Arman Tsarukyan is on the hunt for a worthy challenger as the feared competitor claws closer to title contention, and the all-action Joaquim Silva is ready to stop him in his tracks when these two do battle on the June 17 edition of UFC Fight Night from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The UFC odds suggest Tsarukyan is going to have an easy night as a -1,050 favorite. Silva, 2-3 SU in his last five fights, is a decided +725 underdog. The prevailing thought is that this fight will finish inside the distance.
Will Tsarukyan turn in yet another devastating performance? Or can Silva derail his plans? Check out how I see who wins Tsarukyan vs. Silva, and how, ahead of Saturday’s bout in Las Vegas.
Arman Tsarukyan vs Joaquim Silva fight odds
Arman Tsarukyan vs Joaquim Silva method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Arman Tsarukyan | Joaquim Silva |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | -130 | +1,500 |
| To win by Points | +400 | +1,300 |
| To win by Submission | +310 | +2,200 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on June 15, 2023.
Arman Tsarukyan vs Joaquim Silva picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Arman Tsarukyan vs Joaquim Silva betting preview
Now that Beneil Darisuh has been wiped out by Charles Oliveira, the title of “most feared lightweight” rests on Tsarukyan’s capable shoulders. Tsarukyan is a dangerous grappler with excellent striking to boot. He doled out an authoritative win over Damar Ismagulov in his last fight, and he is known for giving Mateusz Gamrot and Islam Makhachev close calls in defeat.
Tsarukyan is in his best form as a grinder. His suffocating wrestling approach and judicious striking wears his opponents down, eventually leaving them too exhausted to defend themselves. He scores 3.30 takedowns every 15 minutes, and two of his last three wins have been ground-and-pound finishes.
Oddsmakers are solidly behind him to beat Silva. His disciplined style doesn’t leave him open to anything his seemingly overmatched opponent can exploit. Though he can struggle against athletic wrestlers who can hang with him in the grappling department, Silva will resort to striking and is extremely hittable.
Silva hadn’t won a fight in four years before he fought Jesse Ronson last October. In that fight, Silva wiped Ronson out with a leaping knee, guaranteeing himself a future opportunity with the UFC. When original opponent Renato Moicano fell out of this fight, Silva came in and has a job on his hands.
Though he has struggled to separate from the middle of the pack at lightweight, Silva is a solid finisher with 10 of his 12 wins coming inside the distance. He has black belts in Muay Thai and BJJ, yet he relies on his striking to generate offense.
Silva might have to rely on his BJJ, as he’ll likely hit the ground as he has against other seasoned opponents like Nasrat Haqparast and Jared Gordon. His striking defense is below average, as he takes one to land one, and has two losses via knockout. It does seem that Silva only has a proverbial puncher’s chance, but he can land an unorthodox strike from nowhere.
Arman Tsarukyan vs Joaquim Silva tale of the tape
| Arman Tsarukyan | Joaquim Silva | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Age | 34 |
| 5-foot-7 | Height | 5-foot-8 |
| 155 pounds | Weight | 155 pounds |
| 72.5 inches | Reach | 69 inches |
| 19-3 (7 KO) | Record | 12-4 (7 KO) |
Arman Tsarukyan vs Joaquim Silva UFC prediction and best bet
Fight prediction: Tsarukyan ML
There’s a significant divide in talent between these two. Tsarukyan is on the verge of title contention, whereas Silva was the only fighter willing to step in to face him on short notice. Though Silva has demonstrated stopping power, it’s not likely to make an impact as he’ll get mauled and outclassed by Tsarukyan in a fight that will be as one-sided as the odds suggest.
Prediction: Tsarukyan moneyline (-1,050 at DraftKings)
Fight best bet: Round 3 will not start
I don’t expect Tsarukyan to be troubled by Silva. His leaky striking defense and untested ground game will see this fight end inside the distance. My best bet for Tsarukyan vs. Silva is that the fight will end before the start of Round 3 at -250.
Pick: Round 3 will not start (-250 at DraftKings)
