UFC Middleweight bout: Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le
Odds: (+115 Silva / -145 Le )
Betting Pick: Le
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In a featured Middleweight bout, Strikeforce legend Cung Le makes his UFC debut against fading PRIDE legend Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer”Silva. These guys are both icons of the sport, and in their primes this would have been a legendary match up. Silva is on the decline, but he is still a dangerous and aggressive striker who will take the fight directly to Le, so this is going to be a very exciting fight.
Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva was once one of the most feared Light Heavyweights on the planet. Time and attrition have caught up to him, and he has lost some of the destructive physicality he enjoyed in his prime, but he is still a technically proficient striker with good punching power, a great clinch game, and very fast hands. He actually has some pretty good jiu-jitsu as well, but he basically never looks to take fights to the ground and Le will probably be content to stand and bang with him. This fight will be like all of Silva’s fights. He will wade forward and let his hands fly, trying to overwhelm Le. If it works he will destroy him, if not he will get knocked out.
Cung Le is a long-time Strikeforce veteran who is appearing in the UFC for the first time. Despite his years in the sport, Le has not fought very much and has fought a very low level of competition relative to Silva or most other top fighters. Just because he hasn’t been very active or fought top guys, though, doesn’t mean that he is not a legitimate threat. Le is a savage kick boxer with great hands, a lot of power, and some of the most violent kicks in the sport. He has finished more than one opponent with absolutely brutal kicks to the body, and his leg kicks are debilitating. He also has fairly solid take downs, although his ground game isn’t much to speak of.
This has all the makings of an entertaining bout. Le’s striking is powerful and surgical, and Silva is the perfect opponent for him in that he will keep walking forward until he can’t do it anymore. At Silva’s prime I think he would have ripped Le apart, but in his current state and at185 pounds I don’t think Silva has the power or the physical strength to overwhelm Le fast enough to prevent himself from getting battered. Both of these guys like to stand and trade,and at this point Le is the more accurate and powerful striker. Eventually, Le’s power and ability to work the legs and body will wear Silva down, and Le will capitalize for the T/KO victory.
Prediction: Cung Le via second round T/KO.
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