Career Averages - Raquel Pennington
Career Averages - Mayra Bueno Silva
Raquel Pennington
Mayra Bueno Silva
Raquel Pennington - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julianna Peña | 1 | 92 of 317 | 29% | 112 of 345 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:33 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 92 of 260 | 35% | 123 of 308 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 5:40 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julianna Peña | 0 | 17 of 60 | 28% | 17 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 25 of 59 | 42% | 25 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Julianna Peña | 0 | 6 of 24 | 25% | 23 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 6 of 16 | 37% | 18 of 34 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:00 | |
| 3 | Julianna Peña | 0 | 8 of 34 | 23% | 11 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 18 of 33 | 54% | 35 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 2:20 | |
| 4 | Julianna Peña | 1 | 26 of 84 | 30% | 26 of 84 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 16 of 67 | 23% | 18 of 76 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:20 | |
| 5 | Julianna Peña | 0 | 35 of 115 | 30% | 35 of 115 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 27 of 85 | 31% | 27 of 86 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julianna Peña | 92 of 317 | 29% | 57 of 277 | 29 of 33 | 6 of 7 | 88 of 308 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 3 |
| Raquel Pennington | 92 of 260 | 35% | 82 of 248 | 9 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 90 of 256 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julianna Peña | 17 of 60 | 28% | 12 of 53 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 17 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raquel Pennington | 25 of 59 | 42% | 24 of 58 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 25 of 59 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Julianna Peña | 6 of 24 | 25% | 2 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 21 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Raquel Pennington | 6 of 16 | 37% | 6 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Julianna Peña | 8 of 34 | 23% | 5 of 31 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raquel Pennington | 18 of 33 | 54% | 14 of 28 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 31 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Julianna Peña | 26 of 84 | 30% | 12 of 69 | 12 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 25 of 80 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 3 |
| Raquel Pennington | 16 of 67 | 23% | 14 of 65 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 67 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Julianna Peña | 35 of 115 | 30% | 26 of 105 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 34 of 113 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Raquel Pennington | 27 of 85 | 31% | 24 of 81 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 27 of 84 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Raquel Pennington to win by grinding against the cage, using her technical striking and control. He notes Julianna Peña is coming off a two-year layoff and a severe beating, which often leads to poor performances. He believes Pennington's durability and preparation at elevation will be key, and that Peña's chaotic style won't be enough. He also mentions that Pennington's wife Tisha Torres fights earlier, which could affect her mentally if Tisha loses.
Big Brady picks Raquel Pennington, citing her recent activity and impressive wins over Macy Chiasson, Ketlen Vieira, and Mayra Bueno Silva. He notes Peña has been inactive for two years and lost to Amanda Nunes. He believes Pennington is the better striker and has strong clinch work, and expects her to win a decision.
Cody picks Pennington due to Peña's two-year layoff, age, and tendency to fatigue. He highlights Pennington's durability, volume striking, and ability to fight five rounds. He expects Pennington to pressure Peña against the cage and win a decision.
Connor picks Pennington, but hesitantly. He thinks Pennington's crafty boxing and durability will allow her to survive Peña's initial onslaught and win rounds in the clinch. He notes that Pennington is comfortable in long clinches and can land knees and front headlock chokes. However, he acknowledges Peña's athleticism and aggression make it a tough fight.
Daniel Vreeland leans toward Raquel Pennington, citing her superior boxing and clinch work. He believes Pennington can keep the fight standing and piece up Peña, possibly even choking her out if Peña shoots a sloppy takedown. He is not confident in Peña's evolution since her loss to Amanda Nunes and thinks Pennington's takedown defense will be key.
Daniel Vreeland picks Raquel Pennington. He cites multiple factors: Pennington trains at elevation and has amazing cardio, while Peña has not fought since July 2022 and has a history of poor preparation for elevation. Vreeland notes that Pennington's style is exhausting to fight, as seen in her win over Mayra Bueno Silva. He also points out that Pennington's boxing looked good in her last fight, while Peña's boxing looked terrible with wild swings. He believes Pennington will grind out a win, likely by decision or late TKO.
Jeff Fox picks Raquel Pennington. He agrees with Vreeland on the elevation advantage and Peña's layoff. He notes that Pennington is a tough out, especially if Peña doesn't properly prepare. Fox thinks Pennington will grind out a win, though it may not be pretty.
The host thinks Peña is the overall better fighter and that her wrestling advantage will nullify Pennington's game. He believes people are overlooking Peña due to her loss to Amanda Nunes, but notes Pennington is nowhere near Nunes's level. He expects Peña to lean on her wrestling and grappling and open up a submission opportunity within 10 to 15 minutes.
Paul agrees with Cody, citing Peña's two-year layoff and Pennington's cardio advantage. He notes Pennington's recent procedure as a minor concern but believes her durability and wrestling will carry her to a decision win.
The MMA Guru picks Raquel Pennington over Julianna Peña, citing Peña's long layoff (over two years) and inactivity. He notes Pennington trains at altitude and has a cage control game. He acknowledges Peña's win over Nunes but questions her deserving a title shot. He is not confident, calling it a tough pick, but goes with Pennington due to Peña's ring rust.
Zane picks Peña, arguing that Pennington is slow-footed and will get stuck on the cage, allowing Peña to impose her physicality and wrestling. He believes Peña's aggression and strength will overwhelm Pennington, despite Pennington's improved boxing and durability. Zane thinks Peña will win the belt and set up a fight with Kayla Harrison.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 134 of 201 | 66% | 265 of 342 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 2 | 2 | 11:28 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 69 of 88 | 78% | 96 of 118 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 3 | 0 | 8:58 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 11 of 22 | 50% | 26 of 39 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 18 of 22 | 81% | 27 of 31 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:20 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 33 of 52 | 63% | 47 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:04 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 20 of 30 | 66% | 29 of 41 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2:46 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 27 of 43 | 62% | 52 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:32 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 17 of 20 | 85% | 20 of 23 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:35 | |
| 4 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 29 of 38 | 76% | 75 of 86 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 3:17 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 7 of 8 | 87% | 8 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:11 | |
| 5 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 34 of 46 | 73% | 65 of 83 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 0 | 4:19 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 7 of 8 | 87% | 12 of 13 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 134 of 201 | 66% | 91 of 156 | 32 of 34 | 11 of 11 | 54 of 110 | 38 of 43 | 42 of 48 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 69 of 88 | 78% | 32 of 44 | 26 of 30 | 11 of 14 | 28 of 45 | 38 of 40 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 11 of 22 | 50% | 7 of 18 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 19 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 18 of 22 | 81% | 11 of 13 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 11 | 10 of 10 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 33 of 52 | 63% | 29 of 47 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 23 of 40 | 10 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 20 of 30 | 66% | 7 of 14 | 10 of 11 | 3 of 5 | 7 of 16 | 12 of 13 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 27 of 43 | 62% | 13 of 28 | 12 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 23 | 14 of 16 | 4 of 4 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 17 of 20 | 85% | 6 of 8 | 9 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 6 | 13 of 14 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Raquel Pennington | 29 of 38 | 76% | 22 of 31 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 11 | 5 of 5 | 19 of 22 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 7 of 8 | 87% | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Raquel Pennington | 34 of 46 | 73% | 20 of 32 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 9 | 8 of 17 | 7 of 7 | 19 of 22 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 7 of 8 | 87% | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bueno Silva (-170), Pennington (+142)
Round 1
The post-Amanda Nunes era at bantamweight truly begins, as eternal contender Pennington and the red-hot Bueno Silva meet to contest the belt vacated last year by the “Lioness,” who in a nice touch by the UFC is in attendance cageside with her family. Canada’s own Jerin Valel draws the referee assignment for this five-round title fight. Both fighters are in orthodox stance to open the fight. Bueno Silva throws a leg kick that glances, and Pennington rushes forward with a flurry of punches, backing the Brazilian up. Bueno Silva touches Pennington’s lead leg with a solid low kick. They engage again, and Pennington grabs hold of Bueno Silva and shoves her to the fence. Bueno Silva clasps her arms as Pennington throws a few short strikes. Bueno Silva breaks the clinch, and lands another hard calf kick. Pennington grabs a single-leg and tries to take Bueno Silva down, but Bueno Silva defends easily. Pennington goes for another quick single moments later, and they move to the fence. Bueno Silva takes Pennington’s back as she drags her to the canvas and quickly locks up a choke. Pennington fights the hands expertly, standing as she does so. Pennington breaks the grip to the point that she feels safe throwing elbow strikes to the thigh of Bueno Silva. Bueno Silva gives up on the choke and briefly loses back control as Pennington scrapes her against the chain-link, but hops back on her back and pulls her to a sitting position against the fence. She throws strikes from seated back control until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Bueno Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bueno Silva
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Bueno Silva
Round 2
Pennington comes forward with a triple jab, backing Bueno Silva up and dodging the first calf kick that comes her way. Bueno Silva throws another calf kick, backing Pennington to the fence as she does so, then uses underhooks to keep her there. Pennington throws knee up the middle, then another, and switches her hooks to reverse Bueno Silva against the fence. She lets Bueno Silva off the fence and tags her with three punches as she does so. Bueno Silva comes back with a single counter, but it’s a solid one. Bueno Silva clinches and puts Pennington back on the fence. They exchange knee strikes in close quarters. Bueno Silva tags Pennington with a pair of uppercuts to the body, and Pennington comes back across the top with a big punch to the head that rocks her. They get a little space and Pennington hits her with two more good shots to the head. Bueno Silva is hurt and goes staggering back to the fence. Pennington gives chase but ends up clinching, without enough space to follow up with more big shots. They disengage and fight a running battle all the way back across the cage, where Bueno Silva takes Pennington’s back once again and tries for the rear-naked choke. Pennington calmly defends, but again she is standing with Bueno Silva in back control. Bueno Silva loses the choke moments before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Round 3
Pennington scores first with a long overhand right. Bueno Silva lands two good right low kicks in succession. Pennington clinches and runs Bueno Silva to the fence, where the Brazilian promptly reverses her. Bueno Silva pushes her into the chain-link, looking to move to her back, but Pennington defends well and throws a knee to the body. Pennington takes the outside position. Bueno Silva uses a whizzer kick to toss Pennington to the ground, but Pennington kicks her off and sweeps to stand. Halfway through the round it’s Pennington driving Bueno Silva into the cage. Bueno Silva throws a knee to the body then reverses Pennington into the fence. The two would-be champs spend several long moments exchanging sporadic knees on the inside. Bueno Silva grabs a front headlock and briefly threatens, but Pennington escapes and tosses her to the canvas, ending up on top in half guard with an arm around the neck. Pennington gets up and Bueno Silva stays on the ground, suddenly looking very tired. She seems to want Pennington to go back into her guard, but Pennington is having none of it and Valel waves her up. The round expires a few moments later.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Round 4
Pennington steps right in a smashes Bueno Silva with a right overhand. She throws another pair of punches as Bueno Silva comes forward, looking for the clinch. Pennington quickly reverses her against the cage, but elects to stay there, throwing short punches—rather than disengage as her corner is loudly imploring her to do. Bueno Silva moves to try and take Pennington’s back against the cage. Pennington defends for a moment, but Bueno Silva persists and gets the position, then slaps on another rear-naked choke. It isn’t completely under the chin, and Pennington is turning red as she fights it off. She shrugs Bueno Silva partway off her back, but Bueno Silva continues to threaten with the choke even from the side. Finally, Pennington spins all the way into Bueno Silva’s guard at the base of the fence. She throws strikes as Bueno Silva throws her legs up for a possible triangle or armbar, but none of them are enough to really threaten, and Pennington keeps pouring on the punches and hammerfists. At the 30-second mark, Pennington postures up and comes down with a big hammerfist that draws a reaction from the Brazilian. The round ends a moment later, and Bueno Silva is slow to get up.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Round 5
Pennington is first off the blocks with a left and right hook. Bueno Silva swings back, advancing as she does so. Pennington seems motivated to deny her the clinch, especially against the cage, but Bueno Silva manages to get her there anyway. Bueno Silva tries for some kind of body lock, but bails on it and goes for a kneebar on her way down. There’s nothing doing there, and Pennington lands on top, sliding to mount as she locks up an arm-triangle choke. Bueno Silva is surviving just fine, as Pennington is in complete control of the position but apparently can’t get enough torque to finish the choke. Pennington moves out to one side without completely surrendering the mount, and Bueno Silva is slowly turning away from her. A minute and a half to go, and Pennington gives up the choke, settling in Bueno Silva’s half guard. Pennington pours on the punches as Bueno Silva clings to her, eyes closed, just hanging on. Valel looks on and Pennington stands out of guard, throwing kicks to the legs of her supine foe. Pennington dives in with a couple of big, but glancing punches right before the final horn. Barring a historically horrible judging gaffe, “Rocky” should be your new UFC women's bantamweight champion in about two minutes here.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Pennington (49-45 Pennington)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pennington (49-46 Pennington)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pennington (49-46 Pennington)
The Official Result
Raquel Pennington def. Mayra Bueno Silva via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45)
Angelo picks Pennington, citing her experience, pressure, and control style. He acknowledges Bueno Silva's power and submissions but believes Pennington's grit and high-level experience will prevail. He has a quarter unit on Pennington at plus 135 and will monitor for better value. He notes the potential distraction of Pennington's eight-month-old baby.
Big Brady picks Silva, noting her submission skills are top-notch. He expects the fight to hit the mat at some point, where Silva will have the advantage. He thinks the striking will be close but Silva's forward pressure and durability will be key. He predicts a submission win for Silva.
Cody picks Bueno Silva but is not confident, citing her submission threat and the fact that Pennington fights in the clinch where Silva caught Holly Holm. However, he worries about Silva's cardio and the lack of her ADHD medication (ritalinic acid) in a five-round fight. He sees Pennington as a live underdog but ultimately goes with Silva.
Vreeland picks Bueno Silva, analyzing her striking success against Holly Holm. He notes that Silva found the range against Holm and landed impactful strikes. He contrasts Pennington's lack of range kicks and long fighting style, which should allow Silva to close distance. Vreeland also mentions Silva's submission threat if Pennington shoots takedowns. He sees Silva overwhelming Pennington on the feet.
Daniel Vreeland picks Mayra Bueno Silva to become the new bantamweight champion. He highlights her heavy power, devastating leg kicks, and finishing instinct, including the ninja choke. He expects her calf kicks to be effective against Pennington's stationary boxing style, and believes she will land the harder shots throughout the fight, possibly finishing or winning a decision.
Fox picks Bueno Silva as the better fighter, but acknowledges Pennington's tendency to win. He notes Pennington's year-long layoff as a concern. Fox doesn't provide detailed technical analysis but defers to Silva's overall skill advantage.
This fight is not discussed in the transcript. The host only covers the main event, co-main event (Weili Zhang vs Tatiana Suarez), and other fights, but not Pennington vs Bueno Silva.
I'm leaning on Bueno Silva to win inside the distance, likely by submission. Pennington could be the busier fighter and win rounds with volume, but Bueno Silva has a finish-heavy style that can break and frustrate Pennington. I think Bueno Silva lands a shot that opens up a clinch and sub opportunity. I'm not taking the moneyline at -155; I prefer the inside distance prop. I'd be very surprised if Pennington finishes Bueno Silva.
Paul picks Pennington, emphasizing her experience in five-round fights, superior cardio, and wrestling. He notes Bueno Silva's submission threat but believes Pennington can avoid submissions and take over in later rounds. He also jokes about Silva missing her ADHD medication affecting her focus.
The MMA Guru picks Mayra Bueno Silva, citing her higher finishing potential and submission ability. He notes her win over Holly Holm (though overturned) and her competitive fight with Manon Fiorot. He believes she will submit Pennington with a knee bar in round two.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 64 of 152 | 42% | 138 of 230 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 4:45 |
| Ketlen Vieira | 0 | 81 of 159 | 50% | 104 of 184 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 23 of 71 | 32% | 29 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Ketlen Vieira | 0 | 27 of 58 | 46% | 27 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 21 of 51 | 41% | 42 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:28 |
| Ketlen Vieira | 0 | 29 of 61 | 47% | 32 of 64 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:37 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 20 of 30 | 66% | 67 of 80 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:04 |
| Ketlen Vieira | 0 | 25 of 40 | 62% | 45 of 62 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:41 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 64 of 152 | 42% | 41 of 122 | 5 of 10 | 18 of 20 | 56 of 143 | 8 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Ketlen Vieira | 81 of 159 | 50% | 37 of 111 | 32 of 35 | 12 of 13 | 59 of 134 | 22 of 25 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 23 of 71 | 32% | 15 of 58 | 3 of 7 | 5 of 6 | 21 of 69 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Ketlen Vieira | 27 of 58 | 46% | 14 of 44 | 9 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 24 of 54 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 21 of 51 | 41% | 10 of 39 | 2 of 3 | 9 of 9 | 19 of 48 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Ketlen Vieira | 29 of 61 | 47% | 14 of 43 | 11 of 14 | 4 of 4 | 21 of 51 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 20 of 30 | 66% | 16 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 | 16 of 26 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Ketlen Vieira | 25 of 40 | 62% | 9 of 24 | 12 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 14 of 29 | 11 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Vieira (-115), Pennington (-105)
Round 1
In terms of pure rankings, no fight on the billing is more relevant than this fight that is not on the marquee. This women’s bantamweight pairing, one pitting the second-ranked Vieira (13-2, 7-2 UFC) against the no. 5 Pennington (14-8, 11-5 UFC), could have immediate title implications depending on how it plays out. One woman will take her first defeat in quite some time, and referee Chris Tognoni will be the first to know who that is. The ladies sportingly clap hands ahead of their important fight, and they are jittery and not ready to engage. At the 20-second mark, Pennington leaps forward with a superwoman punch, and Vieira backs her off with a solid right hand in response. Vieira walks through a low kick on the inside and a jab to the body so that she can swing a swatting left hook, but this misses the mark. The Brazilian whiffs on a big right as well, prompting Pennington to charge in with a stream of jabs. Vieira parries two looping strikes to catch “Rocky” with a short right hand on the way in. Pennington appears no worse for wear as she goes for another kick on the inside of the knee, and she ducks back when a big left hook whizzes past her face. Vieira grabs a charging Pennington to knee her right in the chest, and she sends her backpedaling with a clean right hand across the bow. Pennington slams her shin on the low calf of her opponent, and she fakes a second to draw an exaggerated reaction out of the Brazilian. Vieira snipes with a left hand to open a cut on the top of Pennington’s forehead, and she chains together a combination of punches and a low kick to keep Pennington guessing. Vieira absorbs a kick to the ribs as she closes the distance, and she reaches her foe with a left hook in a short salvo. Vieira paws out a trio of low kicks before lunging with a straight punch to the body, and Pennington answers with a similar punch before swinging a left hand at her. Vieira lands at the end of her left hook, and another superwoman punch from Pennington allows her to close the distance and tie the Brazilian up to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vieira
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Vieira
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Vieira
Round 2
The bantamweight contenders touch hands before re-engaging, and engage they do almost immediately, when Pennington coming out firing. Vieira answers with a counter left hook, as she measures this strike to draw ever closer to the mark. Vieira takes one on the chin to throw back two, and she has a handful of punches ricochet off the guard. Pennington connects with a heavy one-two, and Vieira blinks it out but cannot keep an advancing Pennington off of her. “Rocky” grabs hold of Vieira from behind, where she considers elevating the Brazilian to drop her on the mat, or otherwise force Vieira to carry her body weight. Vieira gets warned for bragging the fence, and she turns back around in the clinch and belts Pennington in the face with a stern elbow. Vieira opens up with a one-two, and she starts slugging it out with her opponent and gets marked up as well. The right side of Pennington’s face is growingly covered in blood, while Vieira’s mouth is also turning a brilliant shade of scarlet. Vieira spins Pennington around, and a knee from the former title challenger slams square into Vieira’s groin. Tognoni recognizes the foul as Vieira appears in clear pain, and the action is paused for about 45 seconds until they get back to it. Pennington starts off the initial aggressor, slinging a high kick and a few lancing punches while Vieira throws back in volume. Vieira gets off with a right hand, and Pennington replies in kind to snap the head back. Pennington nails her with another right over the top before latching on to the clinch and clubbing the body with a pair of knees. Pennington checks the clock when pinned to the fence – it reads about 58 seconds – and she tries with all her might to break off. When she cannot get out of the clinch, she settles for knee after unanswered knee to the chest and midsection. Vieira is sticking to her tightly without striking back, and Pennington remains the busier of the two with body shots. Vieira slithers around to the back with seconds to spare, and there is nothing to be had before the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Round 3
The ladies double touch hands, hug and then bump fists again to start the last round. They immediately go for broke, with Pennington not wasting any time engaging and throwing hands. Pennington cracks Vieira with a superwoman punch, and Vieira answers with several speedy punches in response. The two close the distance and end up tied up, with Vieira pushing the former title challenger against the wall. Pennington grinds her elbow on the chin as Vieira stays close enough to not take many knees as she did the end of the last round. When Pennington sets up a Thai plum, Vieira disengages. Vieira resets and dings Pennington with a right hand, stringing together a few strikes before Pennington closes in to grab hold of her. They trade short single punches up close, and both try to attempt a throw or toss to change position. When neither succeed, Vieira spins her around in the tie-up, and Pennington looks for a Thai clinch again. This time, Pennington is able to score a knee before they separate, and Vieira leaps forward suddenly with a crushing elbow. Pennington takes it cleanly and tries to escape, so Vieira follows her and nails her with another before snagging here again up close. Vieira targets elbows, and Pennington rips the body with a knee. When in the clinch, Vieira slips around to nearly take the back, and she knees the thigh while Pennington punches her from over her own shoulder. Vieira looks to elevate Pennington, but she cannot throw her as Pennington’s base is too solid. Vieira stays clung to her adversary right to the bitter end, and the judges have their hands full with this one.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vieira (29-28 Vieira)
Keith Shillan scores the round: 10-9 Vieira (29-28 Vieira)
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Vieira (29-28 Vieira)
The Official Result
Raquel Pennington def. Ketlen Vieira via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Angelo picks Vieira, citing her size, power, and Judo. He thinks she will be busier in the clinch and work off the cage, making Pennington look boring. He acknowledges Pennington's toughness but believes Vieira's recent win over Holly Holm and physical advantages will secure a decision. He is willing to bet on her.
Big Brady picks Ketlen Vieira but is not confident, calling it his least favorite fight on the card. He sees Vieira having a grappling advantage if she gets on top, but notes she often does nothing with control time, as seen in fights against Yana Kunitskaya and Holly Holm. He also acknowledges Pennington's clinch work and ability to push Vieira against the cage. He predicts a close, ugly decision that judges might get wrong, and he will not bet on the fight.
Cody leans slightly towards Pennington, noting her striking output against Aspen Ladd and potential bulldog choke. He sees it as a close fight and prefers to bet it live after seeing who is stronger in the clinch.
Connor picks Vieira because she is physically stronger and more powerful, and has a wrestling advantage that can neutralize Pennington's boxing. He notes that Pennington often gets taken down at least once per fight, and Vieira's clinch work and top control can sway judges. Connor also mentions that Vieira showed renewed confidence against Holly Holm, throwing off her back foot and in clinches.
Connor also picks Vieira, agreeing that she has improved and has more options. He notes that Pennington has power and patience, which could create opportunities, but Vieira's grappling and overall game should prevail. Connor mentions that Pennington has made herself interesting but Vieira is the better fighter.
Jacob picks Pennington, calling Vieira overrated and Pennington underrated. He argues Pennington's recent wins are more impressive and she is the better overall fighter. He notes Vieira's split decision losses and that Pennington's clinch control and striking looked sharp. He is confident enough to bet $100 against Angelo.
Paul leans towards Vieira, citing her size and recent five-round experience. He expects a clinch-heavy fight and thinks Vieira may get the better of it, but admits he has low confidence and sees it as a pass or live-bet situation.
Zane picks Pennington because she has steadily improved her boxing and showed excellent counter-punching against Aspen Ladd. He notes that Pennington is a solid defensive wrestler who doesn't give up much even when taken down, and that she makes good decisions as the fight goes on. Zane also points out that Vieira's striking has become overly cautious since her knockout loss, relying on clinch work rather than developing her forward striking.
Zane picks Vieira, noting that she has shown improvements in tactical depth and technique over her last few fights. He believes she has too many options and has gotten better at connecting phases of her game, defense, and counterpunching. However, he worries about her last fight against Melissa Gatto where she couldn't finish and got reversed. He still thinks she should be a lock to win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 65 of 160 | 40% | 102 of 199 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:56 |
| Aspen Ladd | 0 | 114 of 195 | 58% | 136 of 218 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 20 of 60 | 33% | 25 of 65 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Aspen Ladd | 0 | 40 of 74 | 54% | 40 of 74 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:14 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 26 of 68 | 38% | 28 of 70 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Aspen Ladd | 0 | 49 of 82 | 59% | 52 of 85 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:51 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 19 of 32 | 59% | 49 of 64 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 2:56 |
| Aspen Ladd | 0 | 25 of 39 | 64% | 44 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:37 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 65 of 160 | 40% | 37 of 118 | 21 of 34 | 7 of 8 | 52 of 145 | 13 of 15 | 0 of 0 |
| Aspen Ladd | 114 of 195 | 58% | 57 of 133 | 47 of 52 | 10 of 10 | 89 of 166 | 25 of 29 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 20 of 60 | 33% | 13 of 48 | 6 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 20 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Aspen Ladd | 40 of 74 | 54% | 24 of 56 | 12 of 14 | 4 of 4 | 36 of 70 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 26 of 68 | 38% | 19 of 53 | 2 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 23 of 63 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Aspen Ladd | 49 of 82 | 59% | 29 of 60 | 20 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 42 of 74 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 19 of 32 | 59% | 5 of 17 | 13 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 9 of 22 | 10 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Aspen Ladd | 25 of 39 | 64% | 4 of 17 | 15 of 16 | 6 of 6 | 11 of 22 | 14 of 17 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Aspen Ladd, citing her toughness and 'dog' mentality. He thinks Pennington's style of cage pressure and control won't work against Ladd's refusal to be bullied. He notes Ladd's power and wrestling, and says this is a no-bet situation.
Big Brady picks Raquel Pennington to win by decision. He notes Pennington has solid takedown defense and should keep the fight on the feet, where she can outstrike Ladd. Ladd looked terrible in her last fight against Norma Dumont, landing only 3 strikes in the first round. Brady thinks Ladd's path to victory is takedowns, but Pennington is strong and physical enough to stuff them.
Cody also leans Ladd, but emphasizes the weight cut risk. He notes Pennington's recent wins are over low-level opponents and that she has been taken down by her last three foes. Cody thinks Ladd's top game will be decisive if she makes weight. He plans to watch weigh-ins before betting, and is interested in the under if Ladd looks drained.
Levi sees Raquel Pennington as the more well-rounded fighter with takedowns and a grinding style. He worries about Aspen Ladd's top pressure and ground-and-pound, but thinks Pennington's takedown defense and experience against top competition (including Amanda Nunes) will allow her to mix strikes and takedowns. He expects a decision win for Pennington, though he is not rushing to bet at -190.
I think we'll see a better version of Aspen Ladd than last time. She should be able to push Pennington against the cage, drag her to the floor, and have success with ground and pound. Pennington struggles when fights hit the mat. Ladd will grind out a decision victory.
Paul leans towards Ladd as an underdog but conditions it on her making weight. He notes Pennington's takedown defense is weak and that Ladd has ferocious ground and pound. Paul thinks if Ladd gets top position, she'll smash Pennington. He also considers the under 2.5 rounds if Ladd looks bad at weigh-ins. He calls Ladd his first underdog pick of the card.
The MMA Guru picks Raquel Pennington, criticizing Aspen Ladd's lack of grit and poor performance in her last fight. He expects Pennington to push the pace and win a 30-27 decision, noting that Ladd has changed her style since being KO'd and no longer leads the dance.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 45 of 79 | 56% | 61 of 95 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 1:09 |
| Macy Chiasson | 0 | 26 of 86 | 30% | 64 of 126 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 24 of 38 | 63% | 37 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
| Macy Chiasson | 0 | 15 of 48 | 31% | 48 of 83 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:07 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 21 of 41 | 51% | 24 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:38 |
| Macy Chiasson | 0 | 11 of 38 | 28% | 16 of 43 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 45 of 79 | 56% | 22 of 48 | 20 of 28 | 3 of 3 | 38 of 71 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Macy Chiasson | 26 of 86 | 30% | 16 of 65 | 9 of 18 | 1 of 3 | 22 of 79 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 24 of 38 | 63% | 10 of 21 | 11 of 14 | 3 of 3 | 21 of 35 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Macy Chiasson | 15 of 48 | 31% | 11 of 39 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 45 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 21 of 41 | 51% | 12 of 27 | 9 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 36 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Macy Chiasson | 11 of 38 | 28% | 5 of 26 | 5 of 9 | 1 of 3 | 9 of 34 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Raquel Pennington but thinks the odds are too wide. He notes that Pennington is a grinder who uses cage control and pressure, but that Macy Chiasson uses her reach well and has good Muay Thai. He believes the small cage at the Apex may limit Chiasson's ability to circle, but still sees Chiasson as a live underdog. Angelo expects a boring win for Pennington but not a cakewalk.
Big Brady initially liked Pennington but changed his pick after learning the fight is at 145 lbs, which he believes massively favors Chiasson. He notes Chiasson's size, youth, and experience at featherweight, and expects her to use her height and reach to win a close decision. He mentions Pennington's takedown ability but thinks the weight class change is decisive.
Cody likes Chiasson as a dog, noting the fight is at 145 lbs which favors her. He points out that Pennington has looked disinterested since her title fight and has poor striking. Chiasson is bigger, stronger, and has better striking at range and in the clinch. Cody thinks Chiasson can win by outworking Pennington.
Daniel Levi slightly leans toward Raquel Pennington. He praises Pennington's grit, durability, and experience, noting she only loses to former champions. However, he points out that many of Pennington's wins are split decisions, making it a close fight. Levi is concerned about Chiasson's size and reach advantage at 145, and wonders if Pennington's clinch game will be less effective against a taller opponent. He thinks Chiasson could win if she has improved, but ultimately picks Pennington to edge out a decision.
Jacob picks Macy Chiasson, believing the UFC is setting her up to be a contender. He thinks the fight comes down to clinch work, and that Chiasson is bigger, more physical, and nastier than Pennington at this point. He expects Chiasson to win a dirty decision, possibly with a finish. Jacob notes that Chiasson has never been finished and has finishing ability herself.
The host picks Pennington by decision, citing her well-rounded game and experience. He notes that Chiasson relies on being physical and bullying, but if she can't do that, she succumbs. He expects Pennington to pull away in the later rounds and win a 15-minute fight. He likes the decision prop at +115.
Paul agrees with Chiasson, citing the reach advantage and the weight class change. He notes Pennington isn't big for 135, let alone 145, and Chiasson doesn't have to cut much weight. Paul thinks it's a 'dogger pass' and leans Chiasson.
The MMA Guru picks Raquel Pennington over Macy Chiasson, citing Pennington's physical strength and ability to bully Chiasson against the cage. He notes Pennington has good wins over Pannie Kianzad, Marion Reneau, and Irene Aldana. He was not impressed by Chiasson's performance against Reneau. He thinks Pennington is too strong and will control the fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 50 of 98 | 51% | 85 of 144 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 5:34 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 0 | 48 of 79 | 60% | 98 of 144 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 6:16 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 12 of 19 | 63% | 21 of 30 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:24 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 0 | 8 of 12 | 66% | 25 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:20 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 10 of 17 | 58% | 21 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:55 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 0 | 12 of 18 | 66% | 34 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:37 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 28 of 62 | 45% | 43 of 82 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:15 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 0 | 28 of 49 | 57% | 39 of 62 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 50 of 98 | 51% | 26 of 68 | 20 of 25 | 4 of 5 | 13 of 50 | 37 of 48 | 0 of 0 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 48 of 79 | 60% | 26 of 56 | 17 of 18 | 5 of 5 | 23 of 49 | 23 of 28 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 12 of 19 | 63% | 3 of 7 | 8 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 3 | 12 of 16 | 0 of 0 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 8 of 12 | 66% | 3 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 5 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 10 of 17 | 58% | 7 of 14 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 10 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 12 of 18 | 66% | 7 of 13 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 11 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 28 of 62 | 45% | 16 of 47 | 9 of 11 | 3 of 4 | 9 of 37 | 19 of 25 | 0 of 0 |
| Pannie Kianzad | 28 of 49 | 57% | 16 of 36 | 8 of 9 | 4 of 4 | 15 of 33 | 13 of 16 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Raquel Pennington because she will march forward, hold Pannie against the cage, and neutralize her boxing. He notes that Pennington's losses are to current/former champions and that she is a boring but effective grappler. He likes the -132 odds and thinks they will move. He is confident Pennington stifles Pannie's combinations.
Big Brady picks Raquel Pennington, citing her superior level of competition and ability to grind against the cage. He notes Kianzad was outstruck by Alexis Davis and has shown vulnerability to wrestling. He predicts a decision win for Pennington, though he wishes the price were better and likely won't bet it.
Cody picks Kianzad as a slight underdog, citing her better striking and improved takedown defense. He notes that Pennington is a grinder but has looked mentally off in recent fights. Cody believes Kianzad can keep the fight at range and outwork Pennington.
Daniel Levi leans with Raquel Pennington. He calls Kianzad an overachiever and thinks Pennington's record is misleading because she has fought the best. He sees similar boxing-centric styles but gives the edge to Pennington, expecting a close decision. He notes he usually likes to dog close decisions but here he leans with Pennington.
Preet picks Pennington because she is good at everything and has better cardio and forward pressure. He thinks Kianzad is a better technical striker but Pennington will nullify her with clinch work and takedowns. He expects a decision and likes the fight goes to decision at +125.
Paul agrees with taking Kianzad at plus money, noting that Pennington's style could lead to a close decision. He thinks Kianzad's volume and range striking give her an edge, but acknowledges the smaller cage may favor Pennington's grinding.
The MMA Guru picks Pannie Kianzad over Raquel Pennington, praising Kianzad's fundamentals, dirty boxing, and recent form. He questions Pennington's motivation and activity, predicting a 30-27 unanimous decision for Kianzad.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 107 of 154 | 69% | 118 of 165 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 5:29 |
| Marion Reneau | 0 | 46 of 117 | 39% | 81 of 154 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:48 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 23 of 36 | 63% | 25 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:24 |
| Marion Reneau | 0 | 17 of 52 | 32% | 24 of 59 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:19 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 37 of 50 | 74% | 41 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 2:15 |
| Marion Reneau | 0 | 13 of 29 | 44% | 35 of 52 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:38 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 47 of 68 | 69% | 52 of 73 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:50 |
| Marion Reneau | 0 | 16 of 36 | 44% | 22 of 43 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:51 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 107 of 154 | 69% | 54 of 97 | 46 of 50 | 7 of 7 | 51 of 93 | 52 of 56 | 4 of 5 |
| Marion Reneau | 46 of 117 | 39% | 20 of 85 | 20 of 25 | 6 of 7 | 22 of 84 | 24 of 33 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 23 of 36 | 63% | 9 of 22 | 12 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 23 | 12 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
| Marion Reneau | 17 of 52 | 32% | 8 of 39 | 6 of 9 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 37 | 10 of 15 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 37 of 50 | 74% | 15 of 27 | 20 of 21 | 2 of 2 | 14 of 24 | 19 of 21 | 4 of 5 |
| Marion Reneau | 13 of 29 | 44% | 5 of 21 | 6 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 15 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 47 of 68 | 69% | 30 of 48 | 14 of 17 | 3 of 3 | 26 of 46 | 21 of 22 | 0 of 0 |
| Marion Reneau | 16 of 36 | 44% | 7 of 25 | 8 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 32 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Big Brady picks Raquel Pennington by decision, believing she is the better striker and that the fight will stay on the feet. He notes Pennington's superior competition and Reneau's age (42). He thinks Reneau's only path to victory is a submission, which he doesn't see happening. He is pretty confident and thinks the line could be wider.
Daniel Levi picks Marion Reneau as an underdog, arguing that the line should be closer to a pick 'em. He notes that Raquel Pennington is average and doesn't land many takedowns, while Reneau has decent hands and can win a close decision. Levi believes Reneau has a chance to win a split decision, especially on her 43rd birthday.
Pennington is boring but has experience against better opponents. Reneau is 42 years old and coming off a loss to Jessica Eye, which indicates she is past her prime. Pennington will get the job done, though it may be a dull fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holly Holm | 0 | 30 of 62 | 48% | 81 of 129 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 7:16 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 38 of 78 | 48% | 55 of 95 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holly Holm | 0 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 26 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 2:48 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 5 of 14 | 35% | 7 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 | |
| 2 | Holly Holm | 0 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 32 of 44 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:07 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 19 of 27 | 70% | 28 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:19 | |
| 3 | Holly Holm | 0 | 15 of 33 | 45% | 23 of 46 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 14 of 37 | 37% | 20 of 43 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:26 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holly Holm | 30 of 62 | 48% | 12 of 33 | 9 of 18 | 9 of 11 | 20 of 50 | 10 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Raquel Pennington | 38 of 78 | 48% | 9 of 43 | 27 of 30 | 2 of 5 | 10 of 46 | 28 of 32 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holly Holm | 6 of 12 | 50% | 2 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Raquel Pennington | 5 of 14 | 35% | 1 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 11 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Holly Holm | 9 of 17 | 52% | 2 of 8 | 5 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 9 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Raquel Pennington | 19 of 27 | 70% | 3 of 10 | 15 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 9 | 17 of 18 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Holly Holm | 15 of 33 | 45% | 8 of 20 | 2 of 8 | 5 of 5 | 14 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Raquel Pennington | 14 of 37 | 37% | 5 of 25 | 9 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 6 of 26 | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 |
Daniel picks Raquel Pennington to edge out a close decision. He notes that Pennington is the more active fighter moving forward and that Holm has gone 4-5 since their first fight while Pennington is 5-2. He also mentions that Pennington is younger at 31 vs Holm pushing 40.
The host is confident in Holly Holm, having already placed 2.5 units at -122. He believes Holm won the first fight easily and that her counter-striking, fight IQ, and power left head kick will be too much for Pennington. He argues that Holm is better at getting off the cage and landing damaging shots, while Pennington's forward movement plays into Holm's game. He dismisses concerns about Holm's recent record, noting she lost to elite fighters, and sees Pennington as a step below.
The host picks Raquel Pennington, citing her thickness and ability to take damage, as seen in her performance against Amanda Nunes. He criticizes Holly Holm's damage-taking ability and age (38), suggesting her prime is over. He predicts Pennington wins by decision.
Mayra Bueno Silva - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 26 of 45 | 57% | 34 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 1 | 1:39 |
| Michelle Montague | 0 | 42 of 83 | 50% | 108 of 161 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 2 | 10:14 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michelle Montague | 0 | 16 of 20 | 80% | 46 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:56 | |
| 2 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 20 of 37 | 54% | 24 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:29 |
| Michelle Montague | 0 | 18 of 43 | 41% | 21 of 46 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 2:01 | |
| 3 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 6 of 8 | 75% | 10 of 12 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:10 |
| Michelle Montague | 0 | 8 of 20 | 40% | 41 of 64 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 3:17 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 26 of 45 | 57% | 11 of 27 | 10 of 12 | 5 of 6 | 22 of 38 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 |
| Michelle Montague | 42 of 83 | 50% | 41 of 80 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 58 | 0 of 1 | 21 of 24 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michelle Montague | 16 of 20 | 80% | 16 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 16 | |
| 2 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 20 of 37 | 54% | 8 of 23 | 8 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 16 of 30 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 |
| Michelle Montague | 18 of 43 | 41% | 17 of 40 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 42 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 6 of 8 | 75% | 3 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michelle Montague | 8 of 20 | 40% | 8 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Montague (-375); Bueno Silva (+300)
Round 1
It’s moving night in the rankings at 135 pounds for women, with three of the four repping that weight class currently sporting a number next to their name. Silva (10-6-1, 1 NC; 5-6-1, 1 NC UFC) is one of those three despite not recording a win since February 2023, and there is no truth to the rumor that her mother’s maiden name is Capulet. PFL expat Montague (7-0, 1-0 UFC) is looking to get there, and a victory tonight will almost certainly grant her a numerical designation. Before they throw hands, the ladies touch gloves, and referee Herb Dean will handle anything after that.
There is one strategy for Montague in this match, and she implements it immediately. Walking the former title challenger and putting three fists in her face, she closes the distance and hits a body lock takedown to put the Brazilian on her back. Silva defends off her back by isolating one wrist with both hands, and the Kiwi shakes out of it and smacks Silva with several powerful hammerfists. The punches are so mighty that Silva decides she should probably protect her mug and abandon the escape effort. When she does this, Montague elbows her a few times to force Silva turning. Montague hangs on with her right arm posted off Silva’s face, and she rolls Silva back over when Silva tries to buck out of the precarious position. Montague establishes herself in half guard, again fighting off the baseball grip on her left wrist so she can further beat down on “Sheetara.”
Montague floats when Silva tries to buck her off, staying heavy with the need arises and dropping down power strikes when they are open. The size difference is significant, as Silva keeps twisting and turning but is stuck on her knees until she voluntarily rolls to the side so she can sneakily search for a leglock off her back. Montague stacks her up and uses a can opener with her hands clutched behind Silva’s neck, and Silva responds with another leg submission attempt until Montague just steps over her. Montague hammers Silva with a free hand, dominating the former title challenger right to the end of the round. The only question is whether that performance merits a 10-8 in her favor, while Silva struggles to get back to her feet and manages to make her way back to her corner.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Montague
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Montague
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Montague
Round 2
Montague practically runs at Silva as the round kicks off, punching her way into range. Silva times a charge and throws Montague to the side, drilling her with a heavy right hand. Montague breaks off and circles away, shooting for a takedown when Silva lashes out with a low kick. Montague chambers and looses one to the ribs, and then kicks high while Montague walks her down without fear. Montague snaps the head back with a jab and shoots from a long way away, allowing Silva to wrap her arms around her neck. Silva latches onto a front choke, and this sudden ninja choke is tight as Montague lowers herself down to relieve the pressure. The Kiwi hits the deck in order to snap out of it, with Silva not quick enough to follow her while maintaining her grip strength. Montague sticks out a right hand and jabs with the ball of her foot, and Silva steels herself and nails Montague with a combination. Montague backs herself to the wall, and she gets stung a few more times and shoots for a desperate takedown.
Silva briefly stops it, but considers taking her back in the process and is tripped up to put herself on her back. Silva hangs on with a kimura sweep, until the bigger, stronger woman muscles her way out of it and shifts to climb into side control on the opposite side. Montague hunts for a crucifix setup, only for Silva to twist and turn to at least prevent the dominant position from locking down. Montague moves to Silva’s open guard, with Silva using butterfly hooks to sweep her. Silva kicks off, with Montague on one knee, and her heel bangs square into Montague’s jaw. Dean immediately calls time, while someone from the audience shouts that he should take a point. Dean asks her if Montague is ok after the blow, and they resume 45 seconds later with Montague smiling and ready to continue. Montague is quick to shoot for a takedown, and she pushes Silva to the wire. Silva frames off with short, effective punches, until the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 3
Montague engages again early, but this time, Silva is ready for it. Silva punches back to keep Montague honest, but she is unable to stop the double-leg takedown that sweeps Silva clean off her feet. Montague lands in side control, fighting off any early effort for Silva to sweep or get out. When Silva turns to her knees, Montague punches her in the face repeatedly. Slick as a whistle, “Sheetara” slips around to the side to take Montague’s back.
Montague twists and keeps moving while Silva looks for any exposed limb. As Montague continues shifting and fighting, she flips Silva over to position herself in side control. When she gets it, “The Wild One” pounds on her with any free fist or elbow she can find. Silva contorts herself to get away, but the heavier Montague clubs and smothers her seemingly without end. The only thing that ends this is the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Montague (29-27 Montague)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Montague (29-27 Montague)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Montague (29-27 Montague)
The Official Result
Michelle Montague def. Mayra Bueno Silva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo is very confident in Michelle Montague, calling her a spectacular grappler with world-level wrestling and jiu-jitsu experience. He notes that Mayra Bueno Silva is on a four-fight losing streak and has poor wrestling, making it hard for her to get the fight to the ground. He expects Montague to control where the fight goes and win a decision without being in any trouble.
Big Brady picks Mayra Bueno Silva (referred to as Michelle Waterson) over Marina Rodriguez Silva. He criticizes Marina's fight IQ and notes she is on a losing streak. He believes Waterson's wrestling and ground-and-pound will be too much, predicting a TKO in the second or third round.
Connor picks Montague because Bueno Silva appears depressed and has been figured out by better fighters. He notes that Montague is aggressive, confident, and young in her career, and that Silva's recent losses have shown she doesn't know how to learn. However, Connor acknowledges that Silva has been beaten by a much higher class of fighter and that Montague is not at that level, making this a risky pick.
The host sees this as a classic striker vs grappler matchup where Silva has a massive advantage on the feet and Montague on the ground. He doubts Montague's ability to get the fight down due to her poor offensive wrestling and Silva's good takedown defense in the clinch. He says it's an IQ test: Montague is unbetable, so Silva is the only value play, but she is weak off her back. He prefers live betting and notes the fight likely goes to decision.
James picks Montague, believing she will dominate with takedowns and ground and pound, similar to Jasmine Jasudavicius' win over Silva. He predicts a TKO stoppage due to ground and pound, though Silva's toughness may extend the fight.
Montague is a strong grappler with good top control and submission threat, but her striking is robotic and she can be wobbled. Bueno Silva has submission skills off her back and could threaten with submissions, but she has been struggling and has a poor gas tank. Montague's size and strength should allow her to grind out a decision, but the chalk is hard to trust.
Zane picks Bueno Silva despite her recent losing streak, because he believes Montague is not skilled enough to capitalize on Silva's weaknesses. He notes that Silva has power, aggression, and dynamic submissions, and that Montague's grappling is not at a level to control her. Zane also points out that Silva's losses came against a much better class of fighter than Montague.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 39 of 97 | 40% | 46 of 107 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:12 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 80 of 164 | 48% | 87 of 172 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 9 of 24 | 37% | 11 of 26 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:57 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 21 of 40 | 52% | 21 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 | |
| 2 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 16 of 31 | 51% | 21 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 23 of 57 | 40% | 28 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:54 | |
| 3 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 14 of 42 | 33% | 14 of 42 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 0 | 36 of 67 | 53% | 38 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 39 of 97 | 40% | 15 of 62 | 8 of 14 | 16 of 21 | 36 of 93 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 80 of 164 | 48% | 45 of 118 | 20 of 26 | 15 of 20 | 73 of 156 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 9 of 24 | 37% | 1 of 11 | 2 of 7 | 6 of 6 | 8 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 21 of 40 | 52% | 6 of 21 | 5 of 7 | 10 of 12 | 20 of 38 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 16 of 31 | 51% | 3 of 16 | 5 of 5 | 8 of 10 | 15 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 23 of 57 | 40% | 15 of 45 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 2 | 20 of 54 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 14 of 42 | 33% | 11 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 | 13 of 40 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Jacqueline Cavalcanti | 36 of 67 | 53% | 24 of 52 | 7 of 9 | 5 of 6 | 33 of 64 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cavalcanti (-250); Bueno Silva (+210)
Round 1
The promotion as of late has fallen in love with smashing two fighters together of drastically different trajectories hoping the one on the rise pulls it off. In this case, it is the women’s bantamweight division in dire need of contenders. It would be unfair to claim that the promotion
wants
one fighter to win, but the younger woman in Cavalcanti (9-1, 4-0 UFC) with a spotless UFC record intact is a far easier sell. In her fifth walk to the UFC cage, she collides with former flyweight title challenger Silva (10-5-1, 1 NC; 5-5-1, 1 NC UFC), who has tumbled down the rankings and may be fighting to keep her place on the roster. Referee Chris Tognoni draws the charge for this uneven momentum bout, one that should see some movement at 135 pounds no matter who prevails.
The ladies bump their fists together. Cavalcanti bounces back and forth to establish herself in the cage, pushing out a jab and trading low kicks. Cavalcanti connects with a kick to the thigh, and Silva’s response goes wide. Cavalcanti chips at the front leg, and she checks one coming back and doubles up on counters. She goes to the midsection, and Silva responds in kind. Silva ignores a one-two to sit down on a calf kick, and she stays out of range of Cavalcanti’s subsequent punches. The two are jittery and still not willing to commit to much, with Silva barely even in first gear. When she does throw something, it is in response and generally mirroring what already struck her. She chains a low kick into a wheel kick, and Cavalcanti leans back to dodge the latter and drills Silva with a right hand down the middle.
Silva stabs her toes out with a kick to the body, and Cavalcanti has not stopped with her low kick attack yet. She mixes in front kicks with calf kicks, and she swarms her way in. Silva ties her up, and Cavalcanti knees her in the gut and pushes off the face. Silva shoots down suddenly in pursuit of a double-leg entry, and Cavalcanti puts her back to the wall to defend it. Tognoni asks for them to do more, so Silva tries to lift her foe but cannot elevate her very high. Silva breaks off willingly, and she flicks out a few jabs. Cavalcanti looks to loop punches behind the jab, and she changes stances to keep Silva guessing at which side the kicks will be from. One final push kick from “Sheetara” concludes the tepid sparring match of a round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 2
The bantamweights touch gloves to get going again, and Cavalcanti gets right in her rhythm of low kicks, jabs and forward movement. Silva tries to fire back, and Cavalcanti pushes off before getting caught with anything. Silva turns her hips into a harder-than-usual low kick, so Cavalcanti walks her down and strings five punches together to the body and head. Cavalcanti lifts a leg to check a kick and knees Silva in the belly to push her to the wire. They trade knees on the inside, with Cavalcanti spinning her foe around and landing more knees. Cavalcanti abandons the tie-up, and she puts three punches on the face.
Cavalcanti lifts her leg up to take some of the sting out of a kick, and both women let their lands go in a sudden exchange. Silva starts committing to more heavy leg kicks, and Cavalcanti’s volume remains steady with moves that touch rather than sting. Silva boots Cavalcanti upside the head, and it is narrowly blocked in time. Commentator Dominick Cruz chastises the women for not putting their full effort into this fight, and they apparently can hear him as they again whir into action and start drilling one another with strikes. Cavalcanti kicks, and Silva kicks her back in the ribs. Cavalcanti splits the guard with a jab and shakes her hand out, and she plants a one-two on the jaw as she drives the Brazilian back. Cavalcanti stomp kicks the lead knee of her adversary, and her jab has marked up the bridge of Silva’s nose. As Silva tries to circle to the side and avoid all contact to end the round, Cavalcanti walks her down and boots her in the guts as time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti
Round 3
Of the two women in the cage, it is Cavalcanti who is fired up and ready to push the pace in the final frame. She does just that right out of the cage, walking behind a right hand that she bangs into Silva’s temple. As she chains punches together, Cavalcanti’s punches draw a failed takedown shot out of her opponent that pushes her to the wire but little else. Cavalcanti’s offense has drawn some swelling around Silva’s left eye and right temple, and she is quickly blowing up all over like golf balls slid under her skin. Cavalcanti pecks at the front leg with sticking her hands out, and she even tries a trip and throw but Silva bounces off. Cavalcanti’s one-two barely reaches as Silva’s right hand does not land cleanly, and Cavalcanti is walking forward without fear of reprisal.
Cavalcanti jabs the body with the ball of her foot, and she reams Silva with a one-two. Silva tries to grab hold of the woman from Portugal and get some dirty boxing going, but when that does not amount to much, it is a power jab that has the best effect of her strikes thus far. Cavalcanti recovers and snaps out her own jab in Silva’s face, using it to open up a few clubbing right hands. The once-beaten woman lets Silva buzz past her with a spinning strike, and she resets and works the body. Silva loads up on a right hand, and her subsequent low kick is checked. They flash jabs simultaneously, but Silva will likely need more if she wants to get her hand raised in the next 55 seconds. Cavalcanti stays in front of her foe, and she measures a right hand on the swollen eye socket. She follows it with a few more, and Silva walks forward as if she wants to brawl. When Cavalcanti lands on her, she changes her mind. Cavalcanti’s stance switches alone take most of Silva’s offense out of the equation, and she marches the former title challenger down and busts her in the chops with a left hand. The fight concludes, and the two ladies embrace as a camera quickly shows that Silva’s right foot has also ballooned as a result of this match.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cavalcanti (30-27 Cavalcanti)
The Official Result
Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Mayra Bueno Silva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo picks Joselyne Edwards because she is the much better striker and can piece up Mayra Bueno Silva on the feet. He notes that Mayra is on a three-fight skid and may be desperate for takedowns, but Joselyne's takedown defense should hold up if she avoids naked kicks. He prefers Joselyne to box rather than kick to avoid getting taken down.
Big Brady is not high on Cavalcanti, noting her underwhelming wins and split decisions against lower-level opponents. He acknowledges Bueno Silva's dangerous guard but criticizes her refusal to wrestle offensively. He thinks Cavalcanti will pick apart Bueno Silva at range for 15 minutes, winning a decision, but notes Bueno Silva has a path if she takes the fight to the ground.
Cody picks Silva as a dog, citing her superior grappling and competition level. He thinks Cavalcanti's wins are over low-level opponents and that Silva can take her down and submit her.
Lucrative James confidently picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti. He notes her cleaner striking, volume, and defensive skills, while Mayra Bueno Silva is on a downslide and has bounced between weight classes. He acknowledges Silva's submission threat but believes Cavalcanti can avoid it and win a decision. He also mentions Silva's recent black belt but doubts it will change the outcome.
The host believes Cavalcanti's striking edge will allow her to pick Silva apart from distance, though Silva's aggression could make it close. Ultimately, Cavalcanti should land better shots and win on the scorecards.
Paul is torn, leaning pass. He notes Silva's inconsistency and Cavalcanti's lack of impressive wins, but can't back Cavalcanti at minus 260.
The Guru picks Jacqueline Cavalcanti over Mayra Bueno Silva. He cites Silva's recent losses and inability to bully opponents, while Cavalcanti has shown good striking and range management. He expects a competitive decision, with Cavalcanti outlanding Silva to a 29-28 win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasmine Jasudavicius | 0 | 56 of 105 | 53% | 164 of 229 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 7:11 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 37 of 72 | 51% | 41 of 76 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasmine Jasudavicius | 0 | 14 of 25 | 56% | 35 of 51 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:48 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 10 of 18 | 55% | 10 of 18 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jasmine Jasudavicius | 0 | 30 of 54 | 55% | 62 of 88 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:20 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 21 of 38 | 55% | 24 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Jasmine Jasudavicius | 0 | 12 of 26 | 46% | 67 of 90 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:03 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 6 of 16 | 37% | 7 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasmine Jasudavicius | 56 of 105 | 53% | 23 of 66 | 20 of 26 | 13 of 13 | 48 of 94 | 8 of 10 | 0 of 1 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 37 of 72 | 51% | 23 of 53 | 8 of 12 | 6 of 7 | 30 of 64 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasmine Jasudavicius | 14 of 25 | 56% | 5 of 14 | 5 of 7 | 4 of 4 | 13 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 10 of 18 | 55% | 4 of 10 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 5 | 10 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jasmine Jasudavicius | 30 of 54 | 55% | 14 of 36 | 9 of 11 | 7 of 7 | 27 of 49 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 1 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 21 of 38 | 55% | 15 of 29 | 4 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 32 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jasmine Jasudavicius | 12 of 26 | 46% | 4 of 16 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 21 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 6 of 16 | 37% | 4 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 14 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Attention next shifts to the 125-pound weight class, where Bueno Silva (10-4-1, 5-4-1 UFC) awaits Jasudavicius (12-3, 6-2 UFC) in a compelling women’s flyweight affair. Mark Smith officiates. No glove touch. Bueno Silva rushes to the center and stars with a leg kick. Rear-leg front kick to the midsection from the Brazilian. Jasudavicius fires of a two-punch volley and circles off the fence. They trade and separate. Bueno Silva sneaks in a left hook and backs it up with two leg kicks, followed by a one-two. Jasudavicius circles, then secures a takedown. Bueno Silva catches a guillotine. Jasudavicius breaks the grip and sets up in full guard. Two minutes to go. Jasudavicius passes side control and lands in a topside crucifix. Short elbows fall. Bueno Silva frees herself briefly, but the Canadian cuts off her escape and powers into half guard. Bueno Silva mostly neutralizing her from the bottom, but Jasudavicius still manages to sneak in a few shots. Bueno Silva makes a pass at a leg lock as the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicus
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicus
Round 2
Bueno Silve emerges with a significant hematoma above her left eye. They circle one another in the center. One-twos from Jasudavicius. Bueno Silva threatens with a standing guillotine but releases the choke. The Brazilian grabs the Thai clinch and throws a few knees. Nice counter right hand over the top from Jasudavicius. Bueno Silva stalks forward and connects with two vicious left hooks to the body. Now, the Brazilian gets her jab in gear. Powerful one-two from Jasudavicius, followed by a front kick to the body. Midway through the round. Bueno Silva closes the distance and fires elbows from both sides. Right hand over the top from Jasudavicius. The Canadian clinches and lands an elbow on the break. Jasudavicius secures a takedown, scores with shoulder strikes, controls the scramble and scores with ground-and-pound. Bueno Silva hunts a leg lock. No luck. Jasudavicius closes with ground-and-pound.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius
Round 3
Jasudavicius likely enters the final round with a lead. Bueno Silva’s movements labored now. Jasudavicius circles. Bueno Silva cuts loose with a combo and mixes in a nice elbow. The Brazilian stalks, lands another elbow and then eats a few knees. They trade, with neither woman gaining a discernible advantage. Jasudavicius feints a takedown, resets and swoops in four a successful double-leg. Bueno Silva looks discouraged, as the action stalls. Jasudavicius passes to half guard and steps over into full mount. She frames an arm-triangle choke but bails on it. Bueno Silva surrenders her back. Jasudavicius pounding away with punches to the body and head. Back to mount for the Canadian. Jasudavicius stays busy with ground-and-pound and draws a warning for a head butt. Bueno Silva flirts with an armbar, only to eat more punishment before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius (30-27 Jasudavicius)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Jasudavicius (30-26 Jasudavicius)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Jasudavicius (30-27 Jasudavicius)
The Official Result
Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Mayra Bueno Silva—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo picks Jasmine Jasudavicius, citing her wrestling pedigree and ability to control where the fight goes. He acknowledges Mayra Bueno Silva's toughness and dangerous ground game, but notes that Jasudavicius is a much better wrestler. He mentions that public comments overwhelmingly favor Jasudavicius, which has increased his confidence, though he admits he's unsure if that's influencing him.
Big Brady believes Jasmine Jasudavicius needs to get the fight to the ground, where she can control Mayra Bueno Silva. He notes Silva has poor takedown defense and doesn't mind being on her back, but is dangerous with submissions. Brady thinks Jasudavicius will be smart on top and win a decision, though Silva could be live for a submission. He predicts a 30-27 Jasudavicius decision.
Jasudavicius's grappling will be the key to victory, allowing her to grind out a decision. She may also showcase improved striking from her Thailand camp, but her wrestling will bail her out of bad spots.
The MMA Guru picks Mayra Bueno Silva as an underdog, noting she has competitive fights with top-level fighters and wins that Jasudavicius could only dream of. He believes Silva's physicality, clinch work, and grappling will be key, and that she will be bigger at flyweight. He also suggests she may miss weight but still win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macy Chiasson | 0 | 46 of 59 | 77% | 53 of 66 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:19 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 50 of 85 | 58% | 64 of 99 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:48 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macy Chiasson | 0 | 42 of 52 | 80% | 47 of 57 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:58 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 37 of 62 | 59% | 50 of 75 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:28 | |
| 2 | Macy Chiasson | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 13 of 23 | 56% | 14 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:20 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macy Chiasson | 46 of 59 | 77% | 24 of 34 | 20 of 22 | 2 of 3 | 21 of 32 | 23 of 25 | 2 of 2 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 50 of 85 | 58% | 27 of 59 | 13 of 16 | 10 of 10 | 22 of 52 | 18 of 23 | 10 of 10 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macy Chiasson | 42 of 52 | 80% | 20 of 28 | 20 of 22 | 2 of 2 | 19 of 27 | 23 of 25 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 37 of 62 | 59% | 21 of 44 | 13 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 19 of 41 | 18 of 21 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Macy Chiasson | 4 of 7 | 57% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 13 of 23 | 56% | 6 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 2 | 10 of 10 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bueno Silva (-115), Chiasson (-105)
Round 1
With the 135-pound title picture in flux, the winner of Silva (10-3-1, 1 NC; 5-3-1, 1 NC UFC) and Chiasson (9-3, 7-3 UFC) could be next in line for a shot at gold—although Silva fell short her last time out vying for the title in an exceptionally dull affair. The 32-year-old bantamweights come together to touch gloves to start the fight all while referee Chris Tognoni prepares himself to officiate. Silva maintains the center of the cage while Chiasson strafes on the outside. Chiasson swings too hard with a right hand, resulting in Silva grabbing hold of her and clinching her to land a knee and an elbow. Chiasson separates and reaches out with a left hook, and on a second effort she misses with the same strike as a body kick belts her in the ribs. Silva kicks the front leg, sticks out a right hand and evades a counter. Silva plants the ball of her foot on Chiasson’s chest, fires a head kick off from the other leg and punches her way into the clinch. When up close and personal, the Brazilian strikes with an elbow, and Chiasson answers her with one of her own. Silva breaks out of the tie-up after absorbing this strike, and she misses a body kick and keeps turning to slap Chiasson in the face with a wheel kick. Chiasson scores a front kick and a low kick, and she keeps her guard up to defend a head kick. Silva works the body with several punches and knees, and she pulls Chiasson down to knee her in the face a few times. Chiasson defends from a takedown and walks to the fence, and she uses body shots in close range with several uppercuts. Silva tries to go after the trip, and Chiasson stifles it and takes a few knees to the midsection. Silva gets off an elbow, and Chiasson rips the body and goes up high in a flurry. Silva backs herself up against the cage wall, and the two end up back in the clinch trading body blows. Chiasson lines up several knees to the body, and Silva pushes away and tags Chiasson with a right hand. Silva uses the opportunity to shoot for a double, and Chiasson sprawls against the wall but is tripped to a knee for a second. Chiasson springboards back up and presses Silva against the wire until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
The ladies clap hands, and Chiasson is ready to party and starts trading strikes. Head shots lead to other punches to the body and kicks, and she decides to take the fight down to the ground and succeeds. One single elbow from Chiasson slices a massive cut open above Silva’s right eyebrow. Chiasson stays tightly pressed to her opponent, and Silva throws her legs up in pursuit of an armbar. Chiasson remains stacked up on top until Silva abandons it, and Silva kicks her off of her. Chiasson stands and whips low kicks at the thigh from both sides, while Silva lays on her back with her hands behind her head bicycling upkicks. Chiasson decides to let Silva up, and Tognoni calls time to bring in the physician to observe the monstrous cut above her eyebrow. This appears to be a fight-ending cut, nearly two inches wide from one to the other. The doctor tells Tognoni the cut is extremely deep and that the blood will pour into her eye, and it already has as Silva’s face is covered with blood. Tognoni waves the fight off, and Silva is incensed, to the point that she climbs out of the cage and tries to plead her case to UFC head Dana White. He and others around him back away as she is leaking all over the place, and White tells her she needs to go see the doctor and get patched up. No matter her cries, this is a legitimate stoppage and way to win the fight—the head wound is no joke, much like the headliner of PFL last night.
The Official Result
Macy Chiasson def. Mayra Bueno Silva R2 1:58 via TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
Cody picks Chiasson, citing her size, wrestling, and cardio advantages. He notes that Bueno Silva has poor takedown defense and cardio issues, and that Chiasson has consistently scored takedowns against tough opponents. Cody believes Chiasson will use her clinch work and wrestling to wear on Bueno Silva, and that she can win a decision or possibly get a submission. He also mentions that Bueno Silva's best wins are over lower-tier competition and that she failed a drug test.
Daniel Vreeland picks Macy Chiasson because she has looked better recently, rounding out her game and improving her takedown defense. He notes that Chiasson is a better striker than Bueno Silva and has a significant reach advantage (six inches). Vreeland believes Bueno Silva's only path to victory is grinding, but Chiasson has the skills to stuff takedowns and keep the fight standing. He also cites Bueno Silva's poor gas tank in her last fight against Raquel Pennington as a concern.
Daniel believes Bueno Silva has championship potential, citing her power, calf kicks, and opportunistic submissions. He notes that her loss to Pennington came when she was sick and had a busted eardrum. He views Chiasson as having physical attributes but being flaky and prone to mistakes under pressure. He thinks Bueno Silva is meaner, more athletic, and has a higher trajectory.
Jeff Fox picks Macy Chiasson, echoing Vreeland's reasoning. He notes that Bueno Silva did not look good in her last fight and has gas tank concerns. Fox points out that Chiasson is way bigger, a better striker, and has improved her grappling. He also mentions that Chiasson's coach will keep her focused.
The host does not discuss this fight at all in the transcript. The entire podcast is focused on the Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight, which is not on the provided fight card. Therefore, no pick is made for this fight.
The host leans Chiasson, citing her strength and ability to grind on Bueno Silva. He notes Bueno Silva is dangerous with submissions off her back early, but if Chiasson can control her against the cage for the first 6-7 minutes and then take her down, she will have success. He mentions the line has moved from +180 to nearly pick'em, indicating confidence in Chiasson.
Paul picks Bueno Silva by submission, noting that her submission grappling is her biggest weapon. He acknowledges that Chiasson is bigger and has better wrestling, but believes Bueno Silva can catch her in a submission if the fight goes to the ground. Paul points out that Bueno Silva has a history of pulling off submissions from seemingly losing positions, and that the plus-370 odds for her by submission offer value.
The Guru picks Macy Chiasson as an underdog over Mayra Bueno Silva. He notes Chiasson's size and reach advantage, and that Bueno Silva looked terrible in her last fight. He believes Chiasson can muscle her around and out-hustle her. He also mentions Chiasson's flexibility in submissions and her competitive fight against Norma Dumont.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 0 | 134 of 201 | 66% | 265 of 342 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 2 | 2 | 11:28 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 69 of 88 | 78% | 96 of 118 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 3 | 0 | 8:58 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 11 of 22 | 50% | 26 of 39 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 18 of 22 | 81% | 27 of 31 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:20 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 33 of 52 | 63% | 47 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:04 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 20 of 30 | 66% | 29 of 41 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 2:46 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 27 of 43 | 62% | 52 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:32 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 17 of 20 | 85% | 20 of 23 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:35 | |
| 4 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 29 of 38 | 76% | 75 of 86 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 3:17 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 7 of 8 | 87% | 8 of 10 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:11 | |
| 5 | Raquel Pennington | 0 | 34 of 46 | 73% | 65 of 83 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 0 | 4:19 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 7 of 8 | 87% | 12 of 13 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raquel Pennington | 134 of 201 | 66% | 91 of 156 | 32 of 34 | 11 of 11 | 54 of 110 | 38 of 43 | 42 of 48 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 69 of 88 | 78% | 32 of 44 | 26 of 30 | 11 of 14 | 28 of 45 | 38 of 40 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raquel Pennington | 11 of 22 | 50% | 7 of 18 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 19 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 18 of 22 | 81% | 11 of 13 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 11 | 10 of 10 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Raquel Pennington | 33 of 52 | 63% | 29 of 47 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 23 of 40 | 10 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 20 of 30 | 66% | 7 of 14 | 10 of 11 | 3 of 5 | 7 of 16 | 12 of 13 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Raquel Pennington | 27 of 43 | 62% | 13 of 28 | 12 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 23 | 14 of 16 | 4 of 4 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 17 of 20 | 85% | 6 of 8 | 9 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 6 | 13 of 14 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Raquel Pennington | 29 of 38 | 76% | 22 of 31 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 11 | 5 of 5 | 19 of 22 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 7 of 8 | 87% | 3 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Raquel Pennington | 34 of 46 | 73% | 20 of 32 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 9 | 8 of 17 | 7 of 7 | 19 of 22 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 7 of 8 | 87% | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bueno Silva (-170), Pennington (+142)
Round 1
The post-Amanda Nunes era at bantamweight truly begins, as eternal contender Pennington and the red-hot Bueno Silva meet to contest the belt vacated last year by the “Lioness,” who in a nice touch by the UFC is in attendance cageside with her family. Canada’s own Jerin Valel draws the referee assignment for this five-round title fight. Both fighters are in orthodox stance to open the fight. Bueno Silva throws a leg kick that glances, and Pennington rushes forward with a flurry of punches, backing the Brazilian up. Bueno Silva touches Pennington’s lead leg with a solid low kick. They engage again, and Pennington grabs hold of Bueno Silva and shoves her to the fence. Bueno Silva clasps her arms as Pennington throws a few short strikes. Bueno Silva breaks the clinch, and lands another hard calf kick. Pennington grabs a single-leg and tries to take Bueno Silva down, but Bueno Silva defends easily. Pennington goes for another quick single moments later, and they move to the fence. Bueno Silva takes Pennington’s back as she drags her to the canvas and quickly locks up a choke. Pennington fights the hands expertly, standing as she does so. Pennington breaks the grip to the point that she feels safe throwing elbow strikes to the thigh of Bueno Silva. Bueno Silva gives up on the choke and briefly loses back control as Pennington scrapes her against the chain-link, but hops back on her back and pulls her to a sitting position against the fence. She throws strikes from seated back control until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Bueno Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bueno Silva
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Bueno Silva
Round 2
Pennington comes forward with a triple jab, backing Bueno Silva up and dodging the first calf kick that comes her way. Bueno Silva throws another calf kick, backing Pennington to the fence as she does so, then uses underhooks to keep her there. Pennington throws knee up the middle, then another, and switches her hooks to reverse Bueno Silva against the fence. She lets Bueno Silva off the fence and tags her with three punches as she does so. Bueno Silva comes back with a single counter, but it’s a solid one. Bueno Silva clinches and puts Pennington back on the fence. They exchange knee strikes in close quarters. Bueno Silva tags Pennington with a pair of uppercuts to the body, and Pennington comes back across the top with a big punch to the head that rocks her. They get a little space and Pennington hits her with two more good shots to the head. Bueno Silva is hurt and goes staggering back to the fence. Pennington gives chase but ends up clinching, without enough space to follow up with more big shots. They disengage and fight a running battle all the way back across the cage, where Bueno Silva takes Pennington’s back once again and tries for the rear-naked choke. Pennington calmly defends, but again she is standing with Bueno Silva in back control. Bueno Silva loses the choke moments before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Round 3
Pennington scores first with a long overhand right. Bueno Silva lands two good right low kicks in succession. Pennington clinches and runs Bueno Silva to the fence, where the Brazilian promptly reverses her. Bueno Silva pushes her into the chain-link, looking to move to her back, but Pennington defends well and throws a knee to the body. Pennington takes the outside position. Bueno Silva uses a whizzer kick to toss Pennington to the ground, but Pennington kicks her off and sweeps to stand. Halfway through the round it’s Pennington driving Bueno Silva into the cage. Bueno Silva throws a knee to the body then reverses Pennington into the fence. The two would-be champs spend several long moments exchanging sporadic knees on the inside. Bueno Silva grabs a front headlock and briefly threatens, but Pennington escapes and tosses her to the canvas, ending up on top in half guard with an arm around the neck. Pennington gets up and Bueno Silva stays on the ground, suddenly looking very tired. She seems to want Pennington to go back into her guard, but Pennington is having none of it and Valel waves her up. The round expires a few moments later.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Round 4
Pennington steps right in a smashes Bueno Silva with a right overhand. She throws another pair of punches as Bueno Silva comes forward, looking for the clinch. Pennington quickly reverses her against the cage, but elects to stay there, throwing short punches—rather than disengage as her corner is loudly imploring her to do. Bueno Silva moves to try and take Pennington’s back against the cage. Pennington defends for a moment, but Bueno Silva persists and gets the position, then slaps on another rear-naked choke. It isn’t completely under the chin, and Pennington is turning red as she fights it off. She shrugs Bueno Silva partway off her back, but Bueno Silva continues to threaten with the choke even from the side. Finally, Pennington spins all the way into Bueno Silva’s guard at the base of the fence. She throws strikes as Bueno Silva throws her legs up for a possible triangle or armbar, but none of them are enough to really threaten, and Pennington keeps pouring on the punches and hammerfists. At the 30-second mark, Pennington postures up and comes down with a big hammerfist that draws a reaction from the Brazilian. The round ends a moment later, and Bueno Silva is slow to get up.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pennington
Round 5
Pennington is first off the blocks with a left and right hook. Bueno Silva swings back, advancing as she does so. Pennington seems motivated to deny her the clinch, especially against the cage, but Bueno Silva manages to get her there anyway. Bueno Silva tries for some kind of body lock, but bails on it and goes for a kneebar on her way down. There’s nothing doing there, and Pennington lands on top, sliding to mount as she locks up an arm-triangle choke. Bueno Silva is surviving just fine, as Pennington is in complete control of the position but apparently can’t get enough torque to finish the choke. Pennington moves out to one side without completely surrendering the mount, and Bueno Silva is slowly turning away from her. A minute and a half to go, and Pennington gives up the choke, settling in Bueno Silva’s half guard. Pennington pours on the punches as Bueno Silva clings to her, eyes closed, just hanging on. Valel looks on and Pennington stands out of guard, throwing kicks to the legs of her supine foe. Pennington dives in with a couple of big, but glancing punches right before the final horn. Barring a historically horrible judging gaffe, “Rocky” should be your new UFC women's bantamweight champion in about two minutes here.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Pennington (49-45 Pennington)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pennington (49-46 Pennington)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pennington (49-46 Pennington)
The Official Result
Raquel Pennington def. Mayra Bueno Silva via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45)
Angelo picks Pennington, citing her experience, pressure, and control style. He acknowledges Bueno Silva's power and submissions but believes Pennington's grit and high-level experience will prevail. He has a quarter unit on Pennington at plus 135 and will monitor for better value. He notes the potential distraction of Pennington's eight-month-old baby.
Big Brady picks Silva, noting her submission skills are top-notch. He expects the fight to hit the mat at some point, where Silva will have the advantage. He thinks the striking will be close but Silva's forward pressure and durability will be key. He predicts a submission win for Silva.
Cody picks Bueno Silva but is not confident, citing her submission threat and the fact that Pennington fights in the clinch where Silva caught Holly Holm. However, he worries about Silva's cardio and the lack of her ADHD medication (ritalinic acid) in a five-round fight. He sees Pennington as a live underdog but ultimately goes with Silva.
Vreeland picks Bueno Silva, analyzing her striking success against Holly Holm. He notes that Silva found the range against Holm and landed impactful strikes. He contrasts Pennington's lack of range kicks and long fighting style, which should allow Silva to close distance. Vreeland also mentions Silva's submission threat if Pennington shoots takedowns. He sees Silva overwhelming Pennington on the feet.
Daniel Vreeland picks Mayra Bueno Silva to become the new bantamweight champion. He highlights her heavy power, devastating leg kicks, and finishing instinct, including the ninja choke. He expects her calf kicks to be effective against Pennington's stationary boxing style, and believes she will land the harder shots throughout the fight, possibly finishing or winning a decision.
Fox picks Bueno Silva as the better fighter, but acknowledges Pennington's tendency to win. He notes Pennington's year-long layoff as a concern. Fox doesn't provide detailed technical analysis but defers to Silva's overall skill advantage.
This fight is not discussed in the transcript. The host only covers the main event, co-main event (Weili Zhang vs Tatiana Suarez), and other fights, but not Pennington vs Bueno Silva.
I'm leaning on Bueno Silva to win inside the distance, likely by submission. Pennington could be the busier fighter and win rounds with volume, but Bueno Silva has a finish-heavy style that can break and frustrate Pennington. I think Bueno Silva lands a shot that opens up a clinch and sub opportunity. I'm not taking the moneyline at -155; I prefer the inside distance prop. I'd be very surprised if Pennington finishes Bueno Silva.
Paul picks Pennington, emphasizing her experience in five-round fights, superior cardio, and wrestling. He notes Bueno Silva's submission threat but believes Pennington can avoid submissions and take over in later rounds. He also jokes about Silva missing her ADHD medication affecting her focus.
The MMA Guru picks Mayra Bueno Silva, citing her higher finishing potential and submission ability. He notes her win over Holly Holm (though overturned) and her competitive fight with Manon Fiorot. He believes she will submit Pennington with a knee bar in round two.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holly Holm | 0 | 27 of 39 | 69% | 50 of 70 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:05 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 20 of 37 | 54% | 31 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holly Holm | 0 | 26 of 38 | 68% | 49 of 69 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:42 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 19 of 33 | 57% | 30 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Holly Holm | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holly Holm | 27 of 39 | 69% | 15 of 24 | 10 of 12 | 2 of 3 | 21 of 31 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 20 of 37 | 54% | 9 of 21 | 7 of 10 | 4 of 6 | 13 of 28 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holly Holm | 26 of 38 | 68% | 15 of 24 | 9 of 11 | 2 of 3 | 20 of 30 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 19 of 33 | 57% | 8 of 17 | 7 of 10 | 4 of 6 | 12 of 24 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Holly Holm | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Holm (-170), Bueno Silva (+145)
Round 1
Likely the lone fight on the card with immediate championship implications, former champ Holm (15-6, 8-6 UFC) will look to send a message to the matchmakers that she is still at the top of her game at 41 years of age. Silva (10-2-1, 5-2-1 UFC), 10 years younger, is gunning for an upset, with upwards of five rounds to do just that. Needing no further introduction, referee Keith Peterson prepares for the bantamweight main attraction, one that opens up with a quick tap of gloves and not a lick of nonsense. Silva advances slowly, and Holm races at her and throws punches to back her away. Silva kicks the lead calf twice, and Holm gives her a scare with a head kick. Holm is moving quickly on the outside, and she sticks Silva twice with right hands before changing levels for a single. Silva stands up and elbows her foe in the face, leading Holm to let it go and squeeze against her in the clinch. They trade short knees on the inside to little effect, and Holm settles down to impose her weight and will. Holm pushes off and gets away without a strike on the break, and she lifts her leg up to check a body kick. Holm moves quickly to get Silva’s attention with a few punches, and she is out of the way before a counter finds its mark. Holm uses her momentum to clinch Silva up again. When they stall out, Holm times an elbow to break away, and she separates to back off only to lunge forward with a few punches. Silva wings an elbow that slams into Holm’s temple, and Holm has to shake it off and retreat. Silva chases with a few punches, and Holm kicks her way out of a clinch and starts working the body with her feet. Silva comes up short on a front kick, and Holm bounces around before Silva comes towards her. Holm dodges a spinning strike, and she takes a left on the chin and a subsequent right hand to stun Holm. The former champ shoots in for a double after getting her bell rung, and the Brazilian keeps her back to the cage wall and even lifts up a knee to hit Holm during the takedown. Silva motions to Peterson to get between them, but the round ends with Holm hanging on tight.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Holm
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Holm
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Holm
Round 2
Holm paces back and forth in her corner before they start fighting again, and Silva takes the center of the cage and gets kicked in the midsection on the way in. Cutting Holm off, Silva pops Holm with a right hook. The former kickboxer moves forward to clinch, and Silva slides her arm under the chin with her back leaned against the wall.
As Holm leans over for a potential takedown, Silva connects her arm to set up a ninja choke that is a modified, dangerous guillotine choke. Holm wriggles but is shocked at this situation, as she is trapped and cannot come up with a way to get out of the bad spot. “Sheetara” leans forward to press her chest down and put more pressure on the neck and submission grip, and she knows she has set the hook. Before she goes out, Holm frantically taps out on the side of her opponent.
Peterson rushes to the other side to see if there had been a tap, and Silva releases the grip before Peterson is able to get between them and separate them. This is a massive feather in the cap for the Brazilian, who is only the second fighter to ever submit Holm – and the first, Miesha Tate, did so to win the bantamweight title. The victorious Silva is the only betting underdog to have pulled off a win tonight, and she made a real statement and stamped herself as an instant contender for the champ-less division. In her post-fight interview, Silva speaks about her mental health issues, thanking those that helped her through the worst days that are behind her. Calling for a title shot, it could be entirely possible that “Sheetara” punched her ticket for that opportunity, as the line of contenders is hardly a determined one. If she gets the next crack at the 135-pound title, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
The Official Result
Mayra Bueno Silva def. Holly Holm R2 0:38 via Submission (Ninja Choke)
Angelo is confident in Holly Holm, calling her the more technical striker with better takedown defense and offense. He notes Silva's losses have come via wrestling, and Holly can do the same. He thinks Holly can hold Silva against the cage, get takedowns, and avoid submissions. He placed a one-unit moneyline bet at minus 160. He disagrees with a DM suggesting Silva should be the favorite, stating Holly has earned the right to be favored.
Big Brady picks Holly Holm but with hesitation, as he sees two clear outcomes: Holm dominating on the feet or Bueno Silva catching an armbar. He notes Holm is 41 but still looks good, and if she fights smart and keeps it standing, she should cruise. However, he worries Holm might take Bueno Silva down and get submitted. He is not betting this fight due to the risk.
Cody picks Holly Holm, comparing her to a Rolex watch that keeps going. He highlights her high ring IQ, ability to adapt, and wrestling improvements. He notes Silva's takedown defense issues and that Holm can mix in takedowns. He expects Holm to Matador from the outside, mix in takedowns, and win a decision, possibly winning championship rounds.
James is leaning towards Mayra Bueno Silva as an underdog. He notes that Holly Holm is 41 years old and may be declining, while Bueno Silva has strong submission skills and finishing ability. He mentions that many respected bettors are on Holm, but he is skeptical of her grappling and thinks Bueno Silva could submit her. He plans to watch more tape but is leaning towards the dog side.
The host believes Holm's veteran savvy and clinch-heavy approach will keep her safe from Bueno Silva's submissions. He expects Holm to mix striking, clinch, and grappling to cruise to a decision win. He notes Bueno Silva's lack of urgency and low volume as weaknesses.
Paul picks Holly Holm, citing her technical striking, experience, and ability to win at range. He expects a slow, tepid fight with Holm winning a decision, similar to the Vieira fight. He notes the line moved from -145 to -180, so he missed his betting window. He also mentions the PrizePicks over 90.5 significant strikes is tight and won't play it.
The MMA Guru picks Holly Holm over Mayra Bueno Silva, noting Holm's activity, athleticism, and ability to control fights against the cage. He questions Silva's cardio for a five-round fight and doubts her submission threat, believing Holm can dictate where the fight takes place. He predicts Holm wins by decision or late stoppage.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 25 of 50 | 50% | 40 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:21 |
| Lina Länsberg | 0 | 39 of 69 | 56% | 58 of 90 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 5:09 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 17 of 36 | 47% | 27 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:10 |
| Lina Länsberg | 0 | 24 of 47 | 51% | 31 of 55 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 | |
| 2 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 13 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:11 |
| Lina Länsberg | 0 | 15 of 22 | 68% | 27 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:53 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 25 of 50 | 50% | 16 of 41 | 7 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 43 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Lina Länsberg | 39 of 69 | 56% | 13 of 38 | 17 of 20 | 9 of 11 | 21 of 47 | 11 of 13 | 7 of 9 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 17 of 36 | 47% | 10 of 29 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 31 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Lina Länsberg | 24 of 47 | 51% | 3 of 21 | 14 of 17 | 7 of 9 | 16 of 36 | 8 of 9 | 0 of 2 | |
| 2 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 8 of 14 | 57% | 6 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Lina Länsberg | 15 of 22 | 68% | 10 of 17 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 11 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 7 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Silva (-435), Lansberg (+350)
Round 1
The only fighters tonight holding a ranked spot on the roster are the four women competing. Before the big-time main event, two bantamweights on the outer edge of the top 15 will look to maintain or improve that number. Lansberg (10-7, 4-6 UFC), at the age of 40 and on a three-fight skid dating back to 2020, has her back against the wall. Meanwhile, Silva (9-2-1, 4-2-1 UFC) has gotten her hand raised both times in 2022 with plenty of momentum on her side, and a potential passing of the torch moment might be coming soon. The ladies will be joined by referee Jacob Montalvo, who clocks them in right before they bump fists. Lansberg reaches her hands out to hand-fight, and Silva leads off with a low kick. Lansberg, with her fingers outstretched, jab straight into the Brazilian’s right eye, and we have a pause about 15 seconds into the match. Silva blinks it out and is good to go before long, and they resume. Lansberg scores a jab, and Silva flails back with punches and spins with a back kick to the liver. Lansberg wears it well but is backed against the cage, and Silva is on top of her landing strikes to the head and body before disengaging. They go back to hand-fighting before Silva plods forward with two body kicks. Lansberg looks to get off a standing elbow up close, but Silva stops it and kicks her in the calf and then ribs. A punch from Silva forces Lansberg to ricochet off the fencing, and they clinch up to allow Lansberg to rip an elbow over the top. Silva breaks off and lets fly with a barrage of leg kicks and follow-up shins to the liver area. Silva stabs her toes to the body with a subsequent kick, and Lansberg takes it flush and walks her down to clinch up and strike up close. Silva is the one that gets off elbows on the inside, and not “Elbow Queen,” as she mixes in knees before they separate. Lansberg looks to search for the clinch again, and she scores a few knees and uppercuts before Silva unloads with a knee to the body to get her to break up. Silva spins with another back kick to the body, and Lansberg ties her up and knees the ribs. Silva spins her around up against the wire, and they trade knees one after the other. Silva changes levels in search of a single-leg takedown, and the Swede sprawls and gets her legs tripped up briefly. Silva muscles Lansberg down to the mat, dropping the 40-year-old right on her face. Silva moves to half guard as Lansberg winds up on her back, and she slashes down with a quick elbow. Silva fights off a sweep attempt and hacks down with another elbow before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
The second round begins with a sharp striking exchange, with Lansberg pushing the pace early and winging elbows when clinching up. Silva pushes her away and pounds the calf with kicks, marking up an already welted lead wheel for the Swede. As Lansberg recklessly pushes forward to initiate some sort of offense, Silva uses her foe’s momentum against her and trips her to the ground. The Brazilian hits the mat in half guard from above, and she uses her shoulder to press down on Lansberg’s chin. Silva slowly works her way to attempt a guard pass, preferring position over submission or damage. Lansberg protects her mug from any ground strikes, but she is being wholly controlled on bottom. Silva shifts to three-quarter mount and happily takes the back when Lansberg scrambles, sliding both hooks in instinctively. Lansberg hand-fights to protect her neck from a submission, and Silva drops down a pair of elbows to the side of the head. Silva softens Lansberg up with strikes, and she pulls back to resume the back control with her hooks in. The Brazilian cinches up a body triangle, and Lansberg keeps a tight grip on Silva’s left arm beneath her armpit. Silva elbows her foe repeatedly until she forces a scramble, and Lansberg scrambles to get out of an armbar setup that develops in a hurry. Lansberg keeps moving and stands up, but instead of forcing Silva to stand back up, she decides to dive back in the fire and claim top position.
“Sheetara” welcomes this, as she finds that Lansberg landed on the mat in such a position that she can grab hold of the foot and torque it to straight the leg out. Silva locks up a kneebar, and before it hyperextends and the tendons shred like a chuck roast in a crock pot, Lansberg taps out on her opponent’s hip.
In the blink of an eye, Silva now finds herself on a three-fight win streak with two submissions in that run, and she calls for a top contender like Raquel Pennington, Miesha Tate or Julianna Pena next to get a crack at gold.
The Official Result
Mayra Bueno Silva def. Lina Lansberg R2 4:45 via Submission (Kneebar)
Angelo is confident in Bueno Silva but acknowledges the matchup is tricky. He notes Bueno Silva has zero takedowns in the UFC despite four submission wins, relying on pulling guard or submissions from bottom. Länsberg is a world champion Muay Thai striker who can't defend takedowns, but Bueno Silva may struggle to get the fight to the ground. Angelo still expects Bueno Silva to win, likely by submission, but admits Länsberg could win if she keeps it standing.
Big Brady notes that Bueno Silva has incredible grappling but never initiates takedowns (0-for-1 in UFC). He thinks the fight will stay on the feet, where Länsberg has power and has been competitive as a dog. He still picks Bueno Silva to win by decision, but warns against the -425 line.
Cody picks Bueno Silva but is not confident at -500. He notes she is very slow and plotted, with zero percent takedown accuracy in the UFC. Her best attribute is the armbar, but she has no wrestling to set it up. He says if she can't take Länsberg down, it becomes a striking battle where Länsberg is effective in the clinch. However, Länsberg is 40 and doesn't have the cardio to keep pace. He thinks the fight likely goes to decision and warns that holding a -500 ticket in women's MMA is risky due to judging.
Connor agrees with Zane, calling it a physicality pick. He notes that Länsberg has been outmuscled by less athletic fighters like Pannie Kianzad, and that she lacks a functional game against stronger opponents. He also points out that Länsberg is trying to change her style at age 40, which is unlikely to succeed. Connor feels bad for Länsberg but sees Silva as the clear winner.
Jacob agrees with Bueno Silva but thinks the fight could be closer than expected. He notes Länsberg wants to clinch and hold against the cage, and Bueno Silva is also a Muay Thai striker who doesn't mind clinch positions. Jacob emphasizes Bueno Silva needs to use trips and judo to get the fight to the ground, where her Jiu-Jitsu dominates. He believes if she can do that, she finishes the fight.
Bueno Silva has youth, speed, and power advantages, and her striking should overwhelm the aging Länsberg. Länsberg is on the decline and has been outworked in recent fights. Expect Bueno Silva to land a big shot and finish via submission (club and sub) in the second round.
Paul picks Bueno Silva but says minus 500 doesn't get him out of bed. He thinks the most interesting part is the over/under, noting Länsberg is durable and the fight likely goes to decision. He says the first-round finish against Edgar is cooked into the line. He plans to bet the fight goes to decision at minus 125. He calls Bueno Silva the pick but won't lay the heavy chalk.
The MMA Guru confidently picks Mayra Bueno Silva, calling Lina Länsberg a middle-aged mom who hasn't finished anyone in years. He praises Silva's forward pressure, good chin, and recent performance against Manon Fiorot. He predicts Silva will beat Länsberg on the feet, leading to a panic takedown attempt from Länsberg, and Silva will latch on a submission from the bottom, likely an armbar or triangle in the first two rounds.
Zane notes that Länsberg is 40 years old on a three-fight losing streak and has tried to change her style but hasn't succeeded. He describes Silva as a hard-hitting opportunist who knows how to implement her game, even if her technique is rough. He believes Länsberg lacks the physicality and technical skill to stop Silva from imposing her will, and that Silva's aggression and submission threats will be too much. Zane also mentions that Länsberg's attempts to become an out-fighter have not worked, and she is likely to be bullied.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Stephanie Egger | 0 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 12 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 0 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Stephanie Egger | 0 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 12 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayra Bueno Silva | 4 of 4 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Stephanie Egger | 8 of 13 | 61% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 6 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayra Bueno Silva | 4 of 4 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Stephanie Egger | 8 of 13 | 61% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 6 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Silva (-110), Egger (-110)
Round 1
This ESPN card has taken some hits right before it was set to go down, but it will proceed with 10 fights at the UFC Apex. The first comes in the women’s bantamweight category, as two finish-minded ladies each sporting stoppage rates at 75% or above toe the line. Brazil’s Bueno Silva (8-2-1, 3-2-1 UFC) will battle it out with well-rounded Egger (7-2, 2-1 UFC), and the referee in charge of their meeting is Chris Tognoni. The gloves get to touched to start off this evening’s violence, and the women measure their range and clash shins together with the first strikes of the night. Bueno Silva swats at her foe with a few punches, and Egger responds by grabbing her and hip tossing Bueno Silva over. Bueno Silva takes her back for a moment, only to get rolled around. When Egger claims top position, she starts smashing down punches and elbows. Egger falls into an armbar as she is throwing strikes, and Bueno Silva locks it up fast.
The Swiss fighter stacks her up, but she falls forward and the submission is tighter. Bueno Silva shouts to Tognoni that Egger tapped, and she lets go of the move and holds her arms up. Everyone is confused, because Egger does not admit she tapped out, and just glances at Tognoni with a quizzical look. After a few seconds of awkwardness, Tognoni waves the fight off, apparently from Bueno Silva’s claim of the tap.
Tognoni goes to consult the replay official to review the stoppage, and when this does not prove conclusive, he does the rare but proper call of polling the judges – this means, asking the judges what they saw and if there is something only seen from one of their vantage points. Judge Ron McCarthy declares that he clearly saw a tapout, and that is all that is needed to put this result in the books. A unique instance, but proper in the confines of the rules. Egger protests that she did not tap out, but it’s all over. This speedy submission for Bueno Silva goes down as one of the quickest in UFC women’s divisional history.
The Official Result
Mayra Bueno Silva def. Stephanie Egger R1 1:17 via Submission (Armbar)
Angelo picks Mayra Bueno Silva despite her takedown defense concerns. He notes she defended 19 takedowns combined in her three fights where she was taken down, and believes her physicality and striking should get her the win. He acknowledges the risk of being controlled on the ground but trusts her ability to keep it standing enough to win a decision.
Big Brady favors Mayra Bueno Silva as a dog, citing her superior striking volume and power, as well as her dangerous grappling off her back. He notes that Stephanie Egger's grappling is solid but her striking is still developing, and he believes Bueno Silva can keep the fight on the feet and outpoint Egger. He also mentions that if taken down, Bueno Silva is extremely active and dangerous on the mat. He predicts a decision win for Bueno Silva.
Cody also picks Bueno Silva, agreeing that she has the striking advantage. He notes that Egger's only path is to get the fight to the ground, but Bueno Silva has shown durability and ability to survive bad spots. Cody is concerned about Bueno Silva's habit of shaking off punches, which may not impress judges. He thinks she wins but won't lay money.
Daniel Levi picks Bueno Silva at underdog odds, citing her power striking and ability to land damage on the feet. He worries about her takedown defense, as Egger has a strong grappling background, but believes Bueno Silva can win by knockout or submission if she avoids being controlled. He likes the value since the line flipped.
Paul picks Bueno Silva as a dog, noting that she is strong, physical, and durable. He mentions that Egger is a judoka who needs the clinch, while Bueno Silva wants to strike. Paul thinks Bueno Silva's power and tenacity will be enough to rough up Egger. He is waiting for a better price, as the line has moved to +117.
The MMA Guru picks Mayra Bueno Silva, citing her toughness, durability, and excellent jiu-jitsu. He believes she can tough out positions and push the pace in later rounds, winning 29-28. He notes that Stephanie Egger's recent wins over Jessica-Rose Clark and others are not impressive, and that Bueno Silva has submissions and a draw with Montana De La Rosa.
Expert Picks (10)
Angelo picks Pennington, citing her experience, pressure, and control style. He acknowledges Bueno Silva's power and submissions but believes Pennington's grit and high-level experience will prevail. He has a quarter unit on Pennington at plus 135 and will monitor for better value. He notes the potential distraction of Pennington's eight-month-old baby.
Big Brady picks Silva, noting her submission skills are top-notch. He expects the fight to hit the mat at some point, where Silva will have the advantage. He thinks the striking will be close but Silva's forward pressure and durability will be key. He predicts a submission win for Silva.
Cody picks Bueno Silva but is not confident, citing her submission threat and the fact that Pennington fights in the clinch where Silva caught Holly Holm. However, he worries about Silva's cardio and the lack of her ADHD medication (ritalinic acid) in a five-round fight. He sees Pennington as a live underdog but ultimately goes with Silva.
Vreeland picks Bueno Silva, analyzing her striking success against Holly Holm. He notes that Silva found the range against Holm and landed impactful strikes. He contrasts Pennington's lack of range kicks and long fighting style, which should allow Silva to close distance. Vreeland also mentions Silva's submission threat if Pennington shoots takedowns. He sees Silva overwhelming Pennington on the feet.
Daniel Vreeland picks Mayra Bueno Silva to become the new bantamweight champion. He highlights her heavy power, devastating leg kicks, and finishing instinct, including the ninja choke. He expects her calf kicks to be effective against Pennington's stationary boxing style, and believes she will land the harder shots throughout the fight, possibly finishing or winning a decision.
Fox picks Bueno Silva as the better fighter, but acknowledges Pennington's tendency to win. He notes Pennington's year-long layoff as a concern. Fox doesn't provide detailed technical analysis but defers to Silva's overall skill advantage.
This fight is not discussed in the transcript. The host only covers the main event, co-main event (Weili Zhang vs Tatiana Suarez), and other fights, but not Pennington vs Bueno Silva.
I'm leaning on Bueno Silva to win inside the distance, likely by submission. Pennington could be the busier fighter and win rounds with volume, but Bueno Silva has a finish-heavy style that can break and frustrate Pennington. I think Bueno Silva lands a shot that opens up a clinch and sub opportunity. I'm not taking the moneyline at -155; I prefer the inside distance prop. I'd be very surprised if Pennington finishes Bueno Silva.
Paul picks Pennington, emphasizing her experience in five-round fights, superior cardio, and wrestling. He notes Bueno Silva's submission threat but believes Pennington can avoid submissions and take over in later rounds. He also jokes about Silva missing her ADHD medication affecting her focus.
The MMA Guru picks Mayra Bueno Silva, citing her higher finishing potential and submission ability. He notes her win over Holly Holm (though overturned) and her competitive fight with Manon Fiorot. He believes she will submit Pennington with a knee bar in round two.
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