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- What: UFC Vegas 77
- Main Event: Holly Holm vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
- Date: Saturday, July 15, 2023
- Location: UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV
- Time: Prelims (7:00 p.m. ET) Main Card (10:00 p.m. ET)
- How to Watch: Prelims (ESPN), Main Card (ESPN)
On Saturday, July 15, a former UFC women’s bantamweight champion looks to earn a win and take another step toward another shot at UFC gold. At the same time, her opponent, a rising contender in the UFC women’s 135-pound division, looks to extend her winning streak to four straight and jump up the divisional rankings. That fight between ex-champ Holly Holm and Mayra Bueno Silva headlines the UFC Vegas 77 fight card from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here is some background on the main event fighters on the ESPN Fight Night card before we discuss the betting breakdown for UFC Vegas 77.
Holm brings a 15-6 record with her. The 41-year-old ex-UFC titleholder is coming off a March decision win over Yana Santos. Holm is 3-1 since losing the UFC bantamweight belt to Amanda Nunes in July 2019. The ex-champ is currently the No. 3 fighter in the official UFC women’s bantamweight rankings.
Bueno Silva is 10-2-1 as a pro. The 31-year-old has won her past three outings, with her most recent triumph coming via second-round submission against Lina Lansberg in February. Bueno Silva spent the first five fights of her UFC career at flyweight. She is undefeated in the UFC since moving to 135 pounds. The Brazilian is the No. 10 fighter in the UFC divisional rankings.
Before we look at the best bets for the main event of the UFC Vegas 77 card, check out the best UFC betting sites and where you can find the best odds on all the UFC fights.
UFC Vegas 77 main event: Holly Holm vs. Mayra Bueno Silva betting picks
| To Win |  |  |  |
| Mayra Bueno Silva | +140 | +130 | +135 |
| Holly Holm | -160 | -155 | -165 |
UFC Vegas 77 main event: Holly Holm vs. Mayra Bueno Silva betting breakdown
What jumps out about this matchup is how each fighter has earned their wins over their respective careers. Holm, a member of the boxing hall of fame, has picked up eight career knockouts and seven decision wins. As for Bueno Silva, a member of the famed Chute Box gym in Brazil, has earned seven submissions, two decisions, and one KO. Putting this fight in the most basic terms, it’s a striker vs. grappler matchup.
Holm has much more high-level experience. She has been battling the UFC’s best since she joined the promotion in 2015, the same year Bueno Silva had her first professional fight. That experience means Holm will be prepared for anything Bueno Silva throws her way. Holm will not get flustered, rush or force things. She’ll either fight all the way in and strike in the clinch or fight all the way out, employing a kicking game that makes it easy for her to exit and avoid being countered.
Bueno Silva could struggle against Holm. She is an outstanding grappler, but her issue has been that she needs to utilize those skills more. The Brazilian competitor tends to wait for her opponent to take the fight to the mat, and once there, she is comfortable and confident. Bueno Silva needs to up her offensive takedown game if she wants to fight to her strength, especially against a fighter like Holm, who is elusive and has good takedown defense.
UFC Vegas 77 main event: Who has the edge?
Silva could one day contend for a UFC title but will not do so after this fight. There are levels to the fight game, and even at 41, Holm has the advantage in every aspect over her 31-year-old foe in the main event of UFC Vegas 77. This fight will be a learning experience for Bueno Silva. It will prepare her for future five-round scraps against the elite of the UFC women’s bantamweight division, but she will not triumph over an opponent as experienced and skilled as Holm.
UFC Vegas 77 main event: What’s at stake?
There are rumblings in the MMA world that former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey could be returning to the promotion after she walked away from the promotion after two straight knockout losses. The first of those setbacks, which took place at UFC 193 in November 2015, was to Holly Holm. With the talk of a possible Rousey return, which again, is just rumor at this point, a win for Holm could put her in the conversation for a fight against Rousey for the title Amanda Nunes vacated earlier this year when she retired following her title defense win over Irene Aldana at UFC 289.
Best Bets for UFC Vegas 77 main event: Holly Holm vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
With the UFC women’s bantamweight title now vacant thanks to Amanda Nunes’ retirement, every main event fight between highly ranked 135-pound UFC competitors can earn the victor a title shot. When it comes to a former champion, those chances are even higher. Nunes was still the champion when this fight was booked, but her retirement has made the bout exponentially more important. That fact increases the stakes and the pressure facing Holm and Bueno Silva. With that, Holm as a betting favorite at UFC Vegas 77 becomes an attractive proposition. She is the betting pick to win Saturday’s main event. As for the fight’s outcome, the best bets are Holm via decision or knockout in the championship rounds.
Best UFC Vegas 77 main event betting pick: Holly Holm to beat Mayra Bueno Silva via decision.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
