With both fighters looking to shake off recent setbacks, lightweights Claudio Puelles and Joaquim Silva meet this Saturday at Noche UFC in a matchup that could mark a turning point for their respective UFC careers.
Puelles (12-4), once seen as a rising submission threat, has stumbled in his last two fights and needs a decisive win to reclaim momentum. Losses to Dan Hooker and Fares Ziam aren’t bad, but a third consecutive loss will have him with his back against the wall.
Silva ((13-5) the veteran striker with a reputation for durability and power, enters hopeful that his experience and stand-up skills can outlast Puelles’ grappling game in what promises to be a tactical but intense clash. The longtime UFC lightweight is closer to the end than the beginning of his career with very few chances left to make a run.
Round 1 – Silva came out firing a flurry that Puelles easily avoided, and then rushes in for a high crotch takedown putting Silva on his back quick. Puelles worked to soften Silva up and get his left leg free of the half guard to pass.
Silva worked hard to keep Puelles’ posture broken down, but the latter stayed busy landing shots in close and scoring. Puelles was happy to continue landing on Silva who spent a lot of time trying to find opportunities to scramble and escape. He got to his feet on the fence, but Puelles was on his back quickly.
Puelles got one more takedown before the end of the round.
Round 2 – Puelles got a takedown pretty quick as he was looking for a repeat of the first round. Silva worked his way to his feet and began looking for his offense. Puelles stayed on his kick game and would duck punches to look for takedowns.
Silva started to put some combos together and some sequences. Puelles would fire back jabs and kicks, but showed that he took the foot off the gas to conserve energy and rest. Silva must have felt it as he started working on landing body shots to tax the gas tank.
Teep kicks landed by Silva began to really pay off with Puelles grimacing quite a bit when he got hit repeatedly. The round ended with Silva jumping a guillotine, but running out of time.
Round 3 – Puelles worked his striking looking to mix it up. Silva fired off hooks up top, but ate a big right hook as well. Puelles shot in and scored a takedown, but Silva popped up to one knee quick.
Puelles continued shooting repeatedly. Silva tried to scramble, but Puelles stayed on him. Silva forced him off him and went off. At one point he dropped Puelles with a shot to the body and tried to finish the fight, but ran out of time.
Official Result: Joaquim Silva def. Claudio Puelles via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
