MMA Preview – Chris Weidman vs Bruno Silva at UFC ESPN 54
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CHRIS WEIDMAN VS BRUNO SILVA FACTS
When is UFC on ESPN 54? Sunday 31st March, 2024 - 00:00 (UK)
Where is UFC on ESPN 54? Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC on ESPN 54? Click here to buy tickets for UFC on ESPN
What channel is UFC on ESPN 54 on? TNT Sports 1
Where can I stream UFC on ESPN 54? TNT Sports subscribers can stream the fight online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
CHRIS WEIDMAN VS BRUNO SILVA LOWDOWN
We are not sure how Chris Weidman (15-7) is still competing. Surgeons have patched him back together several times throughout his career and after his leg essentially snapped in half after kicking Uriah Hall’s (2021) shin, we did not think he would fight again. However, after 28 months of surgeries and rehab he returned to the octagon which is a win in itself. He was handed a tough fight in Brad Tavares who broke his leg again. Fortunately, it was not as serious, and he is able to make the shot hobble to Atlantic City.
Bruno Silva (23-10) is also in the worst form of his life so needs little excuse to inflict more misery on the former middleweight champion. After knocking out his first three UFC opponents to extend his win streak to seven, he lost to Alex Pereira (2022) and Gerald Meerschaert (2022). He then knocked out Tavares (2023) abut then fell to Brendan Allen and Sharabutdin Magomedov to dent his UFC record to 4-4.
CHRIS WEIDMAN VS BRUNO SILVA PREDICTION
The UFC clearly want the middleweight great to retire as they refuse to give him an easy fight. He is 2-7 in his last nine and is almost bionic at this point. He still has elite wrestling and jiu-jitsu and can hang with the best on the feet. However, his body will just not let him perform at that level anymore.
Silva is only five years younger than Weidman, but there are far less miles on the clock. He is also as dangerous as he has ever been and has the power to break Weidman down. He is also a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, although you would not have guessed considering has has been submitted seven times and not claimed one of his own.
That is the avenue to victory for Weidman. He can leverage his weight and technique to get Silva to the ground and work on a submission. However, we have not seen anything recently to suggest he can withstand the strikes and pull off a win.
Prediction: Silva via KO/TKO
