of 16 5 of 5 0 of 0
3 Muhammad Naimov 8 of 25 32% 8 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 12 0 of 0 4 of 13
Kaan Ofli 9 of 18 50% 2 of 8 5 of 7 2 of 3 2 of 7 7 of 11 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Muhammadjon Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli

Round 1
Featherweights close out the undercard, as Naimov (11-3, 3-1 UFC) takes on Ofli (11-3-1, 0-1 UFC) in the featured prelim at 145 pounds. Marc Goddard draws the officiating assignment. Naimov commands the center at the start. Ofli paws with his jab. Naimov making fluid stance switches and sneaks in a right hand over the top. Leg kicks from Ofli. The Aussie fires off an inside leg kick and it strays low, resulting in a pause to the action to allow Naimov to check the jewels. Naimov doubles up on the jab and slams home a low kick. Ofli darts in and out, often leading with kicks. Clinch knees from Naimov. They clinch along the fence, as Ofli scores with knees to the body and legs. Crowd half-heartedly boos. Goddard asks for more action. Naimov turns his opponent into the fence. Ninety seconds to go. They separate. Double jab from Naimov. Ofli feints. Naimov connects with a left hook, circles on the outside and steps into a short standing elbow. Crushing body kick from Naimov. He decks an off-balance Ofli with a two-punch burst, then ducks into a takedown. Ofli stands. They close the round in the clinch.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Naimov
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Naimov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Naimov

Round 2
Back at for the middle stanza. Ofli crashes into the clinch behind an overhand right. Knees to the legs from Naimov. He lands a pair of right hands over the top on the break, then circles. They trade left hooks. Naimov staggers. Ofli powers into double underhooks and bullies his opponent into the fence. Fans boo, as the action stalls. They trade shots at close range. Ofli works on a trip but goes nowhere. Naimov breaks free and volleys. Ofli shells up and weathers the onslaught. Naimov completes a takedown with a little more than two minutes to go and sets up in side control. Ofli gets back to his feet. Naimov scores with a few elbows in the clinch. Ofli secures double underhooks and backs his adversary to the fence yet again. Knees the legs from the Aussie. Goddard urges more action and eventually restarts them. Naimov doubles up on the jab and gets off a left hook before the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ofli
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Ofli
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ofli

Round 3
One round to go, and the outcome remains very much in doubt. Naimov lands a wheel kick, but Ofli manages to withstand the impact. Ofli ducks into a takedown attempt but loses his balance and falls backward. Naimov lands in full mount and cuts loose with a series of rapid-fire elbows before moving to the back. He secures position with a body triangle and looks to soften up Ofli with punches. Midway through the period. Naimov stays busy with punches and continues to chew valuable time off the clock. Ofli not making much progress toward an escape. Finally, he turns, builds his base and gets back to his feet. Less than a minute left. Ofli uncorks hooks to the body from both hands and presses forward. Naimov welcomes him into the clinch. Ofli doing everything he can to turn the round around. Naimov backpedals and lets the time expire.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Naimov (29-28 Naimov)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Naimov (29-28 Naimov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Naimov (29-28 Naimov)

The Official Result
Muhammadjon Naimov def. Kaan Ofli—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jan 26, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Angelo picks Muhammad Naimov, citing his well-rounded skills, speed, and athleticism. He notes that Kaan Ofli is a BJJ black belt but lacks the length and wrestling to be effective at this level. He believes Naimov's striking and takedown defense will be key, and he is growing more confident in Naimov as fight week progresses.

"Muhammad naov is the pick and I am more and more confident every day"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jan 27, 2025 (5 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Big Brady is not high on Muhammad Naimov but thinks this is a good matchup for him. He notes Kaan Ofli laid an egg in his last fight and was brutally knocked out. Brady expects Naimov to be the better striker and knock Ofli out in the first round, though he would never lay -300 on Naimov.

first round knockout
"give me naob I'll take him imob to win this fight by first round knockout"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Connor picks Naimov, citing his superior athleticism and strength. He notes that both fighters are similar brawlers, but Naimov is a slightly better athlete and has a more durable chin. Connor believes Naimov's physicality and ability to win scrambles will be the difference, and that Ofli's tendency to crash the pocket will play into Naimov's strengths.

"I'm just going to take Naimaw up here. Hopefully, I thought he was one of the better prospects on the Ultimate Fighter, but I also thought that nobody on the Ultimate Fighter was really all that good."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Naimov has more powerful striking and will land more often, winning on the scorecards if he can't get a late finish. Both fighters like to wrestle and have power, but Naimov's output and power are expected to be the difference.

"I believe it's going to be Naimov that ends up coming out on top landing the more powerful strikes landing more often and end up winning this fight on the scorecards if he's unable to get the finish late."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jan 28, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

The MMA Guru picks Muhammad Naimov to win by KO in the second round or late first. He believes Naimov has wicked grappling skills and knockout power, and that Ofli's short reach (66 inches) will be a disadvantage. He thinks Naimov will have an advantage on the feet and won't be outmuscled.

KO win, second round or late first
"I'm actually going to call a KO win for muhamed naov maybe in the second round or late in the first"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jan 30, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Zane picks Naimov, agreeing that he is the stronger athlete and more likely to win the physical exchanges. He notes that Ofli's game is one-dimensional and that Naimov's durability and power should carry him. Zane also points out that Ofli's loss to Myron Santos showed he can be overwhelmed, and Naimov presents a similar challenge.

"I'm just going to take Naimaw up here. Hopefully, I thought he was one of the better prospects on the Ultimate Fighter, but I also thought that nobody on the Ultimate Fighter was really all that good."
LOSS vs Felipe Lima
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 1:15 · UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov · Jun 22, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Felipe Lima 0 30 of 85 35% 55 of 120 1 of 5 20% 0 0 2:36
Muhammad Naimov 0 37 of 70 52% 62 of 98 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:06
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Felipe Lima 0 7 of 19 36% 31 of 53 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:14
Muhammad Naimov 0 14 of 23 60% 35 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:43
2 Felipe Lima 0 18 of 54 33% 18 of 54 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:22
Muhammad Naimov 0 21 of 36 58% 24 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
3 Felipe Lima 0 5 of 12 41% 6 of 13 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Muhammad Naimov 0 2 of 11 18% 3 of 12 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:23
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Felipe Lima 30 of 85 35% 14 of 60 6 of 15 10 of 10 26 of 72 2 of 7 2 of 6
Muhammad Naimov 37 of 70 52% 10 of 37 14 of 19 13 of 14 31 of 60 6 of 10 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Felipe Lima 7 of 19 36% 3 of 13 1 of 3 3 of 3 5 of 11 0 of 2 2 of 6
Muhammad Naimov 14 of 23 60% 3 of 12 5 of 5 6 of 6 10 of 18 4 of 5 0 of 0
2 Felipe Lima 18 of 54 33% 10 of 39 3 of 10 5 of 5 17 of 51 1 of 3 0 of 0
Muhammad Naimov 21 of 36 58% 7 of 19 8 of 10 6 of 7 20 of 35 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Felipe Lima 5 of 12 41% 1 of 8 2 of 2 2 of 2 4 of 10 1 of 2 0 of 0
Muhammad Naimov 2 of 11 18% 0 of 6 1 of 4 1 of 1 1 of 7 1 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 20, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Angelo picks Naimov, citing his power, size, and athleticism. He notes that Felipe Lima is moving up from bantamweight on short notice, which is a significant disadvantage. He acknowledges Lima is a very good prospect but believes the size and power difference will be too much. He is surprised Naimov is not a bigger favorite.

"I think Muhammad naov wins this fight but I totally understand how this is a tougher matchup than his original matchup because Felipe is very well-rounded very good"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Felipe Lima

Cody picks Lima despite moving up a weight class on short notice, believing he is the better fighter. He notes Naimov's cardio issues and reliance on power wrestling, and expects Lima to survive early rounds and take over later. He acknowledges the risk of Naimov's size and strength.

"Felipe Lima is the pick but I'm expecting a bad round and a half a tough start to the fight"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Hesitant picked Jun 20, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Felipe Lima

Daniel Vreeland picks Felipe Lima but is hesitant due to the 'debut stunt' factor. He believes Lima is the more well-rounded and physical fighter with five-round experience, but worries about debut jitters. He acknowledges Naimov's toughness and improvements but sees Lima as the better fighter overall.

"I'm g go Felipe Lima there"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Hesitant picked Jun 20, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Felipe Lima

Jacob picks Lima, believing he is the more technical striker and well-rounded fighter. He worries about the short notice and weight cut but thinks Lima's technicality will trouble Naimov. He notes Naimov struggled with Nathaniel Wood, who is not a big featherweight, and thinks Lima could outfight him. He is not sure if he will bet it.

"I'm going to go Felipe Lima here I you know I understand the love that he's getting as a dog I'm not sure if I'm going to bet it yet"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

JP picks Naimov by submission, noting that Bagdasarian's only two losses are by submission and Naimov has 3 submission wins. He believes Naimov will take the fight to the ground and submit him. Brevan agrees, adding that Naimov can also win by ground-and-pound. He suggests a prop bet on under 2.5 rounds. Both see Naimov finishing the fight early.

Naimov by submission; under 2.5 rounds
"I'm going name off by sub"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 19, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Paul leans towards Naimov, citing his size advantage and the fact that Lima is moving up on short notice. He notes that Naimov has never been finished and that Lima's preparation is questionable. However, he doesn't bet the winner, instead taking the over 2.5 rounds.

over 2.5 rounds
"I'll side with naimov I suppose ever so slightly but I don't plan to bet uh you know an actual winner"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 18, 2024 (4 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

The MMA Guru picks Muhammad Naimov over Felipe Lima, despite expressing dislike for Naimov. He notes that Naimov is a massive featherweight with power, while Lima is a bantamweight moving up and has been out for 11 months. He believes Lima is undersized and lacks finishing potential, while Naimov has shown he can rock opponents. He also cynically suggests that Naimov may cheat if needed, but ultimately picks him to win.

"I'm going to go with naov because I'm convinced this dude's on the source other than that though he should just beat Lima."
WIN vs Erik Silva
TKO (leg injury) R1 0:44 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 · Feb 24, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muhammad Naimov 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Erik Silva 0 1 of 2 50% 3 of 4 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muhammad Naimov 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Erik Silva 0 1 of 2 50% 3 of 4 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muhammad Naimov 0 of 1 0% 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Erik Silva 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muhammad Naimov 0 of 1 0% 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Erik Silva 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Angelo picks Naimov as the more well-rounded and dangerous fighter, citing his power and wrestling ability. He notes that Naimov benefited from fouls in his last fight but still believes he should win. He mentions waiting for prop bets on round lines but is confident Naimov gets the job done.

waiting for prop bets on round lines
"naimov is going to be the pick I would say medium level confidence here I'm probably going to wait for some prop bets to see what the round lines look like"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Big Brady picks Muhammad Naimov to win by TKO in the second round. He notes that Naimov came into the UFC on short notice and pulled off a big upset against Jamie Mullarkey, then beat Nathaniel Wood. He criticizes Erik Silva's performance against TJ Brown, saying Silva gassed out in five minutes and makes mistakes on the ground. Brady believes Naimov can hang in grappling early but will break Silva as the fight goes on due to Silva's poor cardio.

Naimov wins by TKO in round 2
"give me nof here I'll take nof to break Eric Silva in the second round via TKO"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Cody picks Silva as a PRP pick, noting Naimov's suspect cardio, wrestling, and striking. He thinks Silva can wrestle and take Naimov down, holding him for two rounds. He acknowledges Silva may gas but Naimov will too. He sees value at the plus price and is fading Naimov.

"I fade him and I put Eric Silva as a PRP pick"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

The host acknowledges the heavy betting line on Naimov (close to -600) but believes Naimov's pure wrestling advantage and aggressive style will overcome any altitude concerns. He expects Naimov to out-grind Silva, who is an early finisher but will be overwhelmed by Naimov's pressure.

Heavy favorite at close to -600
"I don't understand all the heavy love that's coming in on naov pushing him up to a close minus 600 favorite sure he'll have the pure wrestling advantage in this matchup but you got to wonder what the elevation and …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick for this fight. He calls it a dog-or-pass situation, noting Naimov's suspect cardio and Silva's wrestling but also Silva's age and submission losses. He is not interested in parlaying Naimov and doesn't commit to either side.

"it's a pretty clear dogger pass I'm not interested in parlaying Mohamed naov"
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 · Oct 21, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muhammad Naimov 0 50 of 72 69% 70 of 94 2 of 7 28% 0 0 2:44
Nathaniel Wood 0 48 of 81 59% 100 of 140 4 of 9 44% 0 1 6:42
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muhammad Naimov 0 10 of 17 58% 17 of 26 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:45
Nathaniel Wood 0 18 of 28 64% 49 of 64 1 of 3 33% 0 1 2:37
2 Muhammad Naimov 0 1 of 1 100% 6 of 6 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:32
Nathaniel Wood 0 11 of 13 84% 30 of 34 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:59
3 Muhammad Naimov 0 39 of 54 72% 47 of 62 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:27
Nathaniel Wood 0 19 of 40 47% 21 of 42 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:06
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muhammad Naimov 50 of 72 69% 37 of 57 6 of 7 7 of 8 36 of 56 5 of 6 9 of 10
Nathaniel Wood 48 of 81 59% 31 of 60 10 of 13 7 of 8 24 of 48 11 of 14 13 of 19
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muhammad Naimov 10 of 17 58% 4 of 10 1 of 2 5 of 5 8 of 15 2 of 2 0 of 0
Nathaniel Wood 18 of 28 64% 13 of 21 3 of 4 2 of 3 6 of 11 5 of 5 7 of 12
2 Muhammad Naimov 1 of 1 100% 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0
Nathaniel Wood 11 of 13 84% 4 of 6 4 of 4 3 of 3 1 of 1 4 of 5 6 of 7
3 Muhammad Naimov 39 of 54 72% 32 of 46 5 of 5 2 of 3 28 of 41 2 of 3 9 of 10
Nathaniel Wood 19 of 40 47% 14 of 33 3 of 5 2 of 2 17 of 36 2 of 4 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Oct 15, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Angelo picks Nathaniel Wood but doesn't love the odds at 3-to-1. He trusts Wood's durability after the war with Andre Fili and his takedown defense. He worries about Naimov's power and the fact that Naimov is untested at 145 with a full camp. Wood is not in any of his parlays, indicating lower confidence.

"Wood's going to be the pick here I I think these less risky spots on this card to bet"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Big Brady picks Nathaniel Wood to win by decision. He highlights Wood's high volume (over 6 significant strikes per minute), solid wrestling, and ability to dictate where the fight takes place. The main concern is Wood's chin, as he has been dropped and finished before, giving Naimov a puncher's chance. However, Brady believes Wood will win a clear 30-27 decision if his durability holds.

decision
"I got to go Nathaniel wood here and I got to take Nathaniel wood to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Cody picks Wood, emphasizing his speed, wrestling, and volume. He notes that Naimov is a one-dimensional power puncher who lost to Colin Anglin. Cody believes Wood's skill set will overwhelm Naimov, but he acknowledges the power threat.

"Nathaniel wood is the pick but he could be the pie fucker"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Oct 19, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Daniel picks Nathaniel Wood to win, acknowledging that Wood is a much better fighter overall but is in a high-risk, low-reward spot against a dangerous opponent. He notes Wood's chin issues and the letdown spot after fighting higher-ranked opponents. He believes Wood should win clearly but warns that Naimov is KO or bust and could catch Wood. He still picks Wood but is cautious.

Wood minus 330, Naimov plus 270; mentions Wood's chin and the letdown spot
"I still think he should clearly win I think he's way better than this guy I think he owns this guy um but yeah n mob's dangerous."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Oct 17, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Wood is the more complete fighter with relevant experience. At featherweight, he doesn't have to cut extra weight and can use his speed and footwork to stay away from Naimov's power. Expects Wood to put on a masterclass from striking to takedowns to Jiu-Jitsu, winning by decision.

"I'm fully expecting would to go out there and put on a master class against naov from his striking to his takedowns to even his Jiu-Jitsu"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Oct 17, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

Paul picks Wood but is hesitant due to Wood's durability issues. He notes that Wood is faster and more skilled, but Naimov has power and could knock him out. Paul expects Wood to win if he avoids big shots, but he is worried about the chin.

Naimov by KO (+600) as a sprinkle
"Wood's the pick just don't love it for the kind of money line you're getting"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 16, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Nathaniel Wood

The MMA Guru picks Nathaniel Wood by late rounds TKO, specifically in the third round. He argues that Wood's technical striking, high guard, and tucked chin will make it difficult for Naimov to land a knockout. He also notes that Wood's shorter stature will help him stuff takedowns and counter Naimov's big shots. He dismisses Naimov's upset win over Jamie Mullarkey because Mullarkey's striking defense was poor.

Wood wins in round 3 by TKO
"I think Nathaniel Wood's going to win this fight I'm going to go by late rounds TKO after n of his swinging and missing quite a bit and landing on the guard I think Nathaniel wood gets this one done …"
TKO (punches) R2 2:59 · UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi · Jun 03, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muhammad Naimov 0 39 of 71 54% 40 of 73 3 of 8 37% 0 0 2:28
Jamie Mullarkey 1 28 of 70 40% 30 of 72 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:01
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muhammad Naimov 0 23 of 45 51% 24 of 46 2 of 6 33% 0 0 1:41
Jamie Mullarkey 0 16 of 35 45% 18 of 37 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
2 Muhammad Naimov 0 16 of 26 61% 16 of 27 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:47
Jamie Mullarkey 1 12 of 35 34% 12 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muhammad Naimov 39 of 71 54% 15 of 43 14 of 18 10 of 10 27 of 56 12 of 14 0 of 1
Jamie Mullarkey 28 of 70 40% 17 of 56 5 of 8 6 of 6 20 of 60 3 of 5 5 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muhammad Naimov 23 of 45 51% 5 of 24 11 of 14 7 of 7 15 of 34 8 of 10 0 of 1
Jamie Mullarkey 16 of 35 45% 7 of 24 4 of 6 5 of 5 13 of 31 3 of 4 0 of 0
2 Muhammad Naimov 16 of 26 61% 10 of 19 3 of 4 3 of 3 12 of 22 4 of 4 0 of 0
Jamie Mullarkey 12 of 35 34% 10 of 32 1 of 2 1 of 1 7 of 29 0 of 1 5 of 5
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jamie Mullarkey

Angelo picks Mullarkey due to short notice for Naimov, but is not touching the odds (-590). He thinks Mullarkey is a jack of all trades and should win, but Naimov is decent and could cause trouble. He notes Mullarkey was preparing for a good striker, so his grappling should be on point. He is not confident enough to bet.

"I do think Jamie Mark is going to win it is short notice but I'm not touching these odds"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jamie Mullarkey

Cody picks Mullarkey, noting his favorable matchup after originally facing a tough wrestler. He highlights Mullarkey's solid cardio, ground game, and power. Cody recalls Naimov's poor Contender Series performance where he was outwrestled and out struck. He thinks Mullarkey's wrestling and durability will be too much for Naimov, even if Naimov has a puncher's chance.

"the pick the 100 Jamie Malarkey minus 400 it's kind of steamed"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jamie Mullarkey

Connor picks Mullarkey, agreeing with the size and short-notice factors. He notes that Naimov's game is based on pocket exchanges and clinch knees, but Mullarkey's toughness and ability to survive should allow him to take over. Connor also points out that Naimov struggles when pressured, and Mullarkey can put his foot on the gas.

Mentions Naimov is on short notice and a natural featherweight.
"I'll take malarkey. I mean, I think there's also the possibility that he does surprise him with a takedown."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jamie Mullarkey

Daniel picks Mullarkey, noting that Naimov is a step up in competition and Mullarkey's experience should carry him. He acknowledges the line is high but thinks Mullarkey can use wrestling to control the fight. He mentions that Naimov showed cardio issues in his Contender Series fight, gassing in the third round.

"I think his experience should probably carry him through this one"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jamie Mullarkey

Jacob picks Mullarkey, believing the path to victory via wrestling is obvious. He thinks Naimov is dangerous with unorthodox striking, but Mullarkey should grapple early and win easily. Jacob notes Mullarkey has more power than people think and is a tough matchup. He is confident Mullarkey wins but acknowledges the odds are too high.

"the path for victory for Jamie Malarkey is just too obvious in my mind"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jamie Mullarkey

Mullarkey is the better overall fighter with a well-rounded game. Naimov is a short-notice debutant with questionable cardio and level of competition. Mullarkey will mix striking and grappling, pull ahead later, and win by decision. The odds are too high (-350), but Mullarkey should win.

over 2.5 rounds
"I think that Malarkey in terms of a prediction is going to be the side I end up going with also the over two and a half I can see a lot of grappling situations"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked May 31, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Jamie Mullarkey

Paul picks Mullarkey confidently despite the high price. He notes Mullarkey's toughness, having been dropped by Michael Johnson and recovered. Paul thinks Mullarkey's wrestling and cardio are superior, and that Naimov's Contender Series performance was unimpressive. He expects Mullarkey to take Naimov down, grind him out, and get a TKO in the second or third round. Paul acknowledges the price is steep but sees Mullarkey as safe.

"Malarkey minus 400 I guess is the pick"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 29, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

The MMA Guru picks Muhammad Naimov, calling this the main event for him. He notes that Jamie Mullarkey looked good in his last win but that Michael Johnson arguably beat him. He believes Naimov is a different level, with a split decision win over Damir Ismagulov and a win over Matteus Gamrot. He thinks Naimov's body kicks will be key, as Mullarkey keeps his guard high, leaving the body open. He predicts Naimov will open up shots to the head after body work.

"I think he does beat Jamie Malarkey because if there's one thing I've noticed about Jamie Malarkey's game..."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Jun 1, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Jamie Mullarkey

Zane picks Mullarkey, citing his size advantage and toughness. He notes that Naimov is a natural featherweight taking the fight on short notice, and his blitzing style may not work against Mullarkey's durability. Zane expects Mullarkey to weather any early storm and take over with his range-based game.

Mentions Naimov is on short notice and a natural featherweight.
"I'm just going to pick Malarkey to be... he's incredibly tough."
Erik Silva - Fight History
Submission R1 2:29 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh · Feb 28, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Erik Silva 0 5 of 9 55% 5 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Francis Marshall 0 3 of 5 60% 10 of 13 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:42
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Erik Silva 0 5 of 9 55% 5 of 9 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Francis Marshall 0 3 of 5 60% 10 of 13 1 of 2 50% 1 0 1:42
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Erik Silva 5 of 9 55% 2 of 6 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Francis Marshall 3 of 5 60% 0 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 3 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Erik Silva 5 of 9 55% 2 of 6 1 of 1 2 of 2 5 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
Francis Marshall 3 of 5 60% 0 of 2 0 of 0 3 of 3 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Francis Marshall vs. Erik Silva
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Marshall (-700); Silva (+500)

Round 1
With three hours to plug through seven prelims, the promotion wastes no time in moving to the next matchup. This one comes at 145 pounds between a pair of gents that could sorely use a victory. Silva (9-3, 0-2 UFC) is winless after two walks to the Octagon, appearing roughly every other year and not building any momentum in the overstuffed division. He meets Marshall (8-3, 2-3 UFC), who was on the wrong end of some of the worst scorecards offered last year. Referee Fernando Salas Navarro receives the assignment, standing back as the athletes touch ‘em up.
Silva says hello with a spinning wheel kick, and Marshall barely gets his guard up in time so as to not get leveled. Marshall has to back off, and Silva spins with a back kick that connects to the body. Marshall pushes off when trying to engage, and his finger jams into Silva’s eye socket. Salas calls time when he recognizes the foul, and he goes to Marshall to tell him to be careful. The Venezuelan takes less than 30 seconds to clear his vision before restarting. Marshall attacks him with looping hooks, using them to close the distance and drop down for a slick double-leg takedown. Silva stands up by wrapping his arm around Marshall’s neck with a guillotine choke, and Marshall mat returns him and even briefly threatens with a Von Preux shoulder choke. Silva turns to his side to try to buck off, but Marshall in half guard keeps him stuck. Marshall settles for smacking Silva around with a few strikes before lowering himself down to pursue an arm-triangle choke, and Silva’s bucking and wriggling keeps him safe for the time being.
Marshall is able to pass to mount, and when Silva turns his back, Marshall immediately snatches up a rear-naked choke. Switching his grip to one of a more brute-force variety, “Fire” Marshall does not even go palm-to-palm as he crushes Silva’s larynx and carotid artery. Silva posts off his left arm and does not fight the grip, instead just biding time before he inevitably taps out.
This speedy finish justifies the massive odds in Marshall’s favor, with this leg in most of your parlays hitting with style points.

The Official Result
Francis Marshall def. Erik Silva R1 2:29 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Francis Marshall

Angelo picks Francis Marshall because he is younger, faster, and a better wrestler than Erik Silva. He notes that both fighters have similar game plans, but Marshall's youth and wrestling advantage give him the edge. He expects Marshall to win everywhere in the fight.

"Super easy pick right out of the gate. We're going to go Francis Marshall here. I think he's better than Eric Silva literally everywhere."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Francis Marshall

Big Brady is very confident in Francis Marshall, calling Erik Silva one of the worst fighters on the UFC roster. He notes Marshall was robbed in his last fight against Marian Santos and is facing a massive step down in competition. Brady highlights Silva's poor cardio, especially in elevation, and Marshall's striking power. He predicts a second-round knockout.

second round knockout
"So, yeah, give me Francis Marshall here. ... I think Marshall's going to put it on him and I think he's going to knock out Silva on the feed. ... Give me Francis Marshall to win this fight by a …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Francis Marshall

Cody agrees, highlighting Marshall's wrestling and striking advantages. He notes Silva's only path is an early submission, but Marshall's wrestling should neutralize that. He expects Marshall to get back in the win column.

"Marshall's going to get cut if he doesn't pick up a victory here. And this is prime."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Francis Marshall

Connor picks Marshall, noting that Silva has no good sense of position and will get run into the cage. Marshall's high energy and scrambling should win out. Silva is 38 and has never developed a complete MMA game.

Same odds commentary as Zane.
"Yeah, Marshall, you know, he's got some problems with the need to do everything and getting sort of being able to be out technique anywhere, but he's a high hustle fighter."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert picked Feb 20, 2024 (739 days before fight)

Daniel does not discuss this fight in the transcript.

DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Hesitant picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)
Erik Silva

The host believes Francis Marshall is the clear better fighter but the odds are too wide to bet on him at -776. He suggests that if you must bet this fight, Erik Silva is the only option because Marshall's implied probability of 89% is too high. However, he notes Silva is not particularly dangerous, has been inactive for two years, and is 38 years old, making it a very bad bet.

"If you do want to bet this fight, you do have to take Mr. Eric Silva because there's no way you can bet Marshall at an implied probability of 89%. But just know it's a very, very bad bet."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Francis Marshall

James favors Marshall due to his youth, wrestling, and improvement, while Silva is older and coming off injury. He predicts Marshall will dominate on the ground and finish via submission or ground and pound.

"Franc's Marshall via submission in round one or round two is going to be my official prediction."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Francis Marshall

The host picks Francis Marshall, noting that Marshall is young (26) and improving, while Silva is 39 and coming off a long layoff and injury. He believes Marshall's grappling defense and superior striking will lead to a finish, possibly by knockout or submission in rounds 2 or 3. He is comfortable parlaying Marshall despite the -700 price.

"I think it's pretty obvious that Marshall being at minus 700 kind of deserves that price tag."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Feb 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Francis Marshall

Paul expects Marshall to dominate, citing his youth, wrestling, and recent improvements. He notes Silva's age, layoff, and submission-heavy style that likely won't work against Marshall. He sees Marshall as a safe pick.

"I think Francis Marshall absolutely wrecks this guy."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 28, 2026 (fight day)
Francis Marshall

The MMA Guru picks Francis Marshall, noting that Marshall has had close fights with tough opponents like Mayra Santos and William Gomis, while Erik Silva has not been tested against quality competition. He believes Marshall's experience and ability to go the distance with better fighters gives him the edge, and he predicts a submission win.

submission
"I'm going to say that Francis Marshall gets this one done. And I think he submits Eric Silva as well."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Francis Marshall

Zane picks Marshall because he is a high-hustle fighter who will outwork Silva over the long haul. Silva is 38, has no positional sense, and his disparate skills don't form a cohesive MMA game. Marshall's aggression and scrambling should overwhelm Silva.

Marshall opened at -450, now -725; Silva opened at +350, now +525.
"Marshall is aggressive. He is going to run him into a corner very quickly."
LOSS vs Muhammad Naimov
TKO (leg injury) R1 0:44 · UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 · Feb 24, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Muhammad Naimov 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Erik Silva 0 1 of 2 50% 3 of 4 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:11
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Muhammad Naimov 0 0 of 1 0% 0 of 1 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
Erik Silva 0 1 of 2 50% 3 of 4 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:11
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Muhammad Naimov 0 of 1 0% 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Erik Silva 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Muhammad Naimov 0 of 1 0% 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
Erik Silva 1 of 2 50% 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Angelo picks Naimov as the more well-rounded and dangerous fighter, citing his power and wrestling ability. He notes that Naimov benefited from fouls in his last fight but still believes he should win. He mentions waiting for prop bets on round lines but is confident Naimov gets the job done.

waiting for prop bets on round lines
"naimov is going to be the pick I would say medium level confidence here I'm probably going to wait for some prop bets to see what the round lines look like"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Big Brady picks Muhammad Naimov to win by TKO in the second round. He notes that Naimov came into the UFC on short notice and pulled off a big upset against Jamie Mullarkey, then beat Nathaniel Wood. He criticizes Erik Silva's performance against TJ Brown, saying Silva gassed out in five minutes and makes mistakes on the ground. Brady believes Naimov can hang in grappling early but will break Silva as the fight goes on due to Silva's poor cardio.

Naimov wins by TKO in round 2
"give me nof here I'll take nof to break Eric Silva in the second round via TKO"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Cody picks Silva as a PRP pick, noting Naimov's suspect cardio, wrestling, and striking. He thinks Silva can wrestle and take Naimov down, holding him for two rounds. He acknowledges Silva may gas but Naimov will too. He sees value at the plus price and is fading Naimov.

"I fade him and I put Eric Silva as a PRP pick"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

The host acknowledges the heavy betting line on Naimov (close to -600) but believes Naimov's pure wrestling advantage and aggressive style will overcome any altitude concerns. He expects Naimov to out-grind Silva, who is an early finisher but will be overwhelmed by Naimov's pressure.

Heavy favorite at close to -600
"I don't understand all the heavy love that's coming in on naov pushing him up to a close minus 600 favorite sure he'll have the pure wrestling advantage in this matchup but you got to wonder what the elevation and …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Paul does not make a clear pick for this fight. He calls it a dog-or-pass situation, noting Naimov's suspect cardio and Silva's wrestling but also Silva's age and submission losses. He is not interested in parlaying Naimov and doesn't commit to either side.

"it's a pretty clear dogger pass I'm not interested in parlaying Mohamed naov"
LOSS vs T.J. Brown
Submission (arm-triangle choke) R3 3:41 · UFC 282: Blachowicz vs. Ankalaev · Dec 10, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
T.J. Brown 0 24 of 38 63% 82 of 109 2 of 7 28% 1 2 9:43
Erik Silva 0 21 of 29 72% 32 of 42 3 of 4 75% 0 1 2:35
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 T.J. Brown 0 10 of 14 71% 21 of 29 1 of 6 16% 0 1 3:01
Erik Silva 0 9 of 11 81% 14 of 17 2 of 2 100% 0 1 1:35
2 T.J. Brown 0 7 of 14 50% 36 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 1 3:14
Erik Silva 0 10 of 15 66% 14 of 20 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:00
3 T.J. Brown 0 7 of 10 70% 25 of 31 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:28
Erik Silva 0 2 of 3 66% 4 of 5 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
T.J. Brown 24 of 38 63% 20 of 33 4 of 5 0 of 0 13 of 25 6 of 7 5 of 6
Erik Silva 21 of 29 72% 12 of 19 6 of 7 3 of 3 13 of 20 7 of 7 1 of 2
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 T.J. Brown 10 of 14 71% 8 of 11 2 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 8 5 of 6 0 of 0
Erik Silva 9 of 11 81% 5 of 7 3 of 3 1 of 1 3 of 5 6 of 6 0 of 0
2 T.J. Brown 7 of 14 50% 6 of 13 1 of 1 0 of 0 7 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
Erik Silva 10 of 15 66% 6 of 10 2 of 3 2 of 2 9 of 13 0 of 0 1 of 2
3 T.J. Brown 7 of 10 70% 6 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 1 of 1 5 of 6
Erik Silva 2 of 3 66% 1 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Dec 4, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Angelo picks Erik Silva because he believes Silva's grappling pressure and control will be too much for T.J. Brown. He notes that Brown has poor takedown defense (41%) and makes poor decisions in fights, creating scrambles he can't win. Silva is an aggressive grappler who marches forward and looks to get the fight to the ground, where he controls opponents. Angelo expects Silva to bully Brown and win via control.

"I like Eric to bully in this fight I like him to get it to the ground and I like him to control his way to a win"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Dec 7, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Big Brady picks Erik Silva, citing Silva's impressive grappling and ground-and-pound, while criticizing T.J. Brown's poor fight IQ and lackluster performances. He notes Silva has faced weaker competition but Brown has been knocked out and submitted multiple times. He expects Silva to catch Brown in a submission in the second round, but admits he is not very confident.

Silva wins by second round submission
"I gotta go Silva here um I like the grappling of silver the ground a pound of Silva TJ Brown's been knocked out three times he's been submitted three times I think Silva eventually catches him in something in the …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Dec 7, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Cody leans Silva, citing his explosiveness and power. He notes Brown's cardio and durability issues, and that Brown may tire himself out with takedowns. He thinks Silva can exploit Brown's low hands and lack of head movement. He suggests under 1.5 rounds as a prop.

Under 1.5 rounds (+145)
"I'll probably get some of this like plus 145 to the under one and a half I'll pick Silva"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Dec 6, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Daniel Levi picks Erik Silva, despite Silva's untested competition. He criticizes T.J. Brown for being prone to getting dropped and submitted, calling him 'not the brightest.' Levi likes Silva's size, ground-and-pound, elbows, and kicks. He notes Silva has been past the first round before. While he wishes he knew more about Silva, he trusts him over Brown, who he says will likely get dropped and choked out.

"I think TJ Brown's gonna do good and then he's gonna get dropped and choked out so I'm gonna go with Eric Silver to win this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Dec 9, 2022 (1 day before fight)
T.J. Brown

Lock favors T.J. Brown because he is more proven and represents a step up in competition for Erik Silva. He notes that Silva has only finishes on his regional record but may falter against decent competition, showing cardio issues or being unable to handle being the nail instead of the hammer. Lock does not have a bet on it himself, as he doesn't see Brown as super reliable, but from a narrative and PredictionStrike perspective, he thinks Brown has the edge.

"I like the TJ Brown side here I don't have a bet on it I don't want to bet it myself like I've never really seen TJ Brown as a super reliable fighter but just taking The Narrative of him …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Dec 7, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Paul leans Silva, noting Brown's inconsistency and the turmoil at Glory MMA. He thinks Silva's power and explosiveness could be the difference, but acknowledges it's a coin flip. He is not confident and considers it a pass for now.

"I'm gonna just uh it's basically a pass for now but I'm gonna lean towards Silva"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 5, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Erik Silva

The MMA Guru picks Erik Silva over T.J. Brown, arguing that Silva is a step above bottom-level UFC featherweights and has shown good potential. He criticizes Brown for only beating very low-level opponents and barely scraping by, while Silva is more experienced and has a good record. He predicts a decision win for Silva.

"I'm gonna go Eric still for getting this one done I think he's going to beat TJ Brown up"
Expert Picks (5)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Feb 18, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Angelo picks Naimov as the more well-rounded and dangerous fighter, citing his power and wrestling ability. He notes that Naimov benefited from fouls in his last fight but still believes he should win. He mentions waiting for prop bets on round lines but is confident Naimov gets the job done.

waiting for prop bets on round lines
"naimov is going to be the pick I would say medium level confidence here I'm probably going to wait for some prop bets to see what the round lines look like"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 19, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

Big Brady picks Muhammad Naimov to win by TKO in the second round. He notes that Naimov came into the UFC on short notice and pulled off a big upset against Jamie Mullarkey, then beat Nathaniel Wood. He criticizes Erik Silva's performance against TJ Brown, saying Silva gassed out in five minutes and makes mistakes on the ground. Brady believes Naimov can hang in grappling early but will break Silva as the fight goes on due to Silva's poor cardio.

Naimov wins by TKO in round 2
"give me nof here I'll take nof to break Eric Silva in the second round via TKO"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Erik Silva

Cody picks Silva as a PRP pick, noting Naimov's suspect cardio, wrestling, and striking. He thinks Silva can wrestle and take Naimov down, holding him for two rounds. He acknowledges Silva may gas but Naimov will too. He sees value at the plus price and is fading Naimov.

"I fade him and I put Eric Silva as a PRP pick"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 22, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Muhammad Naimov

The host acknowledges the heavy betting line on Naimov (close to -600) but believes Naimov's pure wrestling advantage and aggressive style will overcome any altitude concerns. He expects Naimov to out-grind Silva, who is an early finisher but will be overwhelmed by Naimov's pressure.

Heavy favorite at close to -600
"I don't understand all the heavy love that's coming in on naov pushing him up to a close minus 600 favorite sure he'll have the pure wrestling advantage in this matchup but you got to wonder what the elevation and altitude will do to a guy that utilizes such a …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked Feb 21, 2024 (3 days before fight)
No clear pick

Paul does not make a clear pick for this fight. He calls it a dog-or-pass situation, noting Naimov's suspect cardio and Silva's wrestling but also Silva's age and submission losses. He is not interested in parlaying Naimov and doesn't commit to either side.

"it's a pretty clear dogger pass I'm not interested in parlaying Mohamed naov"