MMAOB staff writer Adam Martin takes a deeper look at the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 39, a five-round middleweight bout between Uriah Hall and Anderson Silva. The event takes place on Saturday, October 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Uriah Hall (-225)
Hall (15-9) is the No. 10 ranked middleweight in the UFC. The 36-year-old Jamaican made waves on season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter for his insane spinning hook kick KO on Adam Cella, before losing to Kelvin Gastelum in the finale. Since 2013 Hall has been a member of the UFC roster, posting an 8-7 overall record in the Octagon with notable wins over the likes of Gegard Mousasi, Krzysztof Jotko, Antonio Carlos Junior, Bevon Lewis, and Thiago Santos. Hall is an incredibly talented striker and we’ve seen that many times throughout his career as he’s won 11 fights by knockout. However, he has been very inconsistent over the years as you can see by his UFC record, as he’s lost four fights by decision and three fights by knockout in the Octagon. However, he has really turned things around as of late as he has won three of his last four fights. Still, he is an incredibly-talented striker and anytime he is able to connect on his opponents’ chin it is lights out.
Anderson Silva (+185)
Silva (34-10, 1 NC) is the former long-time UFC middleweight champion. The 45-year-old Brazilian is regarded as one of the best MMA fighters of all time and will be a first-ballot UFC Hall of Famer when it’s all said and done. However, he is currently the oldest active fighter on the UFC roster and said this fight with Hall will be the final bout of his legendary MMA career. Since joining the UFC in 2006, Silva has racked up a 17-6, 1 NC record with wins over the likes of Derek Brunson, Chael Sonnen, Rich Franklin, Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffin, and Dan Henderson. He is one of the best to ever do it and between 2006 and 2013 he won 16 straight fights in the Octagon, a UFC record. However, he has really struggled in the last seven years since losing his belt to Chris Weidman at UFC 163. Since the loss to Weidman, Silva is 1-6, 1 NC in the Octagon. He is still one of the greatest to ever don the four-ounce gloves, but at age 45, this will be his final walk to the Octagon.
Fight Breakdown: It’s sad to see Silva go after so many years fighting at the highest level of the sport, but I believe he’s making the right call to hang up his gloves. Unfortunately, I don’t like this matchup for him at all and believe he will retire off of a loss. Silva just isn’t the same guy anymore. He doesn’t have the speed or reflexes to keep up with Hall, his chin isn’t there, and he is coming off of an 18-month layoff. Hall should be the fastest, more powerful striker in the Octagon and I believe he wins this fight. The better question is does Hall win by decision or knockout, and my lean is towards a decision just because I believe you are going to see a lot of respect shown in this fight.
Prediction: Uriah Hall wins via unanimous decision
