A pair of former UFC champions face off in the boxing ring tonight, with Anderson Silva taking on Tyron Woodley.
Both lost to social media influencer Jake Paul in high-profile bouts a few years ago, and now they meet on the undercard of Paul’s fight against Anthony Joshua.
Boxing odds have Silva installed as a -275 favorite, and I expect the former MMA legend to prevail.
Here are my best Silva vs. Woodley predictions and free betting picks for Friday, December 19.
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Silva vs Woodley prediction and pick
- My fight prediction: Silva moneyline (-275 at bet365)
- My best bet: Silva by decision (+105 at bet365)
Fight analysis
Tyron Woodley was the former UFC welterweight champion and defended his belt three times. He made his boxing debut against Jake Paul in August 2021, losing by split decision. He had a short-notice rematch against Paul four months later and was knocked out cold in the sixth round.
Silva is the former UFC middleweight champ and held on to the title for a record 2,457 days. Since retiring from MMA, he's been in three boxing matches.
He beat former WBA middleweight title-holder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by split decision before starching former UFC lightweight champ Tito Ortiz. However, Silva lost a unanimous decision against Jake Paul in 2022 and hasn't fought since.
Silva was one of the best strikers in MMA history, with elite movement, speed, precision, and power. Meanwhile, Woodley was more of a wrestler with a heavy overhand right.
Although Woodley has the age advantage on his side, Silva sports a 5-inch height and a 3.5-inch reach advantage over Woodley, while also boasting superior boxing skills. He also looked far better in his decision loss to Paul than Woodley did when he was knocked out by the Problem Child.
Keep in mind that Chris Weidman was originally supposed to face Silva at this event until he withdrew just a month ago. Woodley took the fight on just four weeks’ notice, and he hasn't fought since 2021, so don't expect him to look sharp or have his conditioning on point.
Best best analysis
In a bout between two aging counter-strikers, oddsmakers aren’t expecting a stoppage, with the fight to go the distance prop set at -275.
Woodley was reluctant to let his hands go toward the end of his MMA career, and he could be even more gun-shy after getting brutally knocked out by Paul. He’ll have a tough time closing the distance or cutting off the ring, which will allow Silva to stay at range and work behind his jab.
It won’t be as exciting as Silva’s UFC title reign, but we should see a technical bout from the more fluid striker as he lands the cleaner shots and banks rounds en route to a decision victory.
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Anderson Silva vs Tyron Woodley odds
| Method of victory | Anderson Silva | Tyron Woodley |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -275 | +200 |
| Win by KO/TKO | +300 | +750 |
| Win by points or decision | +105 | +400 |
| Draw | +1000 | +1000 |
Odds courtesy of bet365 as of December 19.
Anderson Silva vs Tyron Woodley tale of the tape
| Silva | Woodley | |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Age | 43 |
| 6-foot-2 | Height | 5-foot-9 |
| Light Heavyweight | Weight Class | Cruiserweight |
| 77.5 inches | Reach | 74 inches |
| 3-2 | Record | 0-2 |
| 2 | Wins by KO | N/A |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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