UFC Middleweight Championship bout: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort
Odds: (-240 Silva /+190 Belfort )
Betting Pick: SILVA
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In the main event of the evening, Middleweight champion and world pound for pound number 1 Anderson “The Spider” Silva will defend his crown against resurgent slugger Vitor Belfort. Silva is clearly one of the most dominant fighters in the sport’s history, but some of his recent performances
have been underwhelming to put it mildly. Belfort, his part, seems to be back to his old form after a troubled career. At his best, Belfort is one of the most devastating strikers in the world. Silva tends to prefer opponents who will move toward him with punches, but Belfort might have what it takes to make him rethink that strategy.
Vitor Belfort was one of the bigger stars in the early days of the UFC. A series of personal tragedies kept him away from the sport for long periods of time, though, and his career suffered as a result. Now, though, he looks to be back to his old form, if not better. He is one of the most devastating and dynamic boxers in the sport, and he has a very good jiu-jitsu game to go along with his power punching. He is not a dominant wrestler, but he does have decent takedowns and defense. Clearly, though, his best chance against anyone is going to be connecting with those huge power punches.
Silva, the concensus pound for pound best in the world, strikes fear into the hearts of opponents with his striking. At range or from the clinch, Silva is capable of destroying people with hands, elbows, legs, or knees. He has also shown that he has a great offensive guard on the ground. There are only two holes in Anderson’s game, being takedown defense and the fact that he sometimes loses interests in fights when his opponents won’t come toward him. Luckily for him, Belfort is not the kind of guy where either of those things matters.
Belfort is a great boxer with a huge surplus of punching power, but Silva is the most effective counter-puncher in the sport’s history. Belfort does have a good ground game, but I don’t think he can work the same kind of game plan Chael Sonnen did. This is going to be a standup fight, and that always favors Silva. Belfort will be aggressive as always, and Silva will make him pay on the way in, tie him up in the clinch, and brutalize him.
Prediction: Anderson “The Spider” Silva via third round TKO.
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