Career Averages - Bruno Silva
Career Averages - Édgar Cháirez
Bruno Silva
Édgar Cháirez
Bruno Silva - Fight History
The host picks Bruno Silva, noting that Silva is better on the mat and can counter while moving forward on the feet. He believes Silva's opportunistic takedowns and slick transitions will give him the edge. He also mentions that Silva does not accept bottom position and is quick to attack submissions.
AJ picks Bruno Silva due to his well-rounded game, strong wrestling, and experience against elite competition. He views Cháirez as having questionable fight IQ and less proven wins. AJ expects Silva to outwork Cháirez over three rounds, possibly winning a decision, and notes Silva's toughness and activity as green flags.
Angelo picks Bruno Silva, citing his power and output advantage. He believes Silva will be the one moving forward and dictating pace, making Cháirez uncomfortable. He notes that when pressured, Cháirez tends to back up and doesn't fight as comfortably, and may get taken down where he throws up random submissions.
Big Brady picks Édgar Cháirez to win by third round knockout. He thinks the market is low on Cháirez after a poor performance in Mexico City, but expects Cháirez to return to his aggressive style. He notes that Bruno Silva is older and has been finished multiple times, and that Cháirez has a good chance to land a big shot late.
Édgar Cháirez is the underdog but has power and range with head kicks and jabs. Bruno Silva is past his prime and likely won't take the fight to the ground. Cháirez will win by decision, using his reach advantage and boxing, as Silva's recent performances have been poor.
Cody picks Cháirez as a slight underdog, noting it's a 50/50 fight. He cites Cháirez's youth, reach advantage, and better gas tank. Silva is older and may slow down. He prefers the plus money on Cháirez.
Bruno Silva is picked because he has faster hands, more power, and better wrestling than Édgar Cháirez. Cháirez struggled against Felipe Bunes and has a tendency to pull guard and sit in his guard. Silva's aggressive pressure and ground and pound should overwhelm Cháirez. The host expects a decision win, as both are durable.
Silva has more pathways to victory with his grappling and wrestling advantage. Chavez has been taken down by lesser wrestlers. Silva should bank the first round with takedowns and win a decision.
Lucrative James picks Édgar Cháirez, citing Bruno Silva's age (36) and recent decline at flyweight, where fighters peak young. He notes Cháirez's finishing ability, having hurt top fighters like Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira, and Silva's increased vulnerability. He predicts Cháirez will hurt Silva on the feet and secure a submission, possibly a guillotine or rear-naked choke.
Silva's pressure, calf kicks, and boxing combinations should overwhelm Cháirez, who lacks one-punch knockout power. Silva dictates the pace and avoids submission threats, grinding out a decision. The -135 line is acceptable.
Paul picks Silva but is hesitant, noting both fighters are durable and the fight likely goes to decision. He prefers the over 2.5 rounds prop as the best bet. He admits Silva is a fan pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Johnson | 0 | 85 of 162 | 52% | 110 of 189 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 73 of 136 | 53% | 101 of 171 | 0 of 8 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:43 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Johnson | 0 | 18 of 34 | 52% | 18 of 36 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 19 | 63% | 15 of 22 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 | |
| 2 | Charles Johnson | 0 | 33 of 60 | 55% | 38 of 65 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 27 of 53 | 50% | 37 of 66 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:21 | |
| 3 | Charles Johnson | 0 | 34 of 68 | 50% | 54 of 88 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 34 of 64 | 53% | 49 of 83 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:29 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Johnson | 85 of 162 | 52% | 43 of 101 | 30 of 46 | 12 of 15 | 61 of 132 | 24 of 30 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 73 of 136 | 53% | 52 of 106 | 14 of 21 | 7 of 9 | 71 of 131 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Johnson | 18 of 34 | 52% | 7 of 18 | 7 of 10 | 4 of 6 | 11 of 26 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 12 of 19 | 63% | 6 of 11 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 12 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Charles Johnson | 33 of 60 | 55% | 17 of 37 | 10 of 16 | 6 of 7 | 29 of 56 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 27 of 53 | 50% | 18 of 39 | 6 of 9 | 3 of 5 | 27 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Charles Johnson | 34 of 68 | 50% | 19 of 46 | 13 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 21 of 50 | 13 of 18 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 34 of 64 | 53% | 28 of 56 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 32 of 60 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Johnson (-200); Silva (+170)
Round 1
Keith Peterson is the referee. Silva with an inside low kick early. Johnson shoots behind a punch. Silva defends and they’re in the clinch. Johnson lands a hook on the break. Johnson fakes a shot behind a left. Johnson with a front kick. The American shoots from long distance and Silva defends easily. Silva shoves his foe into the fence. Silva backs off. A right lands for Johnson, who follows with a leg kick. A sharp right connects for the Brazilian. Silva kicks the body. Johnson appears to be bothered by the pressure. Silva clinches again and locks his hands. Johnson lands an elbow in close quaters and Silva backs off. Silva lands in an exchange. They trade low kicks. Silva with a right as Johnson moves forward. Johnson partially lands a high kick. Johnson mixes in a low kick and a front kick. Silva answers by kicking the body. Silva keeps the pressure on late in the round.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Round 2
Johnson kicks the body and they trade in the pocket. Silva blocks a head kick. Silva is pressuring and Johnson is forced to defend a takedown. Johnson lands a knee and shoves his foe away. A jab lands for Johnson before Silva shoots. Johnson denies the takedown and the flyweights clinch against the fence. Silva backs off and Johnson lands a combination. A kick by Silva lands below the belt and time is called. Johnson is ready to go right away. They trade low kicks. Silva again looks for the takedown, shoving Johnson into the fence. Johnson lands a knee before they separate. Johson lands a kick and Silva counters. A straight left gets through for Johnson. Silva clinches behind an uppercut and they break quickly. Johnson fires a high kcik, but it doesn’t land clean. Another uppercut for Silva, who clinches with his opponent again. Johnson lands a short elbow in close. Silva lands a combination against the fence. A body kick lands for Johnson. The flyweights clash heads in the clinch and Johnson seemed to get the worst of it. Time is called. Silva fires a front kick and it lands low. It’s the second low blow of the round, and Johnson is in more pain than he was from the first foul. No point is taken, however. Johnson grabs a leg but lets it go. Silva with a body kick before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Johnson
Round 3
Johnson catches a kick and lets the leg go. Johnson lands a left and they clinch. Inside leg kick for Johnson, and they clinch in the center of the cage. Silva shoves Johnson into the fence. Silva drops low in pursuit of the takedown, but Johnson defends well. Jonson jabs and they trae in close quarters. Both men land before the flyweights clinch. They battle for position before separating. This time Johnson initiates the clinch. Silva lands a combination at range and he’s pressuring Johnson, who is in defense mode. Silva ties up with his opponent against the cage. Johnson denies a takedown attempt. Johnson with a high kick on the break. Silva tries a spinning back elbow. Johnson with kicks and a right hand in hopes of creating space. Silva closes the distance again, shoving Johnson into the fence. He briefly gets the American down, but he’s up in short order. Silva moves in and lands an uppercut before clinching. They battle it out in the clinch, and Johnson lands a nice knee. Silva moves forward and goes back to the uppercut. Jonson responds with a slashing elbow. Silva keeps moving forward. but Johnson is landing plenty of offense. Both men are slugging it out in the waning moments of the fight. Johnson is finding the mark quite often. Another elbow lands for Johnson. They trade right up until the final horn, with Silva getting in a few more shots.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (30-27 Johnson)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (30-27 Johnson)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Johnson (30-27 Johnson)
The Official Result
Charles Johnson def. Bruno Silva via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) R3 5:00
Angelo picks Charles Johnson but admits nervousness due to Bruno Silva's one-punch knockout power. He notes Johnson's excellent footwork, hand speed, and cardio, and believes if Johnson gets going early, he can avoid the big shot and win a decision. He acknowledges Johnson has been knocked out before but thinks his high IQ will prevail.
Big Brady picks Charles Johnson to win by third-round knockout, but expresses wariness due to Johnson's recent knockout loss and chin concerns. He likes the stylistic matchup, noting Silva's front-loaded power and tendency to fade, but worries Johnson might get knocked out early. He calls Johnson inconsistent.
Cody picks Bruno Silva as a dog, citing his wrestling, power, and durability. He notes Johnson's takedown defense issues and recent knockout loss. He thinks Silva can win by decision or submission.
Connor also picks Charles Johnson, emphasizing that Bruno Silva lacks the ability to adjust strategically, while Johnson can figure out his opponent as the fight progresses. He notes that Silva's wins come from opponents making the same mistakes, which Johnson does not do. Connor sees Johnson's adaptability as the key factor.
James picks Charles Johnson to win by decision, but expresses concern about Johnson's quick return after a knockout loss. He notes Johnson's superior cardio, volume, and tools, but worries about his durability and potential recklessness. He believes Johnson is the better fighter overall but is uncertain how he will approach the fight.
The host picks Johnson to win by decision, expecting him to outclass Silva on the feet. He highlights Johnson's reach advantage, defensive grappling, and ability to get back to his feet quickly. He believes Johnson's striking will be too much for Silva, and that Silva's power and grappling won't be enough to overcome Johnson's technical edge.
Paul picks Bruno Silva, noting he bets him every fight. He likes his wrestling and power, and thinks he can outgrapple Johnson. He expects a close fight but Silva has value at plus money.
The Guru picks Charles Johnson, believing he will walk down Bruno Silva as the fight progresses. He notes Johnson's size advantage (5'9" vs 5'4") and reach, and that Silva fights in bursts and lacks consistent finishing ability. He predicts a TKO in the second round.
Zane picks Charles Johnson, citing Johnson's ability to adjust and evolve during fights, unlike Bruno Silva who tends to make the same mistakes repeatedly. He notes that Silva's wins come against fighters who repeat errors, while Johnson adapts and finds solutions. Zane acknowledges Silva's danger but believes Johnson's flexibility gives him the edge.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 1 | 46 of 74 | 62% | 60 of 92 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 1 | 0 | 4:49 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 0 | 31 of 108 | 28% | 56 of 136 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:42 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 20 of 33 | 60% | 20 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:40 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 0 | 10 of 31 | 32% | 15 of 37 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:42 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 1 | 12 of 18 | 66% | 26 of 36 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:25 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 0 | 7 of 31 | 22% | 27 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 14 of 23 | 60% | 14 of 23 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 0:44 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 0 | 14 of 46 | 30% | 14 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 46 of 74 | 62% | 30 of 57 | 14 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 44 of 72 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 31 of 108 | 28% | 18 of 86 | 11 of 15 | 2 of 7 | 23 of 95 | 8 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 20 of 33 | 60% | 13 of 25 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 32 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 10 of 31 | 32% | 5 of 20 | 3 of 6 | 2 of 5 | 7 of 26 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 12 of 18 | 66% | 8 of 14 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 7 of 31 | 22% | 6 of 29 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 6 of 29 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Bruno Silva | 14 of 23 | 60% | 9 of 18 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Park Hyun-sung | 14 of 46 | 30% | 7 of 37 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 10 of 40 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Park (-250); Silva (+200)
Round 1
The good news for these two flyweights is that one of them will get back in the win column. The bad is that the losing party will be on or will continue their losing streak, and that is not a great place to be after the UFC signed more fighters from this year’s Contender Series than any other. Silva (14-7-2, 1 NC; 4-4, 1 NC UFC) has dropped two straight after registering a mighty four-fight finish streak, while South Korea’s Park (10-1, 3-1 UFC) is aiming to bounce back from his first career defeat. Referee Sal Ram draws the charge for these action-packed 125ers, who race together to bump fists.
The athletes immediately start with jabs from either side, trying to figure out how far away they need to be to engage. Silva is the aggressor, although neither man commits to much in the opening 55 seconds. The Brazilian races forward with a flurry of punches, and Park ducks them and hits a counter double to take the wind out of Silva’s sails. Park climbs on from the side, and before he can get his legs around his foe, Silva explodes up to his feet. Silva leaps forward after his opponent to score a pair of scooping uppercuts, and Park shrugs them off and drops to his knees in pursuit of a takedown. Silva sprawls and spins around to take the back.
Silva lifts Park up from behind and slams him to the floor, and Park works his way up and knees Silva in the sternum to break. Silva’s uppercut scores again, but this time Park is waiting for it with a counter overhand right. Silva sneaks in an uppercut that bloodies Park’s mouth, who smiles at him and fires back with a vengeance. Silva hops back and forth between stances, and his swiping left hand further damages Park’s lower mandible. Silva aims that punch at the same target again, and Park stands him up with a head kick. Silva pushes off and a finger scrapes the eye, and Park protests but the foul is not called. A few seconds later, Ram tells Silva to watch his fingers. Silva answers with a hacking elbow that splits a cut open on the top of Park’s hairline. Blood dribbles down his forehead, and he looks for a spinning back elbow but Silva is out of the way in time. When Silva escapes, he points at Park. They both trade short punches on the inside when clashing together, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
A high-five is shared to open things up, and Park reintroduces himself with a chopping low kick and a pair of looping hooks. When Silva fires back, Park clips him with a right on the temple. The Brazilian puts everything behind a leaping left hook, and he knocks the South Korean to the canvas. The speedster Silva leaps on top and keeps Park from standing, assuming back control and following Park’s scrambles to briefly threaten. Park spins and works his way upright, chasing Silva around the cage, whipping an elbow at his man. Both men swing for the bleachers with right hooks, and Silva gets his fist on Park’s face first and disorients him. “Bulldog” bull-rushes his man and tackles him to the mat, and he tosses aside a submission setup to establish top control.
Silva smothers to keep Park from escaping, and Park tries creative scrambles, twist and turns to get out. Silva maintains his position by securing half guard, only for Park to pull his own feet beneath himself so he can pop back up to his feet. Silva rushes right at him, bullying the South Korean to the fence and working him over with short but effective left hands. Silva lifts Park’s leg up, and Park threatens by wrapping his arms around the neck. Silva backs off, and he welcomes the opportunity for Park to swing on him because he is hitting harder and more accurately. A pair of uppercuts get Park’s attention, and Silva manages to bowl Park back over and reestablish himself on top. Silva largely holds Park down for the remainder of the round, smacking him with the occasional ground strike.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 3
Ram calls time when the round begins to bring in the doctor and check on Park’s lip that is split. He is cleared to continue without issue. The fighters come together and touch gloves, and then go right after it. Park starts to smile as he connects with quick punches, and he swings while cognizant that a level change is coming. Park shuts down a takedown shot and he cracks Silva, forcing Silva to sprint away to recover. Park marches his man down, laying into him and shutting down takedown efforts. Silva just misses with a spinning back fist, and Park is still on him giving him everything he can handle. Silva replies with an uppercut, and Park catches him with a right hand. “Bulldog” steps in with a crisp knee to the solar plexus, and he catches a kick and wrenches Park to the floor. Park turns over immediately so he can post off and stand, and Silva grabs him from behind and mat returns him. Park’s mouth hangs open after the damage he has taken in this match, and Silva wraps his hooks around the waist and threatens with a choke. Park spins all the way around the break up the submission and get to his knees, but Silva follows him every step of the way. Silva hops on to snatch up an unusual rear-naked choke without a single hook in, crouched behind his adversary squeezing the life out of him. It only takes seconds before Park frantically taps out, with the choke completely locked up and going nowhere. Silva immediately releases his grip and climbs atop the cage to perform a skillful back flip, nearly sticking the landing but not having quite enough left in the tank to keep himself upright. Instead, he backwards somersaults and has a laugh, having sprung the upset by placing Park on his first career losing streak.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Hyun Sung Park R3 2:15 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo picks Bruno Silva as an underdog, arguing he is tough, gritty, and dangerous everywhere. He notes Silva's recent losses were to elite strikers (Joshua Van, Manel Kape) and believes he can win a dogfight. He acknowledges Park's grappling and power but questions his resume and durability.
Big Brady notes Park is unproven against top competition but likes his youth, power, and slick grappling. He worries about Bruno Silva's age, damage taken, and questionable durability. He thinks Park will pressure and finish Silva as the fight goes on, predicting a third-round finish.
Cody picks Silva, citing his power and durability. He notes Park has been knocked down by lesser competition and has poor durability. Silva is a dog who fights for your dollar. Cody expects Silva to win by knockout or decision.
Connor picks Bruno Silva, highlighting Silva's dynamic counter-punching and ability to find big shots even when losing. He notes that Park has thrived on athleticism and size but lacks technical depth, and that Silva's right hand is a major threat to Park's square stance. Connor also points out that Park's only real test was against Tatsuro Taira, who dominated him, and that Silva is a much tougher step up.
James is torn on this fight. He acknowledges Bruno Silva's skills but questions his durability and age (35) after two brutal knockout losses. He also notes Park's finishing ability but doubts his cardio if the fight goes long. James plans to do more tape study before making a final decision.
The host sees this as a great spot for Park to get back in the win column, utilizing his athleticism, speed, and power advantages over the veteran Bruno Silva. He expects Park to land a seminal blow in the second or third round and win by knockout.
Paul picks Silva, agreeing with Cody. He notes Park's striking is not elite and his durability is questionable. Silva has fought tougher competition and has power. Paul sees value at plus 215.
The MMA Guru picks Bruno Silva over Kyung Ho Kang Park (Park Hyun-sung). He notes Silva's dangerous striking and BJJ, and believes he won't be submitted. He thinks Park's loss to Tatsuro Taira shows he is bottom-of-the-barrel flyweight level. He predicts a hard-fought split decision win for Silva, taking him as an underdog.
Zane also picks Bruno Silva, citing Silva's underrated toughness and ability to figure out opponents who crash into him. He notes that Park has been pushed past his level of experience and has no easy answers to problems. Zane believes Silva is a lot more difficult than he gets credit for, and that Park's athleticism won't be enough.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 76 of 149 | 51% | 77 of 150 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Joshua Van | 3 | 125 of 217 | 57% | 149 of 241 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:01 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 22 of 40 | 55% | 22 of 40 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joshua Van | 1 | 28 of 55 | 50% | 28 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 22 of 49 | 44% | 22 of 49 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Joshua Van | 2 | 52 of 93 | 55% | 76 of 117 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:55 | |
| 3 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 32 of 60 | 53% | 33 of 61 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Joshua Van | 0 | 45 of 69 | 65% | 45 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 76 of 149 | 51% | 37 of 101 | 13 of 19 | 26 of 29 | 73 of 146 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Joshua Van | 125 of 217 | 57% | 108 of 196 | 11 of 14 | 6 of 7 | 97 of 177 | 4 of 5 | 24 of 35 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 22 of 40 | 55% | 7 of 22 | 2 of 4 | 13 of 14 | 22 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joshua Van | 28 of 55 | 50% | 24 of 48 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 26 of 52 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 22 of 49 | 44% | 9 of 33 | 5 of 8 | 8 of 8 | 22 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Joshua Van | 52 of 93 | 55% | 45 of 86 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 33 of 65 | 2 of 3 | 17 of 25 | |
| 3 | Bruno Silva | 32 of 60 | 53% | 21 of 46 | 6 of 7 | 5 of 7 | 29 of 57 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Joshua Van | 45 of 69 | 65% | 39 of 62 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 38 of 60 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 8 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Van (-625), Silva (+455)
Round 1
Vitor Ribeiro will oversee our last preliminary fight. Silva immediately scores a knockdown with his opening leg kick. Van pops back up. Both men are feeling each other out early. Silva scores with several inside leg kicks. Van fires back with a jab and then a straight right hand just barely misses. Silva scores again with a leg kick. Van lands a right-hand counter and then sneaks in an uppercut after Silva tries to flurry. The sharp striking of Van is really hurting Silva each time he lands. Silva tries to enter by charging forward. A straight right that is followed by a left hook floors Silva. Van is in complete control. Van lands a left hook as Silva misses with an overhand right. Silva goes back to his leg kicks, which is the only success he is having. Silva is eating jabs.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Van
Round 2
Van comes out aggressive to start the second round. Silva clinches with Van to slow down the pace, but can't keep control of him. Van is working his jab while avoiding the punches of Silva. Van sneaks in a jab as Silva tries to throw a hook. Silva's face is reddened, while it doesn't look like Van has taken a single punch. Silva goes back to leg kicks, which are still effective. Nice hook to the body for Silva, who tries to throw a front kick, but it misses. Van drops Silva with a straight right hand that came as Silva was rushing forward. Van scores with ground and pound, but Silva gets back to his feet and charges for a takedown. While successful, Silva can't keep Van on the ground. Van lands a right hook that wobbles Silva. Van lands a knee to Silva as his opponent was changing levels. Van is in guard and lands punches before letting Silva up as the round expires.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Van
Round 3
Silva uses the outside and lands a nice body kick. Van is working his jab well and then slips in a right straight. It feels as if every punch Van throws finds its mark. A nice 1-2 lands for Van, who follows it up with an uppercut. Silva is throwing back, even if he's outgunned and is showing some serious toughness. Van eats a right hand, which Silva follows with a leg kick. So far, this is Silva's best round, but he's still getting pieced up. A right hand for Van lands, bloodying the nose of Silva. A heavy jab lands for Van before landing another 1-2. Silva walks into a right hook, which stuns him. Van takes full advantage as he charges forward with uppercuts that knock Silva down, and then
Van rains down punches for the TKO victory
.
The Official Result
Joshua Van def. Bruno Silva via TKO (Punches); R3, 4:01.
Angelo picks Joshua Van because of his rapid improvements and clean technique. He acknowledges Bruno Silva's power and toughness but thinks Bruno is sloppy and older. He worries about Joshua's chin after the Charles Johnson KO but believes Joshua's striking will be too clean. He notes the odds are becoming unusable at 5-to-1.
Big Brady picks Joshua Van but acknowledges this is his toughest test. He likes Van's volume, pressure, and pace, and thinks he will break Silva in the later rounds. He notes Silva's power and that Van has been finished before, but expects Van to overcome early adversity and knock Silva out in the third round. He cites Silva's history of being finished in the third round.
The fight may be competitive early, but Van's classic style is expected to take over as he batters Bruno Silva through the last 12.5 minutes. Van wins on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Joshua Van, citing his composure, distance control, and improving takedown defense. He notes Bruno Silva is underrated and has power, but Van can slow the fight down and build momentum. He predicts a unanimous decision win for Van, possibly 30-27, with a scare if Van's back is taken.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manel Kape | 1 | 111 of 168 | 66% | 111 of 168 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 57 of 112 | 50% | 60 of 115 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manel Kape | 0 | 32 of 48 | 66% | 32 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 19 of 34 | 55% | 21 of 36 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Manel Kape | 0 | 39 of 66 | 59% | 39 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 27 of 43 | 62% | 28 of 44 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Manel Kape | 1 | 40 of 54 | 74% | 40 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 11 of 35 | 31% | 11 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manel Kape | 111 of 168 | 66% | 71 of 127 | 18 of 19 | 22 of 22 | 109 of 165 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Bruno Silva | 57 of 112 | 50% | 27 of 74 | 21 of 29 | 9 of 9 | 55 of 110 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manel Kape | 32 of 48 | 66% | 21 of 37 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 9 | 31 of 47 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 19 of 34 | 55% | 7 of 18 | 10 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Manel Kape | 39 of 66 | 59% | 25 of 52 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 9 | 38 of 65 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 27 of 43 | 62% | 13 of 27 | 7 of 9 | 7 of 7 | 26 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Manel Kape | 40 of 54 | 74% | 25 of 38 | 11 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 40 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Bruno Silva | 11 of 35 | 31% | 7 of 29 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Kape (-345), Silva (+275)
Round 1
Keith Peterson will referee the final flyweight fight on the UFC calendar. Kape's striking looks extremely quick. Silva throws out some kicks but eats a right hand for leaving it out. Nice leg kick by Kape, who then follows it up with punches. A big overhand right for Silva lands. A low blow hits Kape. The fight is restarted after a brief break. Silva keeps getting caught by Kape after he throws out leg kicks. Kape is the faster fighter. Kape gets kicked in the groin again. No point is taken. Kape finishes off the round in control and misses a spinning back fist.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kape
Round 2
Silva charges forward, trying to get a takedown attempt, but it's unsuccessful. Kape catches Silva with a hook. Silva gets hurt with a right hook. Kape taunts him and then lands a huge right hand as well. Silva's power is just not respected by Kape. Yet another low blow as Kape goes down. Peterson finally takes a point from Silva. Kape looks reenergized. After hitting Silva with a right hook, Kape mocks him and dances as he avoids another punch. Incredible theater here and quite embarrassing for Silva, who is getting clowned up despite landing several illegal strikes. A solid right hand lands for Silva. Kape finishes the round with a solid body kick.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Kape
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Kape
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Kape
Round 3
Silva comes out recklessly swinging as he knows he needs a finish. A right hand cracks Kape, but he doesn't show any signs of being hurt. Kape is continuing to piece up Silva, landing a combination of punches to the body. Silva walks backward into the fence while Kape lands hooks to the body. Silva charges forward and lands a left hook.
Kape lands a brutal body kick, and Silva turtles up. Kape continues with a flurry of punches, and Silva falls to the floor.
Peterson waves it off as Silva has no fight left in him.
The Official Result
Manel Kape def. Bruno Silva via TKO (Punches); R3, 1:57.
Angelo picks Kape as the cleaner, more technical striker with better footwork. He notes Kape's speed, explosiveness, and ability to bounce in and out of range, while Silva is a tough bruiser who is good everywhere but not technical. He expects Kape to win by decision due to Silva's toughness, and sees value in Kape's odds.
Big Brady picks Manel Kape to win by second-round knockout, but is hesitant due to Kape's inconsistency. He notes Kape has looked like a star in some fights but has also had terrible performances where he did nothing. He thinks Kape has a major skill advantage and should finish Silva, but is not sure he will show up.
Cody picks Bruno Silva as a live underdog, citing Manel Kape's history of tentative performances and poor output. He notes Silva's power, durability, and recent knockout wins, and believes Silva's willingness to push the pace will expose Kape's tendency to sit back. Cody also mentions Silva's training at Fight Ready with high-level partners.
Connor picks Kape, acknowledging Silva's toughness and well-roundedness but noting that Kape's athleticism and speed are superior. He thinks Silva's best chance is to pressure, but that plays into Kape's counterpunching. Connor expects a slow fight where Kape eventually lands a big shot.
Daniel Vreeland picks Manel Kape to win by knockout, citing Kape's fast hands and explosiveness. He notes that Bruno Silva is tough and will stand and trade, which plays into Kape's strengths. Vreeland believes Kape can hurt Silva more than Cody Durman did, and that a finish is likely. He mentions Kape's past issues with overconfidence but thinks he will perform well here.
Lucrative James picks Manel Kape to win, citing Kape's accuracy, athleticism, and durability. He acknowledges Bruno Silva's power and grappling upside, but believes Kape's sharpshooting and ability to land heavy blows will prevail. He notes Silva's recent poor performance against Cody Durden and Kape's overall skill advantage, though he admits Silva has value as an underdog.
Kape's explosiveness, power, and speed will be too much for Bruno Silva. He will land the more damaging strikes, which could lead to a finish, but the prediction is for Kape to win on the scorecards.
Paul leans towards Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody that the price is too high on Kape. He notes Kape's inconsistency and Silva's power and durability. Paul sees this as a dogger pass situation and is willing to take the plus money on Silva.
The MMA Guru picks Manel Kape, acknowledging Bruno Silva's underrated skills and finishing ability but believing Kape's takedown defense and durability are underrated. He notes that Kape has never been finished and has gone the distance with champions like Pantoja. He predicts Kape will win by TKO or decision, possibly with a flying knee. He dismisses Silva's wins as against lower-level competition.
Zane picks Kape despite his low-output style, because Kape's speed and explosiveness are too much for Silva. He notes that Silva is a counterpuncher who may struggle to time Kape's sporadic attacks, and that if Silva pressures, he risks getting countered. Zane thinks Silva will eventually get frustrated and get 'nuked'.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 28 of 63 | 44% | 31 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 2:35 |
| Cody Durden | 1 | 42 of 73 | 57% | 45 of 77 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 24 of 57 | 42% | 25 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Cody Durden | 0 | 22 of 47 | 46% | 23 of 48 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 6 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 3 | 0 | 2:23 |
| Cody Durden | 1 | 20 of 26 | 76% | 22 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 28 of 63 | 44% | 20 of 52 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 27 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 42 of 73 | 57% | 31 of 57 | 6 of 10 | 5 of 6 | 24 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 21 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 24 of 57 | 42% | 16 of 46 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 24 of 57 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 22 of 47 | 46% | 13 of 33 | 5 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 21 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 4 of 6 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Durden | 20 of 26 | 76% | 18 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 17 of 21 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Durden (-122), Silva (+102)
Round 1
In the only other fight on the billing beyond the main event with UFC-ranked fighter, top-15 Durden (16-5-1, 5-3-1 UFC) would like nothing more than to put a rough face crank submission loss in December behind him. He will meet fellow grappler Silva (13-5-2, 1 NC; 3-2, 1 NC UFC) in the center of the cage, in what could be an interesting clash of styles on the mat. Referee Chris Tognoni is ready whether it lasts three minutes or all three rounds, and he commences the match as the 125ers bump fists. Durden is quick to lash out with a body kick, and he walks Silva down and marks Silva’s left eye up early with punches. Durden changes levels, and the two bonk heads as Tognoni tells them to be careful. Durden keeps chasing after his opponent, and Silva pushes him away and lands a sweeping leg kick. Silva races forward to tie the American up, and he lands a knee to the guts while Durden looks to trip Silva up. Durden scores a right at the break, and chases to land another long right hand before Silva can zip away. Silva pushes off with the ball of his foot, and he jabs the body and avoids a front kick. Durden clips his opponent with three punches, and he ducks when Silva tries to spin with a back fist to counter. Durden sits down on a chopping kick, and he evades a scooping uppercut and stops a takedown effort in its tracks from the Brazilian. Durden surges forward, fighting behind his jab, and he swipes with a left hook on his way in. Durden attacks with a leg kick, and he is countered with an overhand right. Durden connects with two hooks, and he meanders forward pawing with hooks until committing to one up top and another to the body. Silva misses with another big uppercut, but his front kick does land cleanly. Durden winds up with a huge right hand that busts into Silva’s nose, reddening his cheek and nose, and he wears it well. Durden parries a body shot, swipes out with a left hand and drills Silva with a right hand. Silva cries foul, and Tognoni pauses the action and calls for a replay to confirm that Durden’s fingers grazed the eyeball. The Brazilian needs a doctor to come in and wipe away his eye, and Tognoni goes to calmly warn Durden for the accidental foul. Silva informs Tognoni that he can continue, but needs a little more time to recover—he has four more minutes, and no booing crowd to urge him to return to combat sooner than he should. Silva tells Tognoni his eye is spasming, but he can keep going, and they get back to it after two minutes of recovery. Both men rush at one hellbent for leather, and the proceed to throw it hard. Both men tag the other, and Durden is warned for outstretched fingers. Silva kicks low as blood trickles out of his nostril, and Durden turns with a back kick that plants square in the solar plexus. Durden points to his success, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Durden
Round 2
The flyweights clock in for the second round, and Silva is smiling and ready to return to action. He strikes first in the form of a leg kick, and Durden answers him with a twitchy right hand. Durden finds success with it and beans the Brazilian with two more, putting “Bulldog” on skates. Silva backs off and shoots for a takedown, and Durden catches a brabo choke. Silva turns the proper direction, and he fights off a subsequent anaconda choke. Durden tries a third time to land a similar submission, and Silva survives all three and lowers himself to his back. Silva tries to tug off the fence links to find a better angle, and Durden lays flat on top of him. Silva wall-walks to his knees, and Durden is on him and drags him back down when Silva pops up. Durden stays glued to his man, but Silva explodes back to his feet and walks Durden down.
“Bulldog” walks through a jab and drills Durden in the jaw with a ferocious uppercut, knocking his mouthpiece clean out and sending the American crashing to the canvas. Silva pounces and unloads with relentless right hands, pouring it on and drawing blood that sprays the mat as he beats Durden down. Silva continues landing as Tognoni asks for Durden to fight back, and when Durden’s arms go limp, he intervenes.
This is a crazy comeback for Silva, who turns the tables with just one punch and may have performed some unauthorized dental work on the soon-to-be-unranked contender. This sport never fails to surprise, and no fighter is ever totally safe while the cage door is locked and both competitors are still in the fight.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Cody Durden R2 2:58 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Cody Durden because his aggressive wrestling pace will be too much for Bruno Silva, leading to a close decision. He notes that Silva has power and could land a knockout, but Durden's chin is a concern. He does not mention a bet, but is confident in the pick.
Cody picks Bruno Silva, highlighting his striking advantage and the fact that he accepted the fight before Durden, indicating confidence from training together. He notes Silva's defensive wrestling is solid and that Durden will struggle to take him down. He also mentions Silva's submission win over Tyson Nam as impressive.
Daniel Vreeland picks his friend Cody Durden, citing Durden's superior wrestling, volume, and training with Pantoja. He acknowledges Bruno's explosive power and opportunistic submissions but believes Durden will outwork him everywhere. Vreeland warns against underestimating Durden's standup and submission defense.
Silva is a +100 underdog. He has a slick boxing approach and BJJ black belt, and his takedown defense and ability to work back to his feet should frustrate Durden. Durden will put himself in danger with his wrestling, and Silva can capitalize with a submission or TKO. Silva's inactivity (16 months) is a concern, but his skills should be enough to get the win.
Paul also picks Bruno Silva, agreeing with Cody's points about Silva's striking and the familiarity from training. He thinks Silva has an advantage on the feet and that Durden will be in trouble if he tries to grapple. He also notes the submission prop as a possibility.
The MMA Guru picks Cody Durden, trusting in his activity. He notes Bruno Silva has been inactive, fighting only once since 2021, while Durden has been consistently fighting. He highlights Durden's wins over Jake Hadley and Charles Johnson, and believes Durden is more disciplined and focused. He also mentions Durden is bigger for the division.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 38 | 31% | 12 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tyson Nam | 1 | 23 of 45 | 51% | 27 of 50 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:53 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 35 | 34% | 12 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tyson Nam | 0 | 19 of 36 | 52% | 19 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tyson Nam | 1 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:53 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 12 of 38 | 31% | 6 of 31 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tyson Nam | 23 of 45 | 51% | 14 of 33 | 5 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 21 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 6 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 12 of 35 | 34% | 6 of 28 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tyson Nam | 19 of 36 | 52% | 10 of 24 | 5 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 19 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Bruno Silva | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tyson Nam | 4 of 9 | 44% | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Silva (-195), Nam (+165)
Round 1
Moving right along, flyweights take center stage as two of the heavier handed competitors in the division meet. Fresh off a first-round knockout last August, Nam (21-12-1, 3-3 UFC) at 39 years of age looks to prove he still has some life left, and he steps into the cage against Brazilian bulldog Silva (12-5-2, 1 NC; 2-2, 1 NC UFC). Aware that this one could end in a moment’s notice, referee Chris Tognoni is prepped and ready for what happens next. There is no thought of offering a glove touch, and instead the two want to engage. Silva introduces himself with a whipping leg kick, and Nam smiles at him as he walks him down. Nam hand-fights with his left hand outstretched, and he follows a pawing left with a straight right. Silva circles away as Nam gives chase, with Nam lining up his right hand. Silva darts forward with two hooks, doing enough to make Nam smiles again. The Brazilian fires off another nasty low kick, and his subsequent combination flusters Nam. Silva spins with a back fist that collides perfectly off the side of Nam’s head, and the elder statesman simply grins at him. Tognoni warns Nam for outstretched fingers, and Silva boots his foe in the body. Nam continues to walk Silva down, and they trade low kick for low kick. Silva slides a right hand around the guard, and Nam practically ignores it as he kicks the inside thigh in response. Silva shoots in suddenly for a takedown, and Nam tosses it aside and ducks a looping punch. When Silva aims a kick to the ribcage, Nam catches him with an overhand right. Silva backs off as the jabs from Nam aim at his face, and he connects with a clean right hand while backing away. Nam bears down on him with a short salvo of punches, and Silva is mostly out of harm’s way in time. Silva goes for a takedown to keep Nam honest when Nam backs him against the wall, but Nam keeps his forward momentum when there is nothing to the entry. Nam blocks a spinning back fist as he marches onward, and he eats a body kick when trying to throw hands. Nam gets off his own body kick and scores a few punches to follow before the close round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Silva
Round 2
The bantamweights meet in the middle, but it is Silva that takes a backward step when Nam comes at him faster. Nam pushes out jab after inaccurate jab, and Silva times a spectacular front kick up the middle that smashes into Nam’s jaw and sends in crashing to the canvas. Silva leaps down on top in the blink of an eye into Nam’s guard, and he pummels a dazed Nam with ground strikes.
As Nam looks to escape and get his bearings, Silva slithers around to take the back as Nam is standing up. “Bulldog” snatches up a rear-naked choke without even getting a hook in, and Nam falls to the mat as Silva secures the back take. Silva gets his hooks in, and he crushes with his grip while Nam tries and fails to fight the hands and break the grip. As he is attempting to free himself from the submission, Nam goes out,
and Tognoni recognizes this and calls a halt to the match immediately. This is a big win for Silva, who may find himself with a number next to his name next week as he becomes the first man to submit the well-traveled Nam.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Tyson Nam R2 1:23 via Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Angelo leans toward Bruno Silva because he has more ways to win, being well-rounded with power, wrestling, and submissions. He acknowledges Tyson Nam's one-punch knockout power but prefers the versatility. He suggests the best bet might be Tyson Nam inside the distance (decision no action) due to Nam's toughness and Silva's potential rust from a two-year layoff.
Big Brady picks Bruno Silva because he believes Silva will be the more active striker and has a clear grappling advantage. He notes that Tyson Nam relies on landing a big shot and doesn't grapple, and at 39 years old it's hard to favor him. Brady expects Silva to mix in takedowns and win by decision, as Nam's 100% takedown defense hasn't been tested by grapplers.
Cody picks Silva but is hesitant due to the two-year layoff. He acknowledges Silva's momentum before the layoff and his training, but notes ring rust concerns. He prefers a prop on Nam by KO if the price is right.
Connor picks Nam, favoring his pressure and counter-striking style. He notes that Nam is comfortable in the pocket and accurate with his right hand, while Silva tends to become frantic under pressure and may give Nam the openings he wants. He acknowledges Silva's toughness and tricky entries but thinks Nam's experience and timing will prevail.
I think Silva's improvements in combination striking and his ability to take the fight to the ground will be key. He can avoid Nam's power by dragging him to the mat and controlling the fight there. Nam's decision-making is poor when he can't knock opponents out. Silva should win by decision, but be cautious of Nam's knockout power.
Paul picks Silva, noting his improvements and durability. He thinks Silva's wrestling and chin will be too much for Nam, who is a one-dimensional banger. He likes the -200 price relative to other favorites on the card.
The MMA Guru picks Bruno Silva over Tyson Nam, despite Nam being the popular pick. He believes Silva is technical and has improved his boxing, making him dangerous. He notes Nam is 39 and questions his ability to get another KO win. The Guru predicts Silva will win by TKO finish.
Zane picks Silva, believing his durability and power will be the difference. He notes that Silva is very hard to knock out and will create exchanges, while Nam's low output could be a problem if Silva pressures him. He thinks Silva will do a little more over three rounds, but acknowledges it's a close fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 1 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Victor Rodriguez | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 1 | 6 of 12 | 50% | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Victor Rodriguez | 0 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Silva | 6 of 12 | 50% | 4 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 |
| Victor Rodriguez | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruno Silva | 6 of 12 | 50% | 4 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 |
| Victor Rodriguez | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Switching gears to the flyweights once more, what happens when a man named “Bulldog” takes on a fighter that goes by “Vicious”? In this meeting, Brazil’s Silva (11-5-2, 1 NC; 1-2, 1 NC UFC) squares off against Alaska native Rodriguez (5-3, 0-1 UFC), in a battle of two fighters aiming to even their UFC records to .500. The 125-pound pairing draws oversight from referee Chris Tognoni, who cracks his neck and observes a clean glove touch right before the action begins. The flyweights come out tentative, reaching at one another with jabs from a great distance. Both men wind up with right hands, and neither find their mark as the action is largely stalled. Silva gets off a slapping leg kick, and he twirls out of the way and tags Rodriguez behind the ear with a big right hand. The Alaska native is hurt, and Silva steps in with a knee that rings Rodriguez’ bell.
“Bulldog” smells blood, and he blitzes forward with a massive overhand right that smashes into the side of Rodriguez’ head and puts him down. Rodriguez falls to his knees and may be out cold, and Tognoni rushes in to halt the contest as Silva chains together some punches that are purely academic at that point.
A one-punch knockout is rare at the flyweight division, and even more rare to take place within the first minute. That is two knockouts in just over two months for the Brazilian, who holds up a sign that says “$75K Dana” as he asks for post-fight bonus money. On his way out of the cage, Silva breakdances his way to his interview.
The Official Result
Bruno Silva def. Victor Rodriguez R1 1:00 via KO (Punches)
Big Brady confidently picks Bruno Silva, calling this a massive step down in competition. He highlights Silva's well-rounded skills (striking, wrestling, BJJ) and expects a first-round submission. He notes Rodriguez has never seen a third round and has been finished by questionable opponents.
Cody Saftic picks Bruno Silva, noting that Silva has shown improvement and is training with high-level partners. He believes Rodriguez is a low-level regional fighter who was knocked out by Adrian Yanez in his UFC debut. Saftic thinks Silva's well-rounded game and momentum will be too much for Rodriguez, and that Silva will get a finish. He acknowledges the price is high but sees value.
Daniel Levi picks Bruno Silva, stating that Silva is better everywhere—more explosive, more comfortable—and that Victor Rodriguez comes from a weak Alaskan regional scene and does not belong in the UFC. He predicts Silva will handle Rodriguez easily, possibly by first-round knockout or submission. He advises against laying the -350 price but is confident in the win.
Matt is very confident Bruno Silva finishes Victor Rodriguez, likely in the first or second round. He highlights Silva's performance against JP Buys, where he knocked him out in the second round, and his close fight with Woolen Backoff where he showed good takedown defense. He dismisses Rodriguez's power as a threat, noting Silva has faced heavier hitters. He recommends Silva inside the distance or the under 2.5 rounds, calling it a steal.
Paul Shaughnessy picks Bruno Silva but is hesitant due to the price. He notes that Silva looked good against JP Buys but that Buys is not UFC caliber. He questions whether Silva's improvements are real and whether he can handle a step up. However, he acknowledges that Rodriguez's competition level is very low and that Silva should win. He suggests passing on the moneyline.
The MMA Guru predicts Bruno Silva will win by second-round TKO. He notes Silva's improving pacing and cardio, and expects Rodriguez to have range at flyweight but Silva will make it messy. The finish will come via a counter hook over the top after slipping Rodriguez's jab.
Édgar Cháirez - Fight History
The host picks Bruno Silva, noting that Silva is better on the mat and can counter while moving forward on the feet. He believes Silva's opportunistic takedowns and slick transitions will give him the edge. He also mentions that Silva does not accept bottom position and is quick to attack submissions.
AJ picks Bruno Silva due to his well-rounded game, strong wrestling, and experience against elite competition. He views Cháirez as having questionable fight IQ and less proven wins. AJ expects Silva to outwork Cháirez over three rounds, possibly winning a decision, and notes Silva's toughness and activity as green flags.
Angelo picks Bruno Silva, citing his power and output advantage. He believes Silva will be the one moving forward and dictating pace, making Cháirez uncomfortable. He notes that when pressured, Cháirez tends to back up and doesn't fight as comfortably, and may get taken down where he throws up random submissions.
Big Brady picks Édgar Cháirez to win by third round knockout. He thinks the market is low on Cháirez after a poor performance in Mexico City, but expects Cháirez to return to his aggressive style. He notes that Bruno Silva is older and has been finished multiple times, and that Cháirez has a good chance to land a big shot late.
Édgar Cháirez is the underdog but has power and range with head kicks and jabs. Bruno Silva is past his prime and likely won't take the fight to the ground. Cháirez will win by decision, using his reach advantage and boxing, as Silva's recent performances have been poor.
Cody picks Cháirez as a slight underdog, noting it's a 50/50 fight. He cites Cháirez's youth, reach advantage, and better gas tank. Silva is older and may slow down. He prefers the plus money on Cháirez.
Bruno Silva is picked because he has faster hands, more power, and better wrestling than Édgar Cháirez. Cháirez struggled against Felipe Bunes and has a tendency to pull guard and sit in his guard. Silva's aggressive pressure and ground and pound should overwhelm Cháirez. The host expects a decision win, as both are durable.
Silva has more pathways to victory with his grappling and wrestling advantage. Chavez has been taken down by lesser wrestlers. Silva should bank the first round with takedowns and win a decision.
Lucrative James picks Édgar Cháirez, citing Bruno Silva's age (36) and recent decline at flyweight, where fighters peak young. He notes Cháirez's finishing ability, having hurt top fighters like Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira, and Silva's increased vulnerability. He predicts Cháirez will hurt Silva on the feet and secure a submission, possibly a guillotine or rear-naked choke.
Silva's pressure, calf kicks, and boxing combinations should overwhelm Cháirez, who lacks one-punch knockout power. Silva dictates the pace and avoids submission threats, grinding out a decision. The -135 line is acceptable.
Paul picks Silva but is hesitant, noting both fighters are durable and the fight likely goes to decision. He prefers the over 2.5 rounds prop as the best bet. He admits Silva is a fan pick.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 66 of 136 | 48% | 69 of 139 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Felipe Bunes | 0 | 54 of 132 | 40% | 113 of 202 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:50 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Felipe Bunes | 0 | 5 of 13 | 38% | 64 of 81 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:26 | |
| 2 | Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 21 of 52 | 40% | 21 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Felipe Bunes | 0 | 20 of 53 | 37% | 20 of 53 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 41 of 75 | 54% | 42 of 76 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Felipe Bunes | 0 | 29 of 66 | 43% | 29 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Édgar Cháirez | 66 of 136 | 48% | 41 of 104 | 18 of 23 | 7 of 9 | 63 of 133 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 |
| Felipe Bunes | 54 of 132 | 40% | 44 of 115 | 5 of 10 | 5 of 7 | 52 of 129 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Édgar Cháirez | 4 of 9 | 44% | 1 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Felipe Bunes | 5 of 13 | 38% | 3 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 10 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Édgar Cháirez | 21 of 52 | 40% | 14 of 42 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 3 | 20 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Felipe Bunes | 20 of 53 | 37% | 15 of 46 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 20 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Édgar Cháirez | 41 of 75 | 54% | 26 of 56 | 11 of 15 | 4 of 4 | 40 of 74 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Felipe Bunes | 29 of 66 | 43% | 26 of 58 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 3 | 29 of 66 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Chairez (-300); Bunes (+250)
Round 1
Two flyweights who have struggled as of late will collide with hopes of gaining just a wisp of momentum in their speedy weight class. Chairez (12-6, 1 NC; 2-2, 1 NC UFC) has the crowd on his side in a big way, while Bunes (14-8, 1-2 UFC) is showered in boos and looks to spoil their mood. Referee Marc Goddard is on top of things for as long as the match lasts, bearing witness to a glove touch that opens the fight up.
Bunes stands tall to open the fight, walking down the local favorite with his right hand firing. Chairez backs him off with his jab, but not for long as Bunes pushes the pace on him. Chairez drills the lead leg with a kick, and Bunes frowns, swings hard and shoots in on the hips for a takedown. Chairez defends the initial offering, leaning his head against the cage to keep himself on his feet. Bunes holds on from behind before speedily climbing onto the back to take it standing, and he locks down a body triangle. Bunes starts slugging away with his free left hand while Chairez holds the other to block a choke setup. Bunes elbows Chairez in the side and shoulder, and he is warned for leaning his arm on top of the cage.
Chairez hand-fights to protect his neck, and Bunes nearly snatches it up and is again fussed at for resting his arm on the cage. Fans in the building erupt with frustration as Bunes rests on the top of the cage, and the Brazilian hacks down with multiple unorthodox elbows to the top of the shoulder. Chairez looks confused that strikes are raining down from those angles and actually affecting him, but he is biding his time and hanging on without getting strangled. Bunes picks his elbows carefully so that he does not strike the mohawk line on the top of the head, and he lets loose with clubbing right hands before wrapping his arm around Chairez’ face. Chairez jumps to the ground to slap Bunes down on his back, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bunes
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Bunes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Bunes
Round 2
The fighters touch gloves to get going in this round, where Chairez fires off a chopping kick and slips away from a looping left hook. Bunes scores his own low kick, and he aims a stomp kick to the knee before ripping his shin to the body with his free leg. Chairez spins with a back fist that misses the mark, and he walks Bunes down and slugs him in the chin. Bunes fires back, doing enough damage to force Chairez to stop pressuring him for a moment. Bunes reaches out with a right hand, parrying a few jab offerings from his opponent as both men look for options. Chairez bangs a left hand off the guard and follows a right straight to the solar plexus. He then chains a few punches together, only for Bunes to meet him in the pocket with a trio of fists that knock him back.
Chairez resets and smacks Bunes with a spinning back fist, and Bunes has nothing to answer back with and keeps his guard up to defend another that Chairez fakes. Chairez digs a front kick to the torso and hand-fights to protect his mug, and he steps back to avoid a back fist aimed at his face. Chairez dips in an uppercut and a left hook, leading Bunes to strike him back heavily. Bunes headhunts, and Chairez’s head movement and elusiveness are keeping him from taking much damage this round. Bunes goes high with a kick, and Chairez tries to do the same as both men do not connect flush. Bunes gets rocked with a jab and gathers his thoughts to swing back, but he slips. Chairez walks directly into a turning back kick to the pectoral, and Bunes tosses out an inside thigh kick that goes high and cracks into the cup. Goddard calls time as Chairez winces and rubs his eye, which has some damage on it as well as blood leaks into his eye. Chairez bounces up and down and is ready to go in 45 seconds, and he wants to throw down and does just that. Chairez punches his way into a spin, and he knocks Bunes back a bit as the horn ends the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chairez
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Chairez
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Chairez
Round 3
The last round opens with jabs from both sides, and Chairez scores with his uppercut as Bunes asks for more. Chants for Chairez echo through the arena, but they are quickly silenced when Bunes shoots for and completes a takedown. Chairez kicks off and gets back up, and he intercepts Bunes with a spinning elbow. Bunes backpedals, and Chairez pours it on with a few right hands and a crisp uppercut. Bunes again waves him on, so Chairez does just that by blasting him with body shots. Bunes grits his teeth but is taking damage and not offering much back, and Chairez puts a low kick on him and a few punches to keep him guessing. Chairez rips a right hand upstairs, and Bunes has to back off and take a quick count of his teeth. Bunes jabs the body with a kick and motions that it’s time to brawl, but Chairez does not engage recklessly.
Chairez picks his shots, spinning with a back kick to the body. Bunes sticks him with a jab and backs him off, further bloodying up an already damaged Chairez. Chairez offers up his own power jabs, switching stances and waving his hands around to fluster the Brazilian. Chairez kicks to both legs and swats out a left hand twice, and Bunes slaps his chest to demand he bring it on. Chairez stays in kickboxing range, reaching out with his long left hand and barely blocking a high kick in time. Chairez drills his man in the eye socket with a left hand, and Bunes backpedals in a hurry to protect himself while claiming it was a poke, as Goddard calls for them to keep fighting. Chairez walks Bunes down and digs body shots to open up strike upstairs, and he pushes out a front kick to the sternum. Chairez spins with a wheel kick that slams into Bunes’ head, further knocking him around with two swarming punches, a jump knee and a charge that is stopped before he lands further as time is up. It could go either way, likely depending on how the second round was scored.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chairez (29-28 Chairez)
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Bunes (29-28 Bunes)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Chairez (29-28 Chairez)
The Official Result
Edgar Chairez def. Felipe Bunes via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Angelo picks Édgar Cháirez, describing him as a well-rounded fighter with good striking, takedowns, and BJJ. He notes Cháirez's toughness and quality losses to top fighters. He believes Cháirez is too long and tricky for Felipe Bunes, and expects him to win as long as he doesn't get caught in a submission.
Big Brady is high on Édgar Cháirez, praising his toughness, dangerous jiu-jitsu, and improved boxing. He notes Felipe Bunes has poor cardio (especially in elevation) and is dangerous early but likely to gas. Brady predicts Cháirez will hurt Bunes on the feet, Bunes will shoot a sloppy takedown, and Cháirez will snatch a submission, possibly a first-round club and sub.
Cody agrees with Paul, highlighting Cháirez's pace, durability, and altitude preparation. He sees Bunes as a prime candidate to fade due to his explosive but unsustainable style. He expects Cháirez to win as the fight progresses.
Connor also picks Cháirez but notes that Bunes is a creative striker who can find his timing and land shots. He points out that Bunes's wrestling is a weakness, but Cháirez doesn't wrestle much. However, Connor believes Cháirez's toughness and willingness to push the pace will earn him the win, though it could be a war.
Daniel does not discuss this fight in the transcript.
The host considers this a dog-or-pass fight. Cháirez is a heavy favorite at -347, but the odds feel too wide. He notes that Cháirez has power but slows down, while Bunes has volume but is older and not a finisher. The host would have to bet Bunes if betting, but expects him to lose.
James views Cháirez as the more well-rounded fighter with better striking, cardio, and durability. He believes Bunes' reckless style will lead to fatigue, allowing Cháirez to finish him. James predicts Cháirez wins inside the distance.
The host picks Édgar Cháirez inside the distance, expecting a second or third round finish. He notes Cháirez's Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu, and believes his cardio will outlast Bunes, who fades after the first round. He likes the 'fight doesn't go to decision' prop at -200 rather than the chalky line on Cháirez.
Paul likes Cháirez's durability, training at altitude, and well-rounded game. He notes Bunes fades after the first round and has poor cardio. He expects Cháirez to take over in rounds 2 and 3 and is comfortable parlaying him.
The MMA Guru picks Édgar Cháirez, noting that he looked much better against Joshua Van than Felipe Bunes did. He describes Cháirez as a tricky fighter who is big for flyweight and has finishing potential, predicting a finish in the first two rounds. He also cites the Mexico City altitude advantage for Cháirez.
Zane picks Cháirez because he is the more consistent round-to-round danger and has an instinctive sense of where he stands in the fight. He notes that Bunes often starts slow and needs time to process, while Cháirez will increase aggression and take the fight to him. Zane also mentions that Cháirez is rangier and fights long, which could trouble Bunes.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 8 of 27 | 29% | 8 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:16 |
| C.J. Vergara | 0 | 6 of 13 | 46% | 6 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 8 of 27 | 29% | 8 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:16 |
| C.J. Vergara | 0 | 6 of 13 | 46% | 6 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Édgar Cháirez | 8 of 27 | 29% | 8 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 7 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| C.J. Vergara | 6 of 13 | 46% | 1 of 2 | 0 of 3 | 5 of 8 | 6 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Édgar Cháirez | 8 of 27 | 29% | 8 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 7 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
| C.J. Vergara | 6 of 13 | 46% | 1 of 2 | 0 of 3 | 5 of 8 | 6 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Chairez (-278), Vergara (+225)
Round 1
It is unfortunate that in the year 2025, the UFC is still depositing a match between two fighters with losing records in the promotion this high on its billing. It originally was a bit lower, but when Pyfer vs. Gastelum fell off, this flyweight encounter shifted up to this slot. If there is a silver lining, it is that one of these two will hold the coveted .500 mark in the Octagon at night’s end. Whether that is Chairez (11-6, 1 NC; 1-2, 1 NC UFC) or Vergara (12-6-1, 3-4 UFC), referee Marc Goddard will be the first to know. A respectful glove touch starts things off, and Vergara comes out firing with a one-two that is off the mark. Chairez gets behind his jab, take full advantage of his long reach, and they trade low kicks. Chairez just misses with an uppercut, but his jab is already reddening the face of Vergara. Vergara comes up short on his own offense, and Chairez is able to pick at him from his preferred distance. Jabs continue popping Vergara in the face until calf kicks fly his direction, reddening and welting it in a hurry. Chairez lines up a jab and loops a left hook behind it, flooring Vergara for a moment. Vergara gets back up and tries to escape, but Chairez is on him and backs him to the wall with swinging fists. Vergara drops to his knees, and rather than punch his man out,
the Mexican leaps on Vergara’s back and wraps up a rear-naked choke. The submission is almost instantly tight, but it does not slide underneath the American’s chin and is settled firmly on his jaw. Chairez, destined on keeping his 100% finish rate intact, crushes the face crank with all his might. The sheer horsepower from the squeeze is enough for Vergara to surrender
, and Goddard recognizes the tap and gets between them. The victor, completely overcome with emotion, goes to his corner and then drops to his knees in tears, just now processing what he accomplished in front of thousands of screaming fans. Chairez has the building in the palm of his hands, yet he cannot stop weeping.
The Official Result
Edgar Chairez def. C.J. Vergara R1 2:30 via Submission (Face Crank)
Connor picks Cháirez despite acknowledging his flaws, such as dropping for guillotines and compromising his range. He believes Cháirez is the more likely damage dealer and that Vergara's athletic limitations will be a wall. However, he is not particularly confident due to Cháirez's inconsistency.
Zane picks Cháirez, noting that Vergara's boxing and wrestling game could be effective but that Cháirez's long straight punches and willingness to work in close make him dangerous. He thinks Vergara may get caught stepping back. Zane is not fully confident due to Cháirez's tendency to make bad decisions.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Van | 0 | 79 of 189 | 41% | 87 of 197 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 118 of 200 | 59% | 183 of 276 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:26 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Van | 0 | 40 of 81 | 49% | 40 of 81 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 23 of 48 | 47% | 23 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Joshua Van | 0 | 28 of 73 | 38% | 33 of 78 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 71 of 108 | 65% | 101 of 144 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:14 | |
| 3 | Joshua Van | 0 | 11 of 35 | 31% | 14 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 24 of 44 | 54% | 59 of 84 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:12 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Van | 79 of 189 | 41% | 46 of 145 | 12 of 18 | 21 of 26 | 77 of 187 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 118 of 200 | 59% | 79 of 155 | 24 of 30 | 15 of 15 | 109 of 187 | 4 of 4 | 5 of 9 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua Van | 40 of 81 | 49% | 15 of 52 | 6 of 8 | 19 of 21 | 39 of 80 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 23 of 48 | 47% | 12 of 37 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 7 | 23 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Joshua Van | 28 of 73 | 38% | 21 of 62 | 6 of 8 | 1 of 3 | 27 of 72 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 71 of 108 | 65% | 52 of 85 | 14 of 18 | 5 of 5 | 67 of 104 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Joshua Van | 11 of 35 | 31% | 10 of 31 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 2 | 11 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 24 of 44 | 54% | 15 of 33 | 6 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 19 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 9 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Van (-218), Chairez (+180)
Round 1
Plugging right along, flyweights take center stage in a fast-paced matchup that is likely to make referee Mark Smith dizzy before it is all over. Once expecting to battle Kevin Borjas, the tables have turned and previously favored Chairez (11-5, 1 NC; 1-1, 1 NC UFC) is now an underdog to replacement Van (10-2, 3-1 UFC). With finish rates of 100% and 80%, respectively, the two will go to battle in hopes of leaving the judges out of the equation once more. They touch gloves before getting down to it, and Chairez introduces himself with three quick kicks. Van resets, and Chairez walks him down to kick him another time in the lead leg. Van fires back, but the kick is checked with a thump. Chairez jabs with the ball of his foot and slams home an outside low kick, and he chambers to release a body kick. Van is getting chewed up by kicks, and Chairez opens up with a pair of swatting left hands. Van lets loose a head kick, and he doubles up on a jab that may have poked Chairez in the eye. Smith warns Van about his outstretched fingers, and Chairez hammers the front leg of his opponent with two more kicks. When Chairez stutter-steps his way in, Van counters with a right hand over the top. Chairez nails the calf once more with a kick, and as Van attempts to counter, Chairez kicks it again. Chairez scoops an uppercut that bangs in the chin of his foe, and Van shakes it off and sticks out a jab. Van evades a low kick but is not out of the way of a sharp jab, and a second kick from Chairez shakes Van up. Van gathers his thoughts and gets up close and personal to throw hands, only to get met with a step-in knee. They both kick one another low, but Chairez’ is much more powerful and damaging. Chairez whiffs on a one-two, but he uses his jab to set strikes up. Van dips under a jab to loop a right hand over the guard, and he connects with two low kicks on the way out. Van scores another low kick that irritates Chairez, but Chairez kicks him back and forces him to limp as well. Chairez’ jab and low kick seemingly cannot miss, and he plants a body kick to the ribs and pecks out with jabs. Van misses on a wheel kick, and Chairez smiles at him and pushes out a jab and a left hook. When Van throws a naked leg kick, Chairez sets him down with a powerful straight right hand. Van pops back up, and Chairez is in his face throwing punches. Chairez calms himself down after missing with a kick, but Van wants to keep swinging in the pocket. Van succeeds in brushing a left hand by the jaw, and Chairez answers with an Andy Hug-inspired spin kick to the lower leg. The horn sounds after the unorthodox blow.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Chairez
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Chairez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Chairez
Round 2
After a glove touch, Chairez says hello with a leaping knee. Van pushes past it and puts his hands together. Chairez keeps him at bay with jabs and low kicks, and one calf kick from Van makes Chairez change stances. Van sits down on a short left hand and hammers the front leg with two kicks, and Chaires frowns and tries to give him back a few punches. Van is quicker to the punch on these exchanges, starting combinations first and ending them last. Van strings several punches up high to body, and Chairez leans over showing he is a little hurt. Van turns it on, chasing after the Mexican and letting loose a flurry of fists and feet. Chairez feebly responds, but Van breaks him down with body shots. Van unloads an onslaught of punches and kicks, especially targeting the body, and Chairez is barely on his feet and leaned against the fence. Chairez grabs the fence with one arm, and when Van sells out for a blitz, he spins with a back fist that smashes Van in the face. Van staggers back to the wall, and now it is he who is hurt badly. Van tries to compromise himself by tackling Chairez to the ground, and they both share a laugh and catch their breath after ferocious exchanges. Van decides to stand back up, and they get back to it, with Van landing punch combinations and aiming at the body. Chairez digs deep and launches an overhand right that rocks the man from Myanmar. Van tries to steel himself and charge into the fray, and Chairez jumps guard with a guillotine choke that is tight in an instant. Van manages to work his head out of danger, and he settles down on top. Both fighters need to again get their wind back after another slugfest, and they trade ground strikes until the horn sounds. Talk about a “Round of the Year” contender.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Van
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van
Round 3
It is anyone’s guess how much these two flyweights have left in the tank after 10 minutes of frenetic action, but they are eager to get going and tap gloves. Chairez starts the round with several low kicks, and he uses them to keep enough distance along with his jabs. Van pushes through a few with a one-two, and he slams home a low kick only to get met with a leg kick coming right back. Van sneaks a right hand over the top, and Chairez jabs him back to the body with a front kick. Van jabs the body, and he receives a one-two in response. Chairez uses head movement to keep himself safe from the majority of the strikes, but a body shot does get to him. Van jabs low and punches high, and Chairez tries to slip and move but finds himself square in the center of a methodical slugfest. Van goes after two punches and a front kick to the gut, and he chases after his foe. As Chairez looks to escape, he trips on Van’s foot and falls to his seat. Van assumes top control in a hurry, but Chairez does not settle for this position and instead tries to stand. Van answers by dropping to his back in pursuit of a heel hook, and he makes Chairez drop back to the mat as well to defend it. Chairez fights out of the leglock and takes Van’s back while they both stand up. Van shoots in for a double-leg takedown, and he lifts Chairez up and slams him back down with emphasis. Chairez defends by throwing his legs up to go after a triangle choke, and he looks his left leg over the shoulder but cannot get his right leg locked up. Van pushes through it and hammerfists his foe in the face several times, and he keeps Chairez stuck in the corner of the floor and the fence. Van sits comfortably in half guard pounding down, using his free left hand to shut Chairez down until time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Van (29-28 Van)
The Official Result
Joshua Van def. Edgar Chairez via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Joshua Van, calling him the better fighter skill-for-skill. He notes Van is a solid striker with good aggression and decent grappling, while Cháirez is hittable with a negative striking differential. Angelo acknowledges Van is coming off a KO loss but sees this as a good bounceback spot against a more stationary target. He suggests waiting for weigh-ins if nervous about the short notice, but expects Van to win as a 2-to-1 favorite.
Big Brady initially considered Cháirez as a live dog due to his submission threat and Van's recent KO loss, but after watching Cháirez's fights, he found Cháirez rarely wrestles and relies on opponents shooting in. He believes Van will win if the fight stays on the feet, but he hates the price and is concerned about Van's durability coming back from a knockout. He predicts Van by decision.
Daniel picks Joshua Van, citing his volume and pressure, but warns that Cháirez is dangerous with heavy hands and opportunistic submissions. He thinks Van will out-volume Cháirez but could get caught. He ultimately believes Van gets the win.
The transcript does not discuss this fight.
Van is the cleaner and crisper striker of the two, but there is concern about his recent knockout loss. However, his defensive striking is normally not bad. Expects Van to deal with Cháirez's aggressive style early and run away with the fight in deep water, winning on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Joshua Van by decision. He notes that Cháirez doesn't have huge knockout power and is more of a submission guy, but Van won't get submitted. He expects a standup fight and Van's patient approach to see out the first round and work into the second and third. He also justifies the quick turnaround after a KO by noting Van is a small flyweight who doesn't drain himself making weight.
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Chairez (-355), da Silva (+280)
Round 1
Running back a meeting from September that went awry due to an early stoppage from Chris Tognoni, overturning the fight to a no contest, Chairez (10-5, 1 NC; 0-1, 1 NC UFC) and da Silva (11-5, 1 NC; 0-4, 1 NC UFC) will settle their business in the second go-round. Chairez had snared his foe in a standing guillotine choke that mistakenly was identified at one that rendered da Silva unconscious, so da Silva will need to protect his neck this time around. Both fighters ended up missing weight for what was supposed to be a catchweight contest, as the Brazilian came in a pound heavy while Chairez whiffed by five pounds. The referee for the rematch will be Marc Goddard, and the fighters decide to touch gloves despite their history. Chairez reintroduces himself with a faked high kick, and da Silva sits down on offense to counter. Both men fire off kicks at the same time, and Chairez’ slides up and might have bumped the cup but there is no pause. They aim kicks at one another from a distance, taking turns and loading up on one after the other. Chairez spins with a wheel kick that slides off the shoulder, and he recovers and pushes out a front kick. The Brazilian responds with two kicks to the body, and Chairez drives him back with a thudding one-two. Chairez gives chase, and da Silva takes his momentum and repurposes it to tackle Chairez to the ground. Chairez starts talking to the man on top of him, and da Silva answers by elbowing him in the face repeatedly. Chairez kicks off to get some space, and he wraps up a high guard and sets up a triangle choke.
Chairez switches his leg grip to an omoplata, and then goes back to a triangle choke. “Puro Chicali” fastens his legs tight and uses his arms to pull da Silva’s head down to complete the submission. It only takes seconds for da Silva to realize he is beaten, and he taps out on the hip.
Chairez immediately releases, and both men hug it out and express great respect for one another by bowing. The rivalry is complete with no early stoppage this time, and da Silva is now winless in six walks to the Octagon. In victory, the Mexican fighter's coach wraps a purple belt around Chairez' waist, who maintains his 100% finish rate while landing his seventh career submission.
The Official Result
Edgar Chairez def. Daniel da Silva R1 2:17 via Submission (Triangle Choke)
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tatsuro Taira | 0 | 61 of 78 | 78% | 121 of 148 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 1 | 9:53 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 1 | 25 of 38 | 65% | 26 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 1 | 0:25 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tatsuro Taira | 0 | 27 of 30 | 90% | 36 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 2:43 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 1 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:11 | |
| 2 | Tatsuro Taira | 0 | 17 of 26 | 65% | 57 of 76 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 4:10 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:14 | |
| 3 | Tatsuro Taira | 0 | 17 of 22 | 77% | 28 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:00 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 0 | 15 of 21 | 71% | 15 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 1 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tatsuro Taira | 61 of 78 | 78% | 40 of 54 | 2 of 4 | 19 of 20 | 26 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 35 of 42 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 25 of 38 | 65% | 15 of 23 | 5 of 6 | 5 of 9 | 25 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tatsuro Taira | 27 of 30 | 90% | 18 of 18 | 0 of 2 | 9 of 10 | 11 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 16 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 6 of 10 | 60% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Tatsuro Taira | 17 of 26 | 65% | 16 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 22 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 4 of 7 | 57% | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Tatsuro Taira | 17 of 22 | 77% | 6 of 11 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 9 | 14 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
| Édgar Cháirez | 15 of 21 | 71% | 10 of 14 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 15 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Taira (-950), Chairez (+650)
Round 1
Thanks in part to some late card rejiggering, highly regarded prospect Taira (13-0, 3-0 UFC) moves his way up the billing. Originally planning on meeting Kleydson Rodrigues, the Japanese prodigy now faces late replacement Chairez (10-4, 0-0 UFC) out of Mexico. The match will take place at a pre-planned 130-pound catchweight, and it will be overseen by referee Herb Dean. It begins with a half-hearted reach of a glove touch try from Chairez, and Taira ignores it so he can get offense going in the form of a chopping leg kick. Chairez gives it back, and chants of “Mexico” rain down in support of the debuting Chairez. Chairez comes up short on another attempt, and he is reached by the man from Japan. The action is largely muted other than occasional kicks from both fighters, with Taira working from both legs. Chairez steps in with a jab as Taira crashes towards him, and when Taira backs off, he continues bludgeoning the lead wheel of his opponent. Taira jabs to force Chairez to backpedal, and he gets kicked off his feet by the Mexican. Chairez gets off a body shot, and he tags Taira with a left hand. Taira wobbles to his seat, and he recovers and moves over to tackle Chairez over to gather himself. Chairez grips hold of a guillotine choke, and it is tight until Taira settles down and drives Chairez back to the corner between the floor and the wall. This allows Taira to threaten with a Von Preux choke, as he keeps Chairez stuck in a bad position. Chairez recognizes the danger, and he releases the grip. Taira slowly and methodically works to pass guard, and Chairez is warned for interlocking his toes in the cage to stifle the pass. Dean slaps and pulls Chairez’ toes out of the links, and he keeps warning Chairez for doing it repeatedly. This foul gets called a few times, but as he is focused on tugging on the links with his big toe, Taira sits on top of him and isolates his left arm to set up a crucifix. Taira elbows Chairez several times, and he is admonished for the angle he uses of the 12-to-6 variety. Taira looks up confusedly at Dean, and he changes his angle of attack until the close round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Taira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Taira
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Chairez
Round 2
The second round begins with the two combatants getting off kicks on one another. Taira changes levels and shoots in for a takedown, and Chairez jumps guard to grab hold of a guillotine choke. The Japanese fighter easily slides his neck out of the choke, where he moves right to half guard and even takes mount briefly before getting bucked back to guard. Chairez shifts his hips, and Taira times it perfectly to move right into mount. Taira smothers his foe when he willingly moves back to half guard, doing so to pin Chairez down. Taira elbows Chairez on the side of the head with light but effective blows, and he hooks his legs together in an effort to trap Chairez’ right arm. Taira continues working with elbows before transitioning to a straight armlock from the other side of the body. Taira, who steps back into mount, postures up to rain down punches and elbows. With 80 seconds to spare, he hammers Chairez with strikes until Chairez turns and almost gives up his back. Taira slashes down with elbows, hurting his opponent, and he calmly lands strikes from a dominant position. Taira considers an arm-triangle choke, and Chairez sits up and wraps his arms around Taira’s waist to hang on. Taira rolls to his back to lock down a triangle choke, and he elbows Chairez on the dome and tightens it up. Pulling the head down to cut off the blood flow to the brain and hopefully deprive his man of oxygen as well, Taira tries with all his might but cannot get the tap before the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Taira
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Taira
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Taira
Round 3
The last frame kicks off with kicks. Taira wades his way into a striking exchange, and he gets backed off with a left hand. Taira checks a low kick and throws it back. A right hand from the Japanese fighter sneaks over the guard, and Chairez slings a few punches back his direction much to the delight of the crowd. The undefeated fighter pecks at Chairez with leg kicks, and he ducks a looping left hook in the nick of time. Chairez reaches out with a one-two and a subsequent jab, and he shrugs off a body kick. Taira shoots in for a double-leg takedown, and he plants Chairez on his back without Chairez hunting for a guillotine this time. Taira uses shoulder pressure while in half guard to keep Chairez flat on his back, and he elbows his foe on the ear. Taira grinds his elbow on the forehead and forearm on the throat, as he settles for control over offense as the clock keeps ticking. Fans grow restless as Taira clings to top position, even when he lands the occasional elbow. Taira threatens with a guillotine when Chairez sits up, and Chairez is able to fight it off and get back to his feet. Taira goes after a double, and Chairez pulls guard for a guillotine. Chairez locks his feet together and squeezes with every bit of energy he has left, and he rolls over to secure the mounted guillotine choke. Taira toughs it out, with no plan of tapping out no matter how bad it gets, and time expires before the submission puts him out. The scorecards could be all over the map for this one, depending on the potential assessment of a 10-8 in Round 2 and how the first stanza panned out.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Taira (30-27 Taira)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Chairez (29-28 Taira)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Taira (29-28 Taira)
The Official Result
Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Angelo gives a slight lean to Taira at 50.1%, but he actually bet on Cháirez at +600. He acknowledges Cháirez's solid striking, takedowns, and BJJ, but worries about short notice. He sees Taira's path to victory through grappling and control, but thinks Cháirez is just as dangerous on the ground. The lean is extremely slight, and he encourages viewers to watch tape on Cháirez.
Big Brady picks Tatsuro Taira to win by submission in the second round. He notes that Taira is a well-rounded fighter with underrated striking and slick grappling, especially back takes and submissions. He believes Cháirez will slow down as the fight goes on, leading to a finish in the second or third round. He mentions that Cháirez has been submitted before by Jesus Aguilar, whom Taira beat in the first round.
Cody is confident Taira wins but the price is unplayable. He thinks Taira will likely finish Cháirez in the first or second round via submission. He notes Taira's back-taking and submission skills are elite. He considers the under 1.5 rounds at -145 but isn't in love with it because Taira may be patient.
Connor picks Taira because he is a great problem solver who starts fights passively but uses opponent aggression to set up takedowns and submissions. Cháirez is a wild, aggressive fighter who will likely come forward, and Taira excels at countering that aggression. Taira's ability to blast opponents off their feet when pressured makes him a clear winner.
Daniel Levi picks Taira, calling him one of the best Japanese prospects he has ever seen. He praises Taira's ground game, composure, and ability to chain striking to takedowns. Levi respects Cháirez's toughness and his controversial win on Fury FC, but believes Taira's ceiling is much higher and that he is headed straight for the top 15. He notes that the minus-1100 price is prohibitive for betting but still picks Taira to win.
James does not make a clear pick on the winner. He disagrees with Taira being a -1000 favorite, capping him around -500 to -600, but does not see enough value on Cháirez at plus money. He discusses props: he likes Taira by decision at +500 more than the submission prop at -200 to -250, and also considers the KO prop at +700. He ultimately passes on betting the fight due to lack of a strong read.
Taira is a skilled Japanese prospect with a strong submission game, especially the rear-naked choke. Cháirez is aggressive and flashy but will likely be taken down and submitted. The fight should be closer than the odds suggest, but Taira will eventually secure a submission victory.
Paul agrees Taira wins easily. He notes Cháirez is a short-notice replacement with no clear path to victory. He thinks Taira's grappling is far superior. He says the real question is how quickly Taira finishes, possibly in the first or second round.
The MMA Guru picks Tatsuro Taira, citing his patient top grappling and submission threat. He notes that Cháirez was taken down by Clayton Carpenter on the contender series, and believes Taira's methodical style will lead to a submission. He acknowledges Cháirez's momentum but sees Taira as a different level of grappler.
Zane picks Taira because he is a great problem solver who can take whatever Cháirez gives him and turn it into an advantage. Cháirez is overly aggressive and will likely come forward, which plays into Taira's takedown and positional grappling game. Taira is a huge favorite and should be able to submit Cháirez if he gets taken down.
Expert Picks (11)
The host picks Bruno Silva, noting that Silva is better on the mat and can counter while moving forward on the feet. He believes Silva's opportunistic takedowns and slick transitions will give him the edge. He also mentions that Silva does not accept bottom position and is quick to attack submissions.
AJ picks Bruno Silva due to his well-rounded game, strong wrestling, and experience against elite competition. He views Cháirez as having questionable fight IQ and less proven wins. AJ expects Silva to outwork Cháirez over three rounds, possibly winning a decision, and notes Silva's toughness and activity as green flags.
Angelo picks Bruno Silva, citing his power and output advantage. He believes Silva will be the one moving forward and dictating pace, making Cháirez uncomfortable. He notes that when pressured, Cháirez tends to back up and doesn't fight as comfortably, and may get taken down where he throws up random submissions.
Big Brady picks Édgar Cháirez to win by third round knockout. He thinks the market is low on Cháirez after a poor performance in Mexico City, but expects Cháirez to return to his aggressive style. He notes that Bruno Silva is older and has been finished multiple times, and that Cháirez has a good chance to land a big shot late.
Édgar Cháirez is the underdog but has power and range with head kicks and jabs. Bruno Silva is past his prime and likely won't take the fight to the ground. Cháirez will win by decision, using his reach advantage and boxing, as Silva's recent performances have been poor.
Cody picks Cháirez as a slight underdog, noting it's a 50/50 fight. He cites Cháirez's youth, reach advantage, and better gas tank. Silva is older and may slow down. He prefers the plus money on Cháirez.
Bruno Silva is picked because he has faster hands, more power, and better wrestling than Édgar Cháirez. Cháirez struggled against Felipe Bunes and has a tendency to pull guard and sit in his guard. Silva's aggressive pressure and ground and pound should overwhelm Cháirez. The host expects a decision win, as both are durable.
Silva has more pathways to victory with his grappling and wrestling advantage. Chavez has been taken down by lesser wrestlers. Silva should bank the first round with takedowns and win a decision.
Lucrative James picks Édgar Cháirez, citing Bruno Silva's age (36) and recent decline at flyweight, where fighters peak young. He notes Cháirez's finishing ability, having hurt top fighters like Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira, and Silva's increased vulnerability. He predicts Cháirez will hurt Silva on the feet and secure a submission, possibly a guillotine or rear-naked choke.
Silva's pressure, calf kicks, and boxing combinations should overwhelm Cháirez, who lacks one-punch knockout power. Silva dictates the pace and avoids submission threats, grinding out a decision. The -135 line is acceptable.
Paul picks Silva but is hesitant, noting both fighters are durable and the fight likely goes to decision. He prefers the over 2.5 rounds prop as the best bet. He admits Silva is a fan pick.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!