Ever since his days on The Ultimate Fighter, Uriah Hall has been compared to a young Anderson Silva. This Saturday, he’ll meet the legend for real inside the octagon -- and the ensuing fireworks should be glorious.
Currently, the UFC odds at BookMaker have the former champion as a slight favorite going into the bout.
Bet on UFC 198 odds at BookMaker.eu
Anderson Silva -140
Uriah Hall +110
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -135, under +115
Please note, the UFC odds at BookMaker are updated daily. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was posted.
ODDS ANALYSIS
It’s a bit sad to see how far Silva has fallen since his reign of terror as the finest fighter in the world. If this was 2012, it’s likely he would have been at least a -350 favorite. These days, he’s barely favored over an inconsistent fighter like Hall. But that’s the reality when you’re 41, fighting on a reconstructed leg, without a win in the past four years. However, I’d expect a surge of late bets on “The Spider”, making this an ideal time to bet on him if you were planning to do so already.
THE STAKES
This is a “fun fight” more than anything. Silva is nearing the end of his career, while Hall has never been able to break into the top-10 despite nine UFC fights. Neither are anywhere close to a title shot. If anything, Hall can notch a signature win over a legend, while Silva can prove that he’s still a dangerous foe.
FIGHT BREAKDOWN
Matchmaker Joe Sila has gifted us with a tantalizing striker vs. striker matchup. But there major differences in their approach. While both are labeled as explosive, it’s Hall that embodies the typical definition. He is muscular, powerful and a spectacular athlete. Put him in the NFL combine and he’d acquit himself well.
Silva’s explosiveness is predicated on his violent outbursts of pinpoint striking accuracy. He won’t overwhelm you physically, but his hand and foot speed are still among the best in the sport. He’s not a pure athlete -- especially at 41 years old -- but he’s always been quick and agile.
When it comes to their standup, Hall relies more on his Tae Kwan Do background while Silva is almost purely a Muay Thai stylist. They both love to kick, but Hall is more about spinning back and round kicks while Silva uses low, head and front kicks. Both have knockout power if their feet land.
When it comes to violence of the fistic variety, Silva has the proven edge. He’s one of the most accurate punchers in the promotion’s history, and we’ve seen him put down opponents with a single, laser-guided jab. While Hall packs plenty of pop in his fists, they don’t land nearly as often as Silva’s.
PREDICTION AND VALUE BETS
This fight is close to a toss-up, and it’s definitely a tough pick. Silva is coming off a tough loss to Michael Bisping, where he undoubtedly did more damage but scored less points. This should be top of mind when he fights Uriah Hall, who like Silva is a counterstriker. Considering how listless Hall can be at times, Silva should have plenty of opportunities to score points without having to worry about falling behind on volume.
UFC odds: Anderson Silva UD Uriah Hall
HOW TO BET
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Money lines, totals, props and money line are all available now. UFC 198 takes place on Saturday, May 14 at the Arena de Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil. The main card will be televised on pay-per-view following the prelims on Fox Sports 1.
