Featherweight: Anvar Boynazarov Vs. Erik Silva
Tale of the tape
33-years-old
5’9″
Uzbekistan/Phuket
Tiger Muay Thai
3-0
3 KO/TKOs
Combined opponent’s record: 5-12
34-years-old
5’10”
Venezuela/Costa Rica
Antonio Silva Martial Arts School
8-1
4 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
Combined opponent’s record: 52-26
Pros and Cons
Anvar Boynazarov
Pros
- Fast starter
- Heavy leg kicks
- Fight-ending knees
- Good right hook
- Solid kickboxing
- Dangerous in exchanges
Cons
- Drawn into brawls
Erik Silva
Pros
- Submission threat/Excellent RNC
- Good wrestling
- Heavy leg kicks
- Nasty ground and pound
- Diverse kickboxing
- Slick jiu-jitsu
- Explosive
- Excellent back take
Cons
- Leaves himself open
Who has the advantage?
Striking: Boynazarov
Speed: Boynazarov
Output/Volume: Even
Kickboxing: Boynazarov
Striking defense: Silva
Footwork/movement: Boynazarov
Wrestling: Silva
Grappling: Silva
More likely to finish on the mat: Silva
Gas tank: Unknown
Prediction: These guys are both older so I’m happy they are fighting each other. It’s important for both considering one probably gets signed and the other likely never gets a chance like this again.
Now, it’s not just because of the age factor that the winner likely gets signed, but because both guys are savages. Boynzazrov is a Glory kickboxer and is a two-time muay thai world champion. In kickboxing he’s awesome but in MMA it’s hard to get anything off 3:10 of cage time. The thing is, he’s likely to be one-dimensional and Silva is the guy you don’t want be on the mat for the first time with.
That’s the way I’m leaning is towards Silva. Silva isn’t just a grappler, he’s a dangerous striker as well. He has more tools to win and more MMA experience so I’m picking him.
