Preview: UFC on ESPN 43 Prelims

Flyweights

C.J. Vergara (10-4-1, 1-2 UFC) vs. Daniel da Silva (11-4, 0-3 UFC)

ODDS: Vergara (-240), da Silva (+200)

This should be an entertaining scrap for however long it lasts. That has been true of all of da Silva’s UFC fights thus far, even if it has mostly been to his detriment. “Miojo” imitates the Charles Oliveira gameplan to an extent, relying on pressure striking and hot starts, with his grappling as an ace in the hole. However, it has not come together thus far. Da Silva has shown early flashes of success in nearly all of his fights, but the subsequent chaos has typically just allowed his opponent an opening to turn around the fight and finish him in turn. That track record of excitement at least means that da Silva gets a fourth shot at a first UFC win, even if Vergara figures to be a tough out. Vergara impressed greatly in earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, knocking out UFC vet Bruno Mesquita in 41 seconds, and he has continued to look good despite a losing UFC record thus far. Vergara will always have a clear athletic ceiling, particularly in the shark tank of the UFC’s flyweight division. Still, he is a surprisingly durable scrapper with a willingness and an ability to keep pressing the action, which earned him a surprising decision win over Kleydson Rodrigues in May. A subsequent loss to Tatsuro Taira showed that Vergara can be submitted, even if he still was not easily outgrappled, so da Silva certainly does have a shot to finally cash in on one of his hot starts for a first UFC win. With that said, this looks set up to be a fight where Vergara can survive some early danger and then take things over shortly thereafter. The pick is Vergara via second-round stoppage.

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