The first time Mark Hunt and Antonio Silva met, nearly two years ago at UFC Fight Night 33, the result was a brutal, back-and-forth battle and arguably best heavyweight slugfests in the promotion’s history. What’s more, the fight ended in a draw that nobody seemed unhappy about.
This Saturday, the pair will meet again and fans are giddy at the prospects of another brawl.
Please note, the odds listed here may have changed, as BookMaker updates their lines on a daily basis.
UFC 193 odds at BookMaker.eu
HEAVYWEIGHTS
MARK HUNT -235
ANTONIO SILVA +185
OVER/UNDER: 1.5 rounds, over +155, under -175
Any time the UFC heads to Australia, they call upon Mark Hunt. “The Super Samoan” is a native of nearby New Zealand and has established his reputation as a local favorite down under. What’s more, his crowd-pleasing fight style and underdog persona is something any fan can root for.
A former K-1 champion, Hunt remains one of the heavyweight division’s most dangerous strikers, even at 41 years old. His ability to absorb massive amounts damage and keep coming forward is simply remarkable. This is a man that took the full brunt of one of Cro Cop’s legendary left head kicks and shrugged it off like a dainty slap.
That durability is matched by Hunt’s technique and power on the feet. He’s much more agile than his body would suggest, which allows him to close distance in the blink of an eye. As a 5’10” heavyweight, it’s crucial for the Kiwi to be able to get inside against much larger men. The leaping left hook might be his most devastating punch, and he’s able to throw it as a lead.
Hunt’s timing of his punches is spectacular. He’ll innately throw uppercuts just as opponents are ducking, and he slips and rips counters coming forward - something not many can do. Questions about his ground game have plagued him his entire career, but Hunt has become better at defending submissions - though he still presents zero threat in the offensive grappling department.
Antonio Silva is one of the biggest fighters on the UFC roster. Sure, there’s guys that are taller than him or more muscular, but the Brazilian is 6’4” and reportedly walks around close to 280 pounds. And it’s not because of fat or muscle, like Roy Nelson or Brock Lesnar - Silva is just a naturally large human being.
That being said, he’s neither fast nor athletic, but he has ridiculous strength and hams for fists. His lack of athleticism and agility holds him back, but he does take advantage of his rangy frame in the standup. And when he puts his fists on a fighter, they go down more often than not. It’s how he’s racked up 14 KOs in his 19 wins.
When it comes to grappling and wrestling, he’s adequate but not great. He simply doesn’t have the explosiveness to surprise opponents with takedowns and the quickness to snatch surprise submissions. However, he knows how to use his strength and can dish out punishing ground and pound from the top.
THE SMART PLAYS
There’s a huge difference between this Saturday’s bout and their first go-round. The last time they met they were in a five-round headlining bout. This time, they’ll be fighting for three rounds and that makes a huge difference. More action has been coming in on Hunt, as his line has shifted about 20 points since the first time I wrote on this, and it’s easy to see why. Hunt is much more technical and explosive on the feet, where both are comfortable.
I’m not sure why the under on 1.5 rounds is the more expensive play, as these two fought to a draw just two years ago. Yes, they are knockout artists, but we saw that they couldn’t knock each other out. Silva and Hunt have very good chins and should be able to last more than seven and a half minutes. Take Hunt to win and the over.
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. And with our simple payout system, collecting your winnings is quick, easy and painless. UFC 193 takes place this Saturday, November 14, 2015 at the Etihiad Stadium in Melbourne, Austrialia. The card will be televised on pay-per-view starting 10 p.m. ET, with the FOX Sports 1 prelims beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
