Brendan Allen vs Bruno Silva: Preview, Where to Watch and Betting Odds

Number thirteen-ranked UFC Middleweight Brendan Allen is unhappy that the matchmakers gave him an unranked Bruno Silva after winning four fights on the bounce. The two fighters clash on the bottom of the main card at UFC on ABC 5 in a fight that will certainly change the trajectory of the UFC career of the winner. Brendan Allen is the former LFA Middleweight champion, while Bruno Silva was a one-time former M-1 Global Middleweight champ.

MMA: UFC Middleweight

Location: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida

Where to watch: ABC/ESPN+

Date: 24.06.2023. 22.40

The 27-year-old has his eyes on moving into the top five UFC rankings. Debuting in 2019, the American has had a meteoric rise in the UFC. He has lost twice to Sean Strickland and Chris Daukaus, both by TKO. Aside from those setbacks, the Southeastern Louisiana University graduate has taken full advantage of the opportunities granted him by the matchmakers. Tapped to replace injured Anthony Hernandez at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw, Allen secured a unanimous decision over Punahele Soriano. Finishing Andre Muniz at UFC Fight Night 220 catapulted him into the ranked places and secured him a headliner against Jack Hermansson on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46. A Hermansson withdrawal saw the BJJ black belt matched up with the unranked Silva. Allen has won Performance of the Night bonus awards in his last two fights.

• Age: 27
• Height: 6’ 2”
• Reach: 75”
• Record: 21-5

Honestly, I don’t think he deserves the spot. But hey, man, this is where you get opportunities, and you’ve got to take full advantage. I know he’s coming to take full advantage of the opportunity, but I’m not looking past him, and he’s the man that’s got to get the business.

Brendan Allen

Born in Paraiba, Brazil, a region with little or no fighting culture, Bruno Silva started fighting out of curiosity and made enough progress to be invited to TUF Brazil. Finding his way to the Russian scene, the BJJ black belt became the M-1 Global Middleweight champion before earning a UFC contract. He won his first three fights in the UFC before going on a two-fight skid, dropping fights to Gerald Meerschaert and fellow Brazilian Alex Pereira. Last April, the 33-year-old rebounded with an impressive TKO over Brad Tavares at UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes, winning a Performance of the Night bonus award.

• Age: 33
• Height: 6’ 0”
• Reach: 74”
• Record: 23-8-1

Who was Brendan Allen before he fought Andre Muniz? He wasn’t ranked before, fought him, and won. I don’t pick opponents, I don’t choose opponents. I was asked to fight ‘Poatan’, and I fought Alex Pereira. I was asked to fight Brad Tavares, I was there.

Bruno Silva

Brendan Allen is the favorite with the sportsbooks. On Bet365, he is 1.53 to win, with Bruno Silva priced at 2.62. On 1XBET over 1.5 rounds is available at 1.67 odds, with Fight to Go the Distance at 3.00 odds. Allen by submission is priced at 2.8 odds on Coinplay. The Brazilian to win by KO/TKO is 3.8 on Coinplay.