Danny Silva vs. Dennis Buzukja is our prediction for UFC Vegas 96 Fight of the Night

As a seasoned gamer of MMA fights, having witnessed countless bouts since the UFC’s inception, I can confidently say that the upcoming match between Danny Silva and Dennis Buzukja at UFC Vegas 96 is one not to be missed. With both fighters being in their prime, their track records, and the electrifying action they’ve shown so far, this fight has all the makings of a classic encounter.

After an accomplished weekend in Perth, Australia, where UFC 305 was concluded successfully, the MMA world’s top figure is back, and now, UFC Vegas 96 is set to take place in Las Vegas, potentially offering one of the best UFC APEX fight lineups this year.

The main event features No. 5 ranked middleweight Jared Cannonier taking on the up-and-coming No. 12 ranked Caio Borralho. Additionally, earlier on the fight card, Angela Hill and Tabatha Ricci will meet in a top-15 strawweight showdown.

At UFC Vegas 96, we predict that the battle between Danny Silva and Dennis Buzukja in the featherweight division will take home the Fight of the Night award. Notably, some Octagon veterans like Neil Magny, Gerald Meerschaert, Edmen Shahbazyan, and Michael Morales are part of this event, but they won’t be our pick for Fight of the Night.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m pumped about the upcoming bout between Silva and Buzukja at UFC Vegas 96. Though their past performances might not be familiar to some, these featherweight contenders have the potential to crack the top-15 rankings in the future. Here’s why you shouldn’t miss this matchup:

Initially examining Silva’s career, a 27-year-old athlete with an impressive 9-1 record professionally. His victory in the decision match at Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2023 secured him a UFC contract, and since then, he has fought once within the organization.

Danny Silva VS. Dennis Buzukja take place at 145 pounds at UFC Vegas 96

During a single bout on Dana White’s Contender Series, Silva dished out more than 200 total blows and received approximately the same number in return. The contest, which captivated all spectators at UFC APEX and viewers worldwide, showcased Silva’s knack for delivering extraordinary action. This fight was so impressive that Paul Felder, a member of the commentary team, went as far as comparing it to a Rocky film.

In his initial promotion matchup, Silva faced Joshua Culibao – a challenging encounter for any contender in the UFC. Despite this tough debut, Silva managed to secure a split decision win. Although all of Silva’s bouts within the UFC have thus far ended in decisions, his early career demonstrates impressive finishing skills.

From his nine professional wins, half (5) have been achieved by knockout, and he’s eager to secure another at UFC Vegas 96. With his victory on Dana White’s Contender Series included, Silva is landing an average of 8.30 significant strikes per minute while taking 9.47 in return. This striking rate, though based on just two fights under the UFC, should not be disregarded when considering a potential Fight of the Night.

On the other side of the matchup is Buzukja, who is also in the midst of his prime at 26 years of age and 12-4 as a professional. Buzukja is slightly more experienced than Silva as he has competed three times in the UFC and two more additional times on Dana White’s Contender Series, going 1-1.

As a member of the official UFC roster, Buzukja is 1-2, but is coming off of a knockout victory from March 2024 against Connor Matthews. Buzukja has a slightly lower finishing percentage than Silva with just half of his career victories being a knockout or submission. However, he has four first round finishes in his career compared to just one for Silva.

In general, Buzukja tends to prefer maintaining the fight as a stand-up contest, given that he averages approximately one takedown every 18 minutes during his UFC career. On the other hand, Silva is likely to aim for taking the fight to the ground or cage with his three takedowns per 15 minutes. However, Buzukja’s impressive 73% defense against takedowns should deter some early attempts from Silva.

In Buzukja’s latest victory against Matthews, he showcased an array of imaginative striking techniques admired by fight enthusiasts globally. He skillfully combined strikes to the head, torso, and limbs, which culminated in a powerful left hook in the third round that knocked Matthews down. Subsequently, he delivered some ground-based strikes to conclude the bout.

Some might fret that if Silva manages to narrow the gap between him and Buzukja, he could potentially gain dominance and ultimately force the fight onto the ground. Yet, it’s worth noting that Buzukja demonstrated impressive scrambling skills against Matthews, particularly during the second round, effectively thwarting several takedown attempts.

In essence, the contest between Silva and Buzukja promises a lively exchange of moves for approximately 15 minutes. Although Silva may hold an edge in ground-based combat, Buzukja demonstrates his knack for maintaining the fight in the center of the arena.

If Silva delivers a performance in his UFC Vegas 96 bout against Buzukja that mirrors his Dana White’s Contender Series appearance in September 2023, it’s highly likely that their fight will be hailed as the standout contest of UFC Vegas 96. Furthermore, it could even rank among the top fights of 2024.

2024-08-21 01:13