Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva: Preview, Where to Watch and Betting Odds

Russian-born Austrian Ismail Naurdiev returns to the UFC as he takes on Brazilian Bruno Silva in the prelims of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi this weekend. Veteran Bruno Silva is on a bad run with one win in six. The pair will fight at 185 pounds, though Ismail Naurdiev competed at welterweight for his first time in the UFC. The Austrian is a huge favorite to win the bout.

MMA: UFC Middleweight

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi

Date: 26.10.2024 17:20

The Grozny-born wrestler returns to the UFC from Brave CF, where he submitted his last opponent in December in Ismail Naurdiev’s middleweight debut. The 28-year-old debuted in the UFC in early 2019 and earned a 2-2 record before leaving a year later. After several bouts in mainly the Brave CF promotion, including a failed bid for the vacant Brave CF super welterweight title, “The Austrian Wonderboy” returns to the Octagon. Ismail Naurdiev, who transitioned from wrestling to MMA, got his nickname due to his flashy and wild fighting skills.

• Age: 28
• Height: 6’0”
• Reach: 74”
• Weight: 185lbs (84kg)
• Record: 23-7

Following tryouts at The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil and some activity in the Russian circuit, Bruno Silva joined M-1 Global, where he won the M-1 Global Middleweight title via a fourth-round technical knockout of Artem Frolov. Silva won his first three UFC fights after a 2021 debut before going 5-1 with a sole victory over Brad Tavares last year. In that run, 35-year-old Silva lost to Alex Pereira, Brendan Allen, and Sharabutin Magomedov. His last fight was a loss to Chris Weidman last March.

• Age: 35
• Height: 6’0”
• Reach: 74”
• Weight: 185lbs (84kg)
• Record: 23-11

Bruno Silva is a 2.40 underdog on Bet365, with a decision for Ismail Naurdiev priced at 4.00 odds. Over 2.5 is priced at 1.80 on Betway, which lists no to the fight going the distance at 1.61. 1XBET prices a KO/TKO by Ismail Naurdiev at 3.6, while a KO/TKO for Bruno Silva is at 3.75. Read more .