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Mayra Bueno Silva is set to take on former UFC champion and perennial contender, Holly Holm, in a highly anticipated matchup on Saturday night. With no current champion in the division, a strong performance from either fighter could propel them to title contention. The Holm vs. Bueno Silva bout will serve as the main event for UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, following Amanda Nunes’ recent retirement.
Holly Holm’s career in combat sports has been nothing short of remarkable. After making the transition from boxing to mixed martial arts in 2011, she quickly rose to prominence. Holm achieved legendary status with a memorable head-kick knockout of Ronda Rousey in 2015, earning her the UFC women’s bantamweight championship. Despite facing setbacks in subsequent title fights, Holm remains determined to capture another title and fill the void left by Nunes.
“It’s a shame I couldn’t have a rematch with her before she retired,” Holm expressed to CBS Sports.
During Wednesday’s media day, Holm further stated, “My ultimate goal is still the belt, regardless. If Nunes ever decides to come out of retirement, maybe that fight can happen. But I believe I am just one fight away from the title, whether it’s at 145 or 135 pounds. Even before Nunes retired, I was excited to fight for the title. Her retirement does shake things up in the division.”
Watch the complete interview with Holly Holm below.
Mayra Bueno Silva has emerged as a rising star in the division, injecting new energy into the somewhat stagnant weight class. With four stoppages in her four UFC appearances, including three armbars and a kneebar, she has established herself as a formidable force at 135 pounds. Silva exudes confidence and is determined to prove that she deserves a title shot over other contenders like Juliana Pena and Raquel Pennington.
“Nobody has victories like mine,” Silva boldly proclaimed to CBS Sports. “I finish my fights and have been awarded with Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses. These other girls have nothing. If I put on a show against Holly Holm, I should be next in line for the title.”
She added, “I believe I have superior striking and jiu-jitsu skills compared to Holly. I am better than her in every aspect of the fight.”
Watch the complete interview with Mayra Bueno Silva below.
Jack Della Maddalena, a highly regarded welterweight prospect, gets a chance to shine in the co-main event after previously having his fight plans disrupted twice. The Australian fighter chose to stay in Las Vegas for an extra week in hopes of securing a spot on this card. He will face Bassil Hafez, and a victory could potentially propel Della Maddalena into the conversation of title contenders at 170 pounds.
The fight card also features exciting matchups between Francisco Prado and Ottman Azaitar in the lightweight division, and Junyong Park and Albert Duraev in a middleweight contest.
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Here is the complete fight card for Saturday night, along with the latest odds from Caesars Sportsbook, followed by a prediction and pick for the main event.
UFC Fight Night card, odds
| Holly Holm -170 | Mayra Bueno Silva +145 | Women’s bantamweight |
| Jack Della Maddalena -500 | Bassil Hafez +380 | Welterweight |
| Francisco Prado -115 | Ottman Azaitar -105 | Lightweight |
| Junyong Park -160 | Albert Duraev +135 | Middleweight |
| Norma Dumont -140 | Chelsea Chandler +120 | Women’s featherweight |
| Nazim Sadykhov -150 | Terrance McKinney +125 | Lightweight |
Viewing information for UFC Fight Night
Date: July 15 | Start time: 10 p.m. ET (main card)
Location: UFC Apex — Las Vegas, Nevada
TV channel: ESPN+
Prediction
Holly Holm vs. Mayra Bueno Silva: It’s difficult to predict when a fighter’s age will catch up with them, but Holm has managed to remain relatively unscathed throughout her career. She has continuously evolved as a fighter and added improved wrestling to her arsenal in recent years. However, she should be wary of Bueno Silva’s impressive jiu-jitsu skills from the bottom position. Holm’s success in this fight will depend on her ability to stay on the outside, accumulate points, and potentially land her signature head kick. With a significantly lower strike absorption rate and a history of going the distance in most of her fights, Holm’s experience and savvy should present a significant challenge for Bueno Silva. Expect Holm to secure a unanimous decision victory and make one final push for a world title. Holm via UD
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