Preview: UFC on ESPN 58 ‘Perez vs. Taira’

Bantamweights

Miles Johns (14-2, 5-2 UFC) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (29-5, 7-5 UFC)

ODDS: Johns (-122), Silva de Andrade (+102)

Is Johns finally turning a corner? He came to the UFC in 2019 as a fairly straight-ahead wrestler and has done well to slowly round out his game. However, even after knockout wins over Kevin Natividad and Anderson dos Santos suggested Johns was putting things together as a striker, a subsequent loss to John Castaneda brought back some worries about how well he could hang against opponents willing to meet him on his own terms and apply some pressure. Johns is now coming off performances against Dan Argueta and Cody Gibson where he has looked much more comfortable and capable in the face of constant aggression, though he has yet to put together the one dominant showing that suggests he’s ready to be ranked in what might be the UFC’s deepest division.

Silva de Andrade makes for a tough next test, as the Brazilian has settled in as a gatekeeper to the UFC’s Top 20 or so bantamweights. An elite athlete whose game is essentially self-taught, “D’Silva” is a proverbial tank. His techniques might not look all that pretty, but he’ll throw them hard with maximum force, leaning on his power and durability to see him through. That makes for an interesting pairing here. Silva de Andrade is clearly the fighter more capable of fight-changing moments of offense, but his lack of defense should give up a lot of those gains against an increasingly poised and technically sound version of Johns. Silva de Andrade could win this with a few big shots, but the lean is that Johns’ consistency can see him through, particularly if he looks to take advantage of the Brazilian’s spotty wrestling. The pick is Johns via decision.

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Perez vs. Taira
Aliskerov vs. Trocoli
Cuamba vs. Almeida
Johns vs. Silva de Andrade
Almabaev vs. Johnson
Quinlan vs. Fugitt
The Prelims