The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the octagon with an absolute banger of a fight card scheduled for this weekend in Seattle, Washington.
Brendan Allen, Anthony Hernandez, Jean Silva, and Melsik Bagdasaryan are involved in two main card bangers, and I’m seeing some serious betting value up for grabs.
Let’s waste no more time and dive right into my favorite UFC Seattle main card analysis and predictions.
And don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel for more betting advice. Today, our expert covered the Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto and Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong fights!
Picks Summary
- Anthony Hernandez by Submission or Decision (-175)
- Jean Silva by Submission or Decision (+130)
*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
UFC Seattle Event Information
- Date & Time: Saturday, February 22, 2025 – 06:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
- Scheduled Fights: 12
- Main Event: Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong (UFC Bantamweight Bout)
Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez
UFC Middleweight Main Card Bout
Brendan Allen
Fifteen UFC appearances and twelve victories later, Brendan Allen, is a middleweight force riding an eight-fight win streak until he met his match, Nassourdine Imavov, last September.
More impressively, as a grappling ace, Allen has finished seven opponents by submission. Still, with a former foe he previously lost lined up for Saturday, serious adjustments will need to be made to return to the win column and continue his rise through the 185lb weight class.
- Allen Pro MMA Record: 24-6
- Allen KOs: 5
- Allen Submissions: 14
Anthony Hernandez
Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez went from a 1-2 record in 2019 into a fan-favorite middleweight who’s won seven consecutive fights since his last defeat four years ago, with five of those winning bouts ending by KO/TKO or submission.
Regarding overlooked middleweights with title contention potential, Fluffy is high up on the list. A blend of confident boxing and striking defense, mixed with excellent cardio and BJJ, that even managed to submit a jiu-jitsu legend in Rodolfo Viera, shouldn’t be underestimated, especially versus an opponent that he once defeated many moons ago.
- Hernandez Pro MMA Record: 13-2
- Hernandez KOs: 3
- Hernandez Submissions: 8
Allen vs. Hernandez: Fight Tape Analysis
With a recent record that mostly involves striking-based opponents, Hernandez has been able to style on these foes in the wrestling/grappling department. However, my only concern would be his wrestling defense, which hasn’t been tested in a long time. If Rodolfo Viera found success in this area, what’s stopping Brendan Allen from utilizing a wrestling game to nullify Fluffy’s offense?
Well, I’d have to turn to the cardio and scrambling ability of Hernandez. While I do believe that offensively, Allen can find success in the wrestling, I struggle to envision him keeping this up for 15 minutes. We’ve watched him tire in the past, on multiple occasions, and with a high-tempo, and consistent cardio from Hernandez, the submission that Allen likely needs to win this fight won’t present itself.
For Hernandez, he’s the smoother boxer with greater footwork on the feet and greater striking IQ. Allen won’t win rounds on the feet but will equally struggle to keep this fight grounded. Therefore, it’s a no-brainer as to who owns the advantage in this contest, and although their first fight was six years ago, I envision an identical result, a unanimous decision, especially when Fluffy only has to win across 15 minutes, as opposed to the 25 minutes they fought last time.
UFC Seattle Main Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC pricing with OddsTraders’ top sportsbooks places Hernandez as the betting favorite, but we can find greater value in the double-chance prop betting market.
I prefer Hernandez to win by submission or decision because, historically, his KO/TKO finishes have come from ground and pound positions. Allen isn’t going to accept such a position and will force Fluffy to either lock a submission or accept a win on points.
UFC Pick: Hernandez by Submission or Decision (-175) [1u returns 1.75u profit] at Bet365
Jean Silva vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan
UFC Featherweight Main Card Bout
Jean Silva
Silva, representing the fastest up-and-coming gym in MMA, the Fighting Nerds, has been an absolute wrecking ball in the octagon thus far. Even in fights where he’s been outworked, eventually, he finds a way to win, and so far, his three UFC bouts have ended with brutal knockout wins!
- Silva Pro MMA Record: 14-2
- Silva KOs: 11
- Silva Submissions: 2
Melsik Baghdasaryan
As a former Golden Gloves winner and K1 champion, Melsik Baghdasaryan is an absolute force in the striking department. He’s 3-1 in the UFC to date, 8-2 in pro-MMA overall, and what’s the common look he gives in those successes? His elite kickboxing offense, of course!
- Baghdasaryan Pro MMA Record: 8-2
- Bagdasaryan KOs: 5
- Bagdasaryan Submissions: 0
Silva vs. Baghdasaryan: Fight Tape Analysis
Watching Silva flatline Drew Dober, a fighter renowned for his heavy fists, was impressive. However, Dober is a powerhouse, whereas Bagdasaryan is technically an elite kickboxer whose striking intelligence and defense alone will make it incredibly difficult for Silva to replicate his 100% UFC knockout record.
There is, however, a clear path to least resistance for Silva, and that’s through a grappling game plan. If the coaches at the Fighting Nerds are as good as the hype, they’ll plead with their fighter to avoid head-hunting, like he has in past bouts.
We all want to see Silva swing for the knockout and collect another highlight reel, but Baghdasaryan is just too damn good in this area. When it comes to wrestling though, he’s going to put up minimal resistance and Silva, who’s undoubtedly the more talented grappler, will find a much easier path to victory by opting to wrestle, and then put some jiu-jitsu work on his one-dimensional opponent.
UFC Seattle Main Card Odds & Prediction
The UFC odds place Silva as a huge -600 betting favorite, and that’s a line I can’t appreciate. Should he decide to strike, underdog bettors will be in luck, but as I believe he’ll take the smart route, backing him to win by submission or decision makes sense.
Neither fighter has ever been knocked out during their pro careers, and I don’t expect that to change on Saturday. Melsik has, however, suffered submission losses, and if Silva follows the sensible game plan, he’s undoubtedly going to win by submission or decision.
UFC Pick: Silva by Submission or Decision (+130) [1 returns 1.3u profit] at Bet365
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
