Adam Williams presents his prediction for the UFC on ESPN 63 fight.
Manel Kape
Kape will unleash a series of straight punches to force the Brazilian into a frontal block, thereby opening up the opportunity for a high kick. He will also deliver numerous low kicks while keeping a solid defence against Silva's kicks. Manel is likely to meet his opponent with a sharp one-two combination or a precise jab to the chin. If Silva closes the distance too quickly, Kape will engage him in a clinch, delivering knee strikes to the head. He’ll attempt to outmanoeuvre the Brazilian and unleash punches from all angles. One of these might rattle Bruno, and Manel will then try to finish him off from mid-range.
Bruno Silva
Ducking under an incoming punch, Silva will aim to land a hook and a middle kick to stagger Kape. With his aggressive fighting style, Bruno will force Manel to advance and catch front kicks. The Brazilian will retreat to the cage with minimal movement and then explode with a focused right straight as he sidesteps. Bruno will execute a double-leg takedown as Manel switches his stance again. Silva anticipates that his opponent won't allow him to secure a tight body lock, so he'll swiftly switch to gaining control and moving to the back.
Betting Odds
The bookmakers favour Manel, who is expected to dominate in the stand-up exchanges with his elusiveness and unpredictability. The odds for a Kape victory are 3/10.
Bruno, accustomed to outplaying opponents with timing, faces a challenging opponent in Kape, who is highly unsuitable for this strategy. Placing a bet on a Silva win offers odds of 27/10.
Manel Kape vs Bruno Silva Prediction
The major issue for Bruno is that Manel's style is a difficult matchup for his counter-attacking techniques. Even if Silva baits Kape, it’s unlikely he would be able to catch him with a sudden counterattack or outstrike him in exchanges. With Manel's speed and timing, he has the ability to excel both offensively and defensively in this bout. Keeping the powerful Portuguese fighter grounded is also a tough task, especially considering he trained intensively for wrestling in preparation for his summer fight against Muhammad Mokaev. We believe Kape will outstrike Silva and take the fight by decision. Given the low odds on him, a bet on the fight going the distance seems more intriguing.
