LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 19: (From left) Opponents Cody Darden and Bruno Silva of Brazil face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-ins at UFC APEX on July 19, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Cody Darden, a top 15 flyweight contender, lost his ranking after losing to Bruno Silva at UFC Las Vegas 94.
Darden came into the bout coming off a loss to Tagir Uranbekov, but he had won four straight bouts prior to that, using his wrestling prowess to contrast with Silva, a knockout artist who hadn’t fought in a year and four months but was on a three-fight winning streak. Both fighters knew the winner would have the momentum in an increasingly powerful flyweight division. Darden looked like he would win at first, but Silva came from behind to win the final bout.
As the bout began, both fighters traded kicks and fought for position. Soon the distance was closed to an effective boxing distance, with Durden being surprisingly effective for a wrestling specialist. Silva’s nose and cheeks were red, and without Cody’s wrestling threat, Silva was forced to play on the back foot. Cody remained the sharper boxer for the remainder of the round, except when a poke in the eye briefly stopped the bout.
Bruno tried to catch up as the second round began, but was quickly clipped and wobbled. He went for a takedown, but Darden blocked it and attempted an anaconda choke. He didn’t get it, but after a scramble settled down he got into side control and then half guard. Silva got to his feet with a great effort, but was knocked unconscious after being given the mat back. Still, Bruno fought back to his feet again, and that’s when everything changed. Silva lunged forward and caught Darden with a rear uppercut, taking the Georgia wrestler down. Ten seconds of ground-and-pound on a dazed Cody Darden followed, leading to the referee’s intervention to complete an incredible reversal.
Bruno Silva possesses true fight-changing power in the flyweight division and will catapult himself into the top 15 as a threat to many in the division, but he will need to fix the issues that cost him his losses before he can score a finish.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Bruno Silva defeated Cody Darden by TKO (uppercut), 2:58, round 2
