UFC Light Heavyweight bout: Thiago Silva vs. Brandon Vera
Odds: (-150 Silva /+120 Vera )
Betting Pick: Silva
Bet on this fight at Bodog.com
In what should be an exciting Lightweight showdown, two dynamic strikers will go at it as Brandon “The Truth” Vera faces off against Thiago Silva. Both of these guys are known for their excellent Muay Thai, so this is an interesting matchup and should be very competitive. This one has fight of the night potential as both guys are willing to trade and have serious standup.
Vera burst onto the UFC scene a few years, putting together a string of highlight reel knockouts. Since then his momentum has cooled somewhat, but he is still a formidable Muay Thai striker who also has very underrated jiu-jitsu. He can hurt opponents from range or in the clinch and he has submissions from top position and off his back. In terms of pure striking ability Silva is the more dangerous fighter, so Vera is going to have to try to tie his grappling and his striking together in order to dictate the pace of this fight.
Thiago Silva is one of the most technical and powerful strikers in the Light Heavyweight division. His Muay Thai is excellent, both technically and in terms of knockout power. He is good at a distance and in the clinch, and can hurt opponents with punches, kicks, knees and elbows. He doesn’t have much in the way of offensive grappling, but his takedown defense is extremely good, which allows him to force opponents to stand with him.
I don’t think this fight is going to go very well for Brandon Vera. On the feet he is outmatched both in terms of strength and power, and while he has vastly superior submissions, I don’t think he has good enough wrestling to take Silva down and hold him there. That means he is going to have to engage in a kickboxing match, and that is going to end disastrously for him. Silva by T/KO.
Prediction: Thiago Silva via second round T/KO.
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