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.

To add a little excitement on fight night, you can bet on this fight at  Bodog.com Odds.  Check out my review of Bodog here…

1.  Enzo on December 24th, 2010 4:28 pm

   Very weak prediction

   First of all, Thiago Silva never fought a technical striker as technical as Vera. The only potential striker he fought was James Irvin which he beat because James got injured accidentally in the fight. Thiago is powerful but in terms of technical aspect of striking he is way overrated as a technical striker rather than a powerful puncher and Lyoto Machida exposed that. Vera fought top guys like Couture and Mir and if you watched his fights, you will see how technical Vera picked his opponents apart. Though he lost to Jardine via split decision and Silva beat Jardine via K.O, that doesn’t mean Silva has superior striking than Vera. Silva’s boxing and power is good but Muay Thai edge and overall striking skills is on Brandon, Don’t get confused on Muay Thai and Boxing, though they are in the same category called striking, they are different styles and basically… stances.

   I don’t see Brandon trying to take the fight on the ground, and if anyone would want a takedown, it should be Silva.

   The only way that Thiago will win this fight is if he pins Vera on the cage and utilize his strength and dirty box or catch Brandon sleeping and connect with a solid shot. Thiago is powerful and a single solid shot may end the fight. But again.. he needs to connect. This fight is like more of the good old “technique vs power”.

   Most mma fans refer on a fighter’s record, and hype and easily decides who will win a fight without having in depth knowledge of the art. I encourage you to train mma or watch more fights.

   Anyway.. Prediction: Vera via UD

2.  uniqueplayer on December 31st, 2010 5:33 am

   I think is close still vera is the underdog but really great guy to make a game plan and still I think he can deliver standing up , he get very good low kicks and good game plans