Karine Silva bring a three-fight first-round submission streak in her UFC on ESPN 55 clash with Ariane da Silva, who has also won her past three.
[autotag]Karine Silva[/autotag] and [autotag]Ariane da Silva[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Karine Silva vs. Ariane da Silva UFC on ESPN 55 preview
Silva (17-4 MMA, 3-0 UFC) vs. da Silva (17-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC) is the last of three women’s bouts on UFC on ESPN 55, and the only one on the main card. Both women will compete for the first time in 2024. … Silva has not experienced defeat since 2019, looking to extend her eight-fight winning streak. The stretch included seven finishes, six of which came in the first round. … Da Silva has been running hot as a winner of three straight. She tapped Casey O’Neill with an armbar in her last outing, notching her second submission victory in the UFC.
Karine Silva vs. Ariane da Silva expert pick, prediction
Last event’s results: 4-1
Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2024: 28-29-2
Filling out the main card is a women’s flyweight fight between Silva and da Silva.
Silva, who has been red-hot since coming off of Dana White’s Contender Series, is showing serious promise and potential at 125 pounds. That said, I wouldn’t be too quick to discount da Silva in this spot.
Not only is da Silva (formerly Lipski) the more experienced UFC product, but “The Queen” (formerly “The Queen of Violence”) has really been coming into her own since shifting her training situation stateside.
Even though a da Silva decision wouldn’t surprise me, I’ve also been very impressed with Silva’s diverse game and can see why the hype is so high.
Submissions may be how Silva has been making her money in the octagon thus far, but I see her left hook and leg kicks being particularly live against da Silva standing.
The pick is Silva by first-round knockout.
Karine Silva vs. Ariane da Silva odds
Despite the oddsmakers opening the former KSW champion as the favorite, public money has come in on the Contender Series graduate, listing Silva (-158) and da Silva (+128) via FanDuel.
Karine Silva vs. Ariane da Silva start time, how to watch
As the fourth fight on the main card, Silva and da Silva are expected to make their walk to the octagon around 9:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). The fight airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.
Ryan Spann will look to avoid a three-fight losing skid against the dangerous Bogdan Guskov in tonight’s UFC on ESPN 55 co-main event.
[autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag] and [autotag]Bogdan Guskov[/autotag] meet Saturday on the UFC on ESPN 55 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov UFC on ESPN 55 preview
Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will enter UFC on ESPN 55 needing a victory to avoid the first three-fight losing streak of his career. Spann, 32, is coming off back-to-back losses to Nikita Krylov bu first-round submission and most recently Anthony Smith by split decision last August. … Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has been victorious in five of his past six bouts after returning to the win column with a first-round TKO of Zac Pauga in February. Before that, Guskov lost his UFC debut against former light heavyweight title challenger Volkan Oezdemir.
Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov expert pick, prediction
Last event’s results: 4-1
Overall picks for UFC main cards in 2024: 28-29-2
When it comes to co-main event bookings in the Apex era, there’s only one weight class that the current UFC matchmakers love featuring more than heavyweight – and that’s light heavyweight.
Spann, akin to arch-nemesis Anthony Smith, understands this role more than most and is seldom shy when it comes to throwing down in the octagon. Although Spann will thankfully be getting a break from “Lionheart,” Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard had the sick sense of humor to book him against Smith’s doppelganger, Guskov.
An Uzbek action fighter, Guskov appears to have a lot of the same right-handed sensibilities and finishing instincts that Spann possesses.
Between both fighters’ propensity to get wild and make risky decisions, I expect this battle to be one of the more volatile offerings on the card (which says something).
Guskov is a dangerous fighter who is live as an underdog, but I believe that his sometimes-lackadaisical defense could cost him against a long and accurate opportunist like Spann. Couple that with the kind of chaos that the smaller octagon of the Apex encourages, and I suspect that we’ll see grappling entanglements early and often.
The pick is Spann by first-round submission.
Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the American, listing Spann as a -205 favorite and Guskov a +158 underdog, according to FanDuel.
Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov start time, how to watch
As the co-main event, Spann and Guskov are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). The fight airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.
UFC on ESPN 55 ceremonial weigh-ins are complete, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.
LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 55 weigh-ins took place Friday, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.
The weigh-ins took place at the UFC Apex, which hosts Saturday’s event (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+). Check out the video above to see the athletes from all 13 scheduled matchups come face-to-face, and don’t miss the photo gallery below.
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.
Check out these photos of the UFC on ESPN 55 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Check out these photos of the UFC on ESPN 55 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (Photos by Ken Hathaway, MMA Junkie)
Oct 4, 2020; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) flashes the thumbs up after his first win the the NFL following the game over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Check out these photos of the UFC on ESPN 55 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Check out these photos of the UFC on ESPN 55 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. (Photos by Ken Hathaway, MMA Junkie)
Oct 4, 2020; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) flashes the thumbs up after his first win the the NFL following the game over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Check out the UFC on ESPN 55 weigh-in results from Las Vegas, featuring Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez.
LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC on ESPN 55 (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+) fighter weigh-ins at the UFC Apex.
Among those weighing in were Matheus Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and former title challenger Alex Perez (24-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC), who meet in the flyweight main event, and Bogdan Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Ryan Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who fight in the light heavyweight co-feature. All four of those names hit their contracted marks.
Saturday's #UFCVegas91 main event is OFFICIAL after ranked flyweights Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez successfully weighed in. ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/XVbZK27hOr
The same couldn’t be said for a pair of undercards fighters, though. David Onama was 2.5 pounds over the featherweight limit for his main card matchup with Jonathan Pearce, while octagon newcomer James Llontop barely missed the lightweight limit for his octagon debut vs. Chris Padilla.
The full UFC on ESPN 55 weigh-in results include:
MAIN CARD (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET)
Matheus Nicolau (125.5) vs. Alex Perez (126)
Bogdan Guskov (204.5) vs. Ryan Spann (205.5)
Ariane da Silva (126) vs. Karine Silva (125.5)
Jhonata Diniz (255) vs. Austen Lane (254.5)
David Onama (148.5)* vs. Jonathan Pearce (146)
Tim Means (171) vs. Uros Medic (171)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2/ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
Victor Henry (135.5) vs. Rani Yahya (136)
Michal Figlak (155) vs. Austin Hubbard (156)
Caio Machado (251.5) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (264)
Marnic Mann (115.5) vs. Ketlen Souza (115.5)
James Llontop (156.5)** vs. Chris Padilla (154.5)
Na Liang (126) vs. Ivana Petrovic (126)
Gabriel Benitez (155) vs. Hayisaer Maheshate (155.5)
* Onama missed featherweight limit by 2.5 pounds; fined 20 percent of purse ** Llontop missed lightweight limit by 0.5 pounds; fined 20 percent of purse
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.
The main event for the UFC’s latest home show is official after the flyweight headliners made weight Friday.
LAS VEGAS – The main event for the UFC’s latest home show is official after the headliners made weight Friday.
Ahead of UFC on ESPN 55 ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex, [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag] (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and former flyweight title challenger [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] (24-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins.
Nicolau was 125.5 pounds, while Perez came back at 126 pounds.
Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 55 main event between Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 55 flyweight main event between Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez.
Supplemental info:
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Multiple grappling accolades
+ Amateur boxing experience
+ 5 KO victories
+ 5 submission wins
+ 4 first-round finishes
+ Solid feints and footwork
^ Good pivots and lateral movements
+ Excellent boxing ability
^ Prefers to counter and work the body
+ Underrated wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Excellent grappling ability
^ Dangerous submissions in transition
+/- 2-0 in the UFC Apex
Supplemental info:
+ Tachi Palace flyweight title
+ Wrestling base
+ Multiple wrestling accolades
+ 5 KO victories
+ 7 submission wins
+ 11 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Improved striking ability
^ Combinations and bodywork
+ Hard calf kicks
+ Excellent wrestling ability
+ Solid transitional grappler
^ Dangerous from front-headlock
+/- 1-2 in the UFC Apex
Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez point of interest: Leg kicks and counters
Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Matheus Nicolau (red gloves) fights Matt Schnell (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
The main event in Las Vegas features a pairing of flyweights who are familiar with leg kicks and their associated counters.
Despite growing up as a wrestler, [autotag]Alex Perez[/autotag] has developed more and more of a taste for the striking arts since stepping onto the MMA scene.
Initially implementing more of a wrestle-boxing style to start his career, Perez has steadily refined his approach after years spent working with Team Oyama and company. Applying better feints and footwork, Perez will typically prod with jabs off of a high guard as he looks to make his way inside.
Perez displays a decent ability to slip to the outside, usually looking to change levels off it by going to the body. This range of motion also lends itself to the left hooks and leg kicks that the 32-year-old contender has been punctuating his combinations with – skills that were on full display in his fight opposite Jussier Formiga.
I’ll be curious to see what progressions have been made to Perez’s game since working with Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, but he’ll have to be mindful of what’s coming back at him this Saturday.
Enter [autotag]Matheus Nicolau[/autotag].
A counter fighter by nature, Nicolau presents a potentially tricky puzzle for his opponents to solve.
Utilizing heavy doses of feints and footwork to fuel his lateral movement, Nicolau will often frustrate his opposition into making mistakes when trying to desperately close the distance on him. From counter crosses to checking hooks, Nicolau demonstrates excellent eyes in exchanges and savvy pivots when exiting to safety.
Nicolau is also an underrated leg kicker, but I suspect that his patent body jabs will serve him well in this contest.
Akin to Alex Pereira, Nicolau loves to lean on his body jab at range. Not only do body jabs help set up left hooks, but they can also assist with both manipulating and disguising level changes.
Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez breakdown: Potential grappling threats
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 21: (L-R) Alex Perez punches Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil in their flyweight championship bout during the UFC 255 event at UFC APEX on November 21, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Considering each fighter’s acumen with chokes from the front-headlock position, I will be curious to see how eager either man is to take this party to the floor.
Despite his accolades in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Nicolau has displayed some solid wrestling chops since stepping onto the UFC scene. Not only does Nicolau hail from an underrated MMA wrestling camp in Nova Uniao, but the 31-year-old Brazilian has also spent time training stateside at super camps like Jackson-Wink MMA.
Whether Nicolau is shutting shots with good sprawls or is smoothly changing his level off punches, the TUF Brazil alum has proven that there are few positions in the cage that he’s not competent from.
Nevertheless, I’m not sure how much success Nicolau will have when it comes to dictating grappling exchanges with a wrestler like Perez.
Indoctrinated into wrestling from a young age, Perez followed the path of his brothers, Julian Perez and Silverio Esparza (who were also Lemoore High School wrestling champs), excelling as a two-time divisional champ who maintained a top-12 state ranking for his weight class. And by his sophomore year at West Hills College Lemoore, Perez received All-American honors before eventually crossing over into MMA.
Stumbling into his fair share of submission losses on a deceptively tough regional circuit, Perez’s transition into MMA certainly wasn’t an easy one. But since his time spent on the Tachi Palace scene, Perez has appeared to make some serious strides, displaying the ability to both finish and control fighters at a high level.
Whether Perez is chaining off of singles and doubles in the open or getting things done inside of the clinch, the former Selma High School wrestling coach can pretty much do it all. And when he’s able to establish his favored front-headlock position, Perez is quick to abuse a plethora of options that range from front-chokes to back-takes, often chaining them off of each other (as seen in his fight with Carls John de Thomas).
However, if Perez does find himself underneath Nicolau this Saturday, then he’ll need to be careful with the back exposure that his wrestling-style getups typically offer.
A longtime Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Nicolau is an incredibly smooth transitional grappler who can quickly take backs when they become available. Nicolau also wields a wicked submission arsenal from front-headlock variations, which could dissuade some offense from his American counterpart.
Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez odds
Matheus Nicolau
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Brazilian, listing Nicolau -200 and Perez +154 via FanDuel.
Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez prediction, pick
Despite my official pick, I don’t disagree with the betting spread above. Aside from the fact that Nicolau will be the competitor with a full training camp, the Nova Uniao product is quietly one of the more technically impressive fighters at 125 pounds.
Bodywork and counter striking may not get the credit they deserve from MMA judges, but Nicolau’s brand of body shots and counters could have some serious play opposite Perez’s propensity to utilize a shelling guard.
Add in Perez’s unfortunate history with opportunistic submissions, and no one should be surprised if Nicolau gets a win with or without the scorecards this weekend. That said, I still find myself leaning toward the American underdog in this spot.
Even though Perez is technically riding a three-fight skid, the majority of those losses came with some serious extenuating circumstances (and fouls) attached. But regardless of the fact that Perez arguably won his last fight, he provides some unique threats that make stylistic opportunities a two-way street in this contest.
Not only does Perez have the wrestling ability to dictate grappling exchanges, but the 32-year-old also has some crushing calf kicks that can potentially punish the boxing-centric stance of Nicolau.
Couple that with the fact that this fight will be taking place in the smaller octagon, and I suspect that Perez’s cage-corralling pressure striking could produce some serious moments opposite Nicolau’s out-fighting sensibilities. I’ll take a flier on Perez to find a knockout by the beginning of Round 2.
Prediction: Perez inside the distance
Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez start time, where to watch
Nicolau and Perez are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 9:45 p.m. ET (6:45 p.m. local time in Las Vegas). The fight airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.
Ahead of UFC on ESPN 55, Karine Silva says her rise hasn’t been quick, though she plans to continue her trajectory vs. Ariane Lipski.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Karine Silva[/autotag] has heard the praise.
Even though the narratives are largely complementary, Silva (17-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) admits her run toward UFC notoriety isn’t as quick and effortless as it may seem.
“It wasn’t quick, guys. It wasn’t fast,” Silva told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a UFC on ESPN 55 pre-fight news conference. “It was actually the work of 12 years. When I say ‘our’ work, what I mean by ‘our,’ is our team. It’s the people. We have taken one day at a time, but it’s taken a long time. It was not quick.”
Since a UFC ticket-punching performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, Silva has defeated Poliana Botelho, Ketlen Souza, and Maryna Moroz with first-round submissions. The results of a decade-plus of hard work have felt rewarding.
“It’s been wonderful,” Silva said. “The only thing that’s changed has been the frequency of training has increased. The intensity of training has increased. The routine changed but my life has been the same.”
At Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 55 (ESPN, ESPN+) at the UFC Apex, Silva battles seasoned veteran Ariane Lipski (17-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC), who is on a three-fight winning streak. Nicknamed “The Queen of Violence,” Lipski has finishing abilities herself. Regardless, Silva is confident Lipski won’t hinder her trajectory.
“I think the fight is going to happen the way it’s going to happen whether it’s going to be in the first, second, or third round,” Silva said. “What I believe in is my win.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.
Uros Medic thinks he’s been shafted of two bonuses so far in his UFC career, and he won’t tolerate it happening again.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag] thinks he’s been shafted of two bonuses so far in his UFC career, and he won’t tolerate it happening again.
Medic (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) believes he should’ve received $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses for his knockout wins over Matthew Semelsberger and Omar Morales. It didn’t happen either time, though, which resulted in much frustration.
He now enters Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 55 matchup with Tim Means (33-15-1 MMA, 15-12 UFC) at the UFC Apex (ESPN, ESPN+), and if he wins the welterweight bout the way he envisions, he will be angry if snubbed.
“Whoever was there to see the chaos in the arena after my spinning backfist (against Semelsberger), then not award me with a bonus (was upsetting),” Medic told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I’ll make sure to cement that this time so they can write the three checks out, and somebody is going to get oiled up (if not).”
After five octagon appearances in his career thus far, Medic said he feels comfortable and confident in his position in the promotion. He is keen to test his skills against Means, who has more than five times the professional experience of him.
Getting his hands on an established foe is something Medic has been craving, and he expects to do something spectacular this weekend.
“It’s going to be a good fight,” Medic said. “He is a veteran. You’ve got to respect that. This is a sport where men die young, so when you see an old man, you’ve got to respect that. I’m excited.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a good scrap, but the nature of the sport, it’s not a lot of wear and tear. I believe the youth is going to play a big role. He did fight some younger guys and he won against some younger guys, so I would never count him out. But I’m pretty confident in my ability to finish fights. He gets hit. I hit pretty hard.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 55.
