The UFC returns to its silent arena in Las Vegas after a successful return to Abu Dhabi. Last weekend, the UFC’s second Fight Island series culminated with UFC 254 where Khabib Nurmagomedov retired after beating Justin Gaethje.
This Saturday, another retirement is expected to be announced as former middleweight champion Anderson Silva makes his final Octagon appearance against Uriah Hall. The Spider will fight in the main event of UFC Vegas 12 at the UFC’s APEX Facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. He will be facing an opponent he was booked to fight nearly five years ago. That bout never pushed through because Silva underwent a medical procedure. Now their paths will finally cross in what is the last fight of the Spider.
Let’s take a look at the UFC Vegas 12 main card and make our predictions:
Anderson Silva is a fighter who needs no introduction. Considered by some as the GOAT, Silva is a former longtime middleweight champion. He reigned as 185-pound king for a record of 2,457 days and posted 16 consecutive wins during that period. The Spider though is already 45 years old and he has not won a fight since beating Stephan Bonnar in 2012. Silva has a record of 34-10 with 22 knockouts and four wins via submission. He is coming off a first-round TKO loss against Jared Cannonier. Silva is a southpaw who stands 6-2 tall with a reach of 77 inches.
Uriah Hall is a former kickboxer who was the runner-up of The Ultimate Fighter 17. The 36-year old from Jamaica is currently the no. 10 ranked middleweight in the UFC. Prime Time is a former Ring of Combat middleweight champion who has gone 3-4 in his last seven Octagon appearances. He has won back to back fights and has an overall record of 15-9 with 11 knockouts and one win via submission. Hall stands six feet tall and has a reach of 79 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance.
Everyone wants Anderson Silva to win his final fight, even me. Anytime you get Silva at big plus money, it’s worth a look. While the Spider hasn’t picked up wins lately, he has been able to hang with some of the best names in the business. However, he’s on the wrong side of 45 and he’s a lot slower these days. Without his speed and quickness, this old version of Anderson Silva isn’t hard to beat. Hall is 36-years old but he has a lot more left in the tank. I think that Hall wants this more than Silva. I’ll be rooting for Anderson Silva to come up with a big win here but I’m not placing my money on him.
Prediction: Uriah Hall
Andre Fili fought for Gladiator Challenge, Rebel Fighter, and Tachi Palace Fights. He joined the UFC in 2013 and has fought 14 times inside the UFC octagon. However, Fili has not won more than two straight bouts in the UFC but has won five out of his last seven bouts. In his last fight last June, he won a split decision against Charles Jourdain. Fili has a record of 21-7 with nine knockouts and three wins via submission. He is an orthodox fighter who stands 5-11 tall and a reach of 74 inches.
Bryce Mitchell competed at The Ultimate Fighter 27 show where he lost in the semifinals to eventual winner Brad Katona. This 26-year old from Sherwood, Arkansas is currently the 15th ranked flyweight in the UFC. Mitchell is a former V3 featherweight champion who joined the UFC in 2018. He is undefeated in 13 bouts with nine wins via submission including a 4-0 record inside the octagon. Mitchell stands 5-10 tall with a reach of 70 inches and is a southpaw. In his last bout, Mitchell defeated Charlie Rosa via decision at UFC 249.
Fili
+111
Mitchell
-131
Odds from BetOnline as of 10/30/2020
Fili is a live underdog in this fight. He has the length, reach, and striking advantage if this fight stays on the feet. He also has good takedown defense and has a decent scramble that enables him to hold his own on the ground. However, Mitchell has looked impressive in the UFC and you can make a case for him getting a title shot. He has the edge in the ground and controls the fight once he gets his hand on his opponent. Fili has a puncher’s chance here but I think Mitchell will be able to control him on the ground or in the clinch. I like Mitchell to remain unbeaten.
Prediction: Bryce Mitchell
Kevin Holland is the former XKO middleweight champion. The 27-year old from Riverside, California also fought for Bellator, King of Cage, and Legacy Fighting Alliance. TrailBlazer made the UFC roster via the Contender Series. After losing to Thiago Santos in his octagon debut, Holland has won six out of his last seven bouts and has an overall record of 19-5 with nine knockouts and six wins via submission. He stands 6-3 tall with a reach of 81 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance.
Charlie Ontiveros fought for Legacy Fighting Championship and Fury Fighting. The 29-year old from Cleveland, Texas heads to this fight with back-to-back first-round knockout wins over Derrick Ageday and Washington Luiz. Ontiveros has a record of 11-6 with four wins via knockout and two via submission. He is 6-2 tall with an undisclosed reach. He is taking this bout on 48-hour notice and will be making his octagon debut as well.
Holland
-900
Ontiveros
-+600
Odds from BetOnline as of 10/30/2020
Holland has been successful in Vegas. He’s won three fights and gunning for his fourth here. While fighting at this silent arena, he seems to have turned a page and looks more effective than ever. Ontiveros has good power and has won his last two bouts via knockout. But Holland is the more polished striker here and he also has the reach advantage. Muradov has shown good takedown defense but in a smaller cage, Holland’s BJJ advantage should be obvious if this fight goes to the ground.
Prediction: Kevin Holland
Maurice Green appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 28 series and is the former Driller Promotions Heavyweight champion. The 34-year old from Norfolk, Virginia is 4-2 inside the octagon and heads to this fight after beating Gian Villante via submission last June. Green stands 6-7 tall with a reach of 80 inches and fights out of the orthodox stance. His overall record is 9-4 with two knockouts and five wins via submission.
Greg Hardy is the former Dallas Cowboys football player and 2nd team NFL All-Pro bowler who joined the UFC in 2019. HE appeared in the Contender Series and XKO before his Octagon debut. Hardy has a record of 6-2-1 with five knockouts victories. He stands 6-5 tall with a reach of 80 inches and is an orthodox fighter. In his last bout, Hardy defeated Yorgan de Castro last May 9th at UFC 249.
Greene
+265
Hardy
– -340
Odds from BetOnline as of 10/30/2020
Hardy isn’t a knockout artist but he hits hard. He is also able to keep a good pace for three rounds. He is the better fighter on the feet and his striking skills are far better than Greene’s. Hardy’s conditioning has looked better as of late too so I really like him in this fight. Greene’s best chance here is if he takes his fight to the ground as his wrestling and submission games are better than Hardy’s. But if Hardy avoids the early takedown, and he has good takedown defense, he’s going to land enough punches to win this fight on points.
Prediction: Greg Hardy
Bobby Green is the former King of Cage lightweight champion who has also fought for Tachi Palace Fights, Strikeforce, and Affliction. The 34-year old from San Bernardino, California has joined the UFC in 2013. After going 5-4-1 in his first 10 octagon bouts, Green has won three straight bouts, defeating Clay Guida, Lando Vannata, and Alan Patrick in consecutive bouts. Green is 27-10 with eight knockouts and nine wins via submission. He stands 5-10 tall with a reach of 71 inches and is an orthodox fighter.
Thiago Moises is the former RFA lightweight champion who also challenged for the LFA lightweight belt. The 25-year old from Sao Paulo, Brazil joined the Contender Series Brazil before signing with the UFC. He has a record of 13-4 with three knockouts and six wins via submission. Moises is an orthodox fighter who stands 5-9 tall and has a reach of 70 inches.
Green
-285
Moises
-+245
Odds from BetOnline as of 10/30/2020
Green has picked up three wins at the APEX and he should have good momentum heading to this fight. His boxing has looked sharp, his wrestling on point, and he’s fighting at a good pace. Moises is a talented newcomer who has good jiu-jitsu and some power in his punches. But between the two, Green is the better fighter. He is hard to take down and has superior kickboxing. Green is having a renaissance right now and it’s hard to go against him.
Prediction: Bobby Green
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