UFC Vegas 12- Anderson Silva's Retirement, Predictions and Current Odds for the Rest of the Card
- Combat Sports Journal
- Oct 31, 2020
- 4 min read
After last weekend's emotional retirement from Khabib Nurmagomedov, we are in for likely another emotion main event retirement tonight as 45 year old Anderson Silva makes his last UFC appearance.
Anderson Silva is one of the greatest fighters of all time, as he was the long time middleweight champion of the UFC. Silva won the title all the way back in 2006 in just his second fight in the UFC. He knocked out then champion, Rich Franklin in just three minutes in the first round. Silva defended the title ten times until he was finally defeated seven years in 2013. During his title reign, Silva also moved up for two fights at light heavyweight, winning both. Silva had one of the greatest knockouts ever, getting the first ever front kick KO victory in the UFC. Silva won a fan vote to become the cover athlete of the 2012 video game, UFC Undisputed 3, which is considered by some (myself included) as the best UFC video game to date. There is not possibly enough time to set up all of Anderson Silva's accomplishments and achievements in the sport of MMA.
Anderson Silva currently has a record of 34-10. 20 of his wins have come by KO/TKO. Unfortunately for Silva, he is 1-6 and 1 no contest in his last 8 fights, dating back 2013 when he won the championship. This includes stepping on about two days notice to fight Daniel then light heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 in a non-title fight when Jon Jones was forced out of the fight against Cormier. With this recent record, including the nasty broken leg he suffered against Chris Weidman, and another leg injury TKO in his last fight, perhaps Silva is another one of those fighters who have held onto the sport a little too long. Hopefully this fight tonight does not end in another Silva injury, and the 45 year old Silva can enjoy his retirement.
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Now for an interesting theory. There was talk for many years of Anderson competing in a professional boxing match. With Anderson being the incredible striker that he is, in his prime, competing in professional boxing was not the craziest idea. I mean boxing vs MMA did eventually end up happening when Conor McGregor fought Floyd Mayweather in 2017. With the Anderson Silva boxing fight talk, there was one specific opponent being mentioned, that was Roy Jones Jr. Now, Roy Jones Jr. is 51 years old, however, he is coming out of retirement in just a few weeks to fight against 54 year old Mike Tyson. Who ever thought we would be excited to see a 54 year old in a professional fight against a 51 year old? Anyways, we know that Anderson is for sure in shape as he is to compete tonight in his UFC retirement fight. We also know Roy Jones Jr. is in shape as he fights Tyson in a few weeks time. I would not be surprised if after the Jones Jr. vs Mike Tyson fight, we start hearing talk once again of Anderson Silva making his way to professional boxing to fight Roy Jones Jr. next year. That would be a sight to see for sure that I'm certain Combat Sports fans will be tuning into. This purely all speculation and my opinion, I just think there is a good chance of that happening, possibly next year. Before then, Roy Jones Jr. has a tough test ahead of him against Mike Tyson, as well as Anderson Silva has a tough test tonight against Uriah Hall.
Anderson Silva himself still seems interested in boxing against Roy Jones Jr., at least as of this 2018 Facebook post from him saying he hopes to still make this fight possible.
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UFC Vegas 12: My Predictions and the Current Odds:
Main Card: 7PM (Eastern)
Main Event:
(Middleweight)- Anderson Silva vs Uriah Hall
Prediction: Hall by KO/TKO in round 2.
Current Odds:
Hall to win: -250 (Silva to win is +175)
Hall by KO/TKO: +145
Hall in round 2: +690
Co-Main Event: (Bryce Mitchell finally gets his camo shorts!)
(Featherweight)- Andre Fili vs Bryce Mitchell
Prediction: Mitchell by submission in round 2.
Current Odds:
Mitchell to win: -140
Mitchell by submission: +190
Mitchell in round 2: +680
(Middleweight)- Kevin Holland vs Charlie Ontiveros
Prediction: Holland by KO/TKO in round 1.
Current Odds:
Holland to win: -825
Holland by KO/TKO: -275
Holland in round 1: -140
(Heavyweight)- Greg Hardy vs Maurice Greene
Prediction: Greene by submission in round 2.
Current Odds:
Greene to win:+270
Greene by submission: +900
Greene in round 2: +1200
(Lightweight)- Bobby Green vs Thiago Moises
Prediction: Green by decision.
Current Odds:
Green to win: -400
Green by decision: -190
Prelims: 5 PM (Eastern)
(Lightweight)- Alexander Hernandez vs Chris Gruetzemacher
Prediction: Hernandez by KO/TKO in round 2.
Current Odds:
Hernandez to win: -385
Hernandez by KO/TKO: +250
Hernandez in round 2: +650
(Bantamweight)- Adrian Yanez vs Victor Rodrigez
Prediction: Yanez by KO/TKO in round 1.
Current Odds:
Yanez to win: -430
Yanez by KO/TKO: -190
Yanez in round 1: +130
(Middleweight)- Sean Strickland vs Jack Marshman
Prediction: Strickland by decision.
Current Odds:
Strickland to win: -470
Strickland by decision: +115
(Welterweight)- Cole Williams vs Jason Witt
Prediction: Witt by decision.
Current Odds:
Witt to win: -180
Witt by decision: +150
Fight Pass Prelims: 4 PM (Eastern)
(Light Heavyweight)- Dustin Jacoby vs Justin Ledet
Prediction: Jacoby by KO/TKO in round 2.
Current Odds:
Jacoby to win: -415
Jacoby by KO/KO: +110
Jacoby in round 2: +500
(Bantamweight)- Kevin Natvidad vs Miles Johns
Prediction: Miles John by decision.
Current Odds:
Johns to win: -155
Johns by decision: +115
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