The flyweight clash between Bruno “Bulldog” Silva and Joshua “The Fearless” Van on June 7 at UFC 316 has the makings of an action-heavy showdown that could steal the spotlight from the bigger names further up the Newark card. Both men bring forward-moving styles, but they do so in very different ways. Silva’s stock-in-trade is raw aggression mixed with opportunistic grappling, while Van pairs dizzying output with youth-fueled confidence. Here, we make our Bruno Silva vs Joshua Van prediction before this weekend’s pay-per-view card begins.
Bruno Silva vs Joshua Van Preview
Silva (14-6-2) stands 5’4″ with a 65-inch reach and lands 3.54 significant strikes per minute. Where he separates himself is in fight-ending power for this weight class, with 6 career knockout wins, and a knack for slick back-takes that have produced 4 submissions. The Brazilian is coming off a roller-coaster two-year run that featured a second-round TKO of Cody Durden last July, followed by a bruising loss to Manel Kape and the March injury that forced him out of their first booking. Now healthy, he says the extra prep time has sharpened his wrestling and mended nagging knee issues that hampered his lateral movement.
Van (13-2) is the picture of activity, with 7 UFC bouts since debuting in June of 2023. The 23-year-old owns the highest significant-strike rate in company history at 8.10 per minute. He has a style built on swarm tactics and cardio that refuses to fade. Since a KO setback to Charles Johnson last summer, he has rattled off decision wins over Édgar Cháirez, Cody Durden, and, most recently, Rei Tsuruya at UFC 313 where he out-landed the Japanese prospect throughout. While Van’s wrestling isn’t elite, his takedown defense has held when tested, and he scrambles well enough to avoid prolonged bottom time.
Betting Insights
- Moneyline: Books have made Van a –700 favorite with Silva a +500 underdog.
- Prop snapshot: Van by decision sits around -110, reflecting his volume-heavy style and Silva’s durability. Silva by finish is climbing, available near +1100 for KO/TKO and +2000 for submission.
- Fight to Go the Distance: The Yes option stands at -125, while the No is -110.
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Bruno Silva vs Joshua Van Prediction
The matchup hinges on tempo. Silva must slow the pace and introduce clinch exchanges where his short-burst power and trips can level the striking disparity. If he funnels Van into an early scramble and secures top position, ground-and-pound could open a choke just as it did against Tyson Nam in 2023. However, Silva’s tendency to plant his feet in mid-cage firefights plays into Van’s wheelhouse. The Burmese-American excels at combination layering. Over 3 rounds, he averages nearly 100 significant strike attempts. That unrelenting pace has broken more seasoned foes who struggled to match his footwork.
Silva’s statistical liability is defense. He absorbs more than he dishes out, and his guard often widens after big swing-and-miss moments. Against Van’s hand speed, that could prove costly. Add in the recent injury layoff and Van’s advantage in pure minutes fought since 2024 (58 cage minutes to Silva’s 12), and the younger man appears better positioned to dictate terms. Expect Silva to surge early, hunting looping rights and an outside trip.
The pick: Van by decision at roughly -110. He may flirt with a late stoppage once Silva’s gas tank dips, but the safer play is Van sweeping 2 of the first 3 rounds behind volume, angle changes, and a reserve of youthful stamina.
