MMA Preview – Drew Dober vs Jean Silva at UFC on ESPN 59
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
DREW DOBER VS JEAN SILVA FACTS
When is UFC on ESPN 59? Sunday 14th July, 2024 - 01:00 (UK)
Where is UFC on ESPN 59? Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC on ESPN 59? Click here to buy tickets for UFC Fight Night
What channel is UFC on ESPN 59 on? TNT Sports 1
Where can I stream UFC on ESPN 59? TNT Sports subscribers can stream the fight online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
DREW DOBER VS JEAN SILVA LOWDOWN
Drew Dober (27-13(1)) is coming off a tough unanimous decision loss to Renato Moicano back in February at UFC Fight Night 235. It was a rare final bell as his last five fights ended via knockout. He buried Terrance McKinney (2022), Rafael Alves (2022) and Bobby Green (2022) before receiving a taste of his own medicine by Matt Frevola (2023). He responded with a first-round TKO over Ricky Glenn before losing to Moicano and now sits on a UFC record of 13-9.
Jean Silva (13-2) steps up to replace Mike Davis who withdrew a couple weeks ago due to tearing his bicep. He is fresh off his knockout win over Charles Jourdain only two weeks ago at UFC 303. Although he missed the featherweight mark of 145 lbs, he reeled off his biggest win to date extending his win streak to 10 which includes his first-round knockout over Westin Wilson on his UFC debut.
DREW DOBER VS JEAN SILVA PREDICTION
Silva will be grateful that he will not have to cut the extra 10 pounds up at lightweight, but he will be taking on a heavier knockout artist and by far, his most dangerous opponent to date.
Dober has 22 UFC fights in the bank and holds the record of the most knockouts in UFC lightweight history alongside Dustin Poirier with nine. What Silva has in his favour is confidence which will be crucial in enforcing his pressure and landing first.
Dober excels when he conducts the tempo and struggled when Frevola did not respect his weaponry and countered with venom. This is exactly what we expect from Silva who possesses serious knockout power of his own.
He is creative and will throw a variety of attacks to the legs body and head. Surprisingly, he is the favourite despite stepping up a weight class on short notice against an experienced knockout artist.
This is destined to be stand-up battle and either man is capable of the knockout. The veteran makes all the sense as the underdog, but we can see him underestimating Silva’s power and getting clipped. He cannot rely on his chin to defend against this wild man.
Prediction: Silva via KO/TKO
Value Bet: Dober to win
