It’s been a long time since the greatest middleweight of all time has won a fight. But Anderson Silva, who long terrorized the 185-pound class and set the record for most title defenses, will look to have his hand raised for the first time since 2012 when he meets Derek Brunson this Saturday on the main card of UFC 208.
For Silva, a loss to a fringe top-10 guy like Brunson would officially mark the end of his time as an elite fighter. The Brazilian has been slipping for years, but his defeats all came against former or current champions. Brunson is a few rungs lower than his recent competition.
Let’s take a look at your UFC betting options and break down the fight.
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu
Anderson Silva +128
Derek Brunson -148
Over/under rounds, over +128, under -148
The Case for Silva
“The Spider” isn’t the same killer he was five years ago, but we still see flashes of the greatness that made him seem invincible. Against Michael Bisping, there were moments where Silva’s laser-guided accuracy bloodied up the Brit in just a few seconds. It was the type of astonishing violence that we had grown accustomed to.
But in that fight, Silva’s worst habit also caught up to him. Though he was clearly the better striker, he once again frustrated fans with a refusal to fight more aggressively. There is no other way to put it: he let Bisping off the hook. Silva has never been a pressure fighter, and with his knockout power waning, output is more important than ever.
He can take heart in watching Brunson’s last fight, as the 33-year old charged Robert Whittaker with reckless abandon. All-out assault has become the M.O. for Brunson, and that is the worst approach you can take with Silva. If Brunson insists on coming forward, there is no doubt that Silva would carve him up.
The Case for Brunson
The Jackson-Wink Fighter really needs to stop his newfound brawling ways if he ever wants to reach the contender ranks. Brunson has neither the technique nor the power to consistently win messy firefights, as Robert Whittaker easily proved in his last outing.
But if he treats the Whittaker bout as his wakeup call, Brunson has the tools to beat Silva. Chief among them is his wrestling. Before he fancied himself a knockout artist, Brunson was a grinder who would claim unanimous decisions with strong takedowns and top control. Daniel Cormier - albeit a light heavyweight - easily grounded Silva and held him down for three rounds.
While Brunson does have knockout power, a Muay Thai master like Silva is not who you want to test that against. He needs to make this a grueling, clinch heavy fight to nullify The Spider and come out a winner.
The Betting Breakdown
Tough call here. Silva is clearly a diminished fighter, but against fellow middleweights he still has good takedown defense. He should be able to fend off Brunson’s shots and keep the fight upright, where he will have a clear advantage. Expect Silva to pick Brunson apart for a majority of the three rounds.
UFC odds pick: Silva UD Brunson
Bet on UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today.
UFC 208 takes place on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following the FS1 prelims.
