Sharabutdin Magomedov vs Bruno Silva Odds
It's do-or-die time for a UFC newcomer as the UFC 294 event on Saturday kicks off with middleweights Sharabutdin Magomedov vs Bruno Silva.
Magomedov, a big favorite at UFC 294, arrives to the octagon with an 11-0 record and 10 stoppages. And though the Russian has faced experienced competition, including 20-bout vets in four of his past five fights, he hasn't faced much in the way of notable names.
That will change in the UFC 294 curtain-jerker as he takes on Brazilian vet Silva, who's 4-3 in the UFC with career victories over the likes of Brad Tavares, Andrew Sanchez and Alexander Shlemenko.
Let's break down Magomedov vs Silva at UFC 294.
Tale of the Tape
| Magomedov | Silva | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 11-0 | 23-9 |
| Avg. Fight Time | n/a | 7:40 |
| Height | 6'2" | 6'0" |
| Weight (pounds) | 185 lbs. | 185 lbs. |
| Reach (inches) | 73" | 74" |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Date of birth | 5/16/1994 | 7/13/1989 |
| Sig Strikes Per Min | n/a | 4.45 |
| SS Accuracy | n/a | 48% |
| SS Absorbed Per Min | n/a | 4.71 |
| SS Defense | n/a | 48% |
| Take Down Avg | n/a | 0.56 |
| TD Acc | n/a | 18% |
| TD Def | n/a | 73% |
| Submission Avg | n/a | 0.0 |
Saturday's prelims start at 10 a.m. ET, and you should be in front of your TV for the first bout.
It's a potential banger in the middleweight division between the undefeated, one-eyed debutant "Bullet" Magomedov and powerful Brazilian striker Silva, a former M-1 Global middleweight champion who has faced plenty of tough Russians and seen more difficult opponents – including Alex Pereira – throughout his 32-fight MMA career.
Silva owns a 4-3 record in the UFC's middleweight division, and Magomedov is taking a significant step up in competition. The Russian lost his eye in a 2018 training accident, and he stepped away from fighting for nearly three years after the injury.
However, he's 7-0 with six wins via finish since returning to MMA, albeit against relatively low-level fighters.
Magomedov has the longer legs and should be the faster man and the better kicker in this matchup. However, Silva has a slight reach advantage and may have both the more technical and more powerful hands – and could provide superior optics for judges by landing more head strikes in the pocket exchanges.
Magomedov vs Silva Pick
I projected Magomedov as nearly a -300 favorite but have no interest in laying juice on the debutant in what could amount to a close and competitive striking affair. We don't have much information or tape on Magomedov's offensive grappling, and it's possible he can cover his pricetag by taking down and submitting Silva (seven career submission losses).
However, if he chooses to engage in a pure kickboxing match, this fight may look like a coinflip, and Silva may provide significant value relative to his pricing.
I project value concerning Magomedov to win by decision (projected +279, listed +360 at BetRivers) and the fight to reach a decision (projected +185, listed +210). Alternatively, I also like the Over 1.5 Rounds, considering the potential for a low-paced, distance-striking match that may heat up late as Magomedov gets comfortable inside the octagon.
Lay the juice on the Over 1.5 (to -130), and consider one of the plus-money decision props for round-robin tickets.
