The main card at UFC Seattle has undergone some impromptu changes. Fortunately, the main event featuring Song Yadong and Henry Cejudo remains intact. But the primary card has required some adjustments. And while they aren’t all ideal, we will at least be treated to a nifty Featherweight showdown between Jean Silva and Melsik Baghdasaryan.
Both fighters come to UFC Seattle working off at least one victory. Which one of them will leave Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday, February 22 with another win for their resume? That is what we are here to figure out.
- What: UFC Seattle
- When: Saturday, February 22, 2025
- Start Time: 7 p.m. EST (preliminary bouts), 10 p.m. EST (main card)
- Where: Seattle, Washington
- Venue: Climate Pledge Arena
- Where to Watch: ESPN+ (subscription required)
- Main Event: Song Yadong vs. Henry Cejudo
Silva is the more recognizable name of the two. The 28-year-old comes to UFC Seattle with a 14-2-0 overall record and has absolutely rolled through the competition since joining The Company. All four of Silva’s first official matches have gone down as victories. And three of those wins have come by knockout or total knockout.
The last match for Silva came against Drew Dober this past June. Though he was losing the striking battle at the time, Silva secured a KO in the first half of Round 3. Only one of his fights since September 2023 has made it past the 1:30 mark of the third round.
As for Baghdasaryan, he arrives at UFC Seattle with an 8-2-0 lifetime record. The 33-year-old has fought five times since September 2020. During this stretch, he has gone 4-1, with two victories by KO or TKO.
Baghdasaryan, also known as “The Gun,” last stepped inside the octagon against Tucker Lutz. He picked up the unanimous decision victory after winning the striking battle 64-36. It was a much-needed win for the Armenian, who fell to Josh Culibao in his previous match at UFC 284 in February 2023.
UFC Seattle Featherweight Bout: Jean Silva vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan Betting Lines
Even though both Silva and Baghdasaryan each have two losses to their resumes, the consensus among experts heavily favors the former. As you can see below, the latest online UFC betting odds agree.
Make sure to keep double-checking these UFC Seattle betting odds right up until you actually submit your wager. Our UFC Seattle online betting lines are accurate entering Monday, February 17. This gives the best online UFC betting sites more than enough time to make adjustments ahead of the opening bell.
Granted, in this case, we do not expect much to change. Silva has generated clear separation that cannot be meaningfully bridged between now and Saturday night. There might be some slight movement as people lay down stab-in-the-dark underdog bets on Baghdasaryan. Otherwise, though, we expect UFC Seattle online betting odds you see here to remain largely the same.
The Case for Jean Silva to Beat Melsik Baghdasaryan
Look no further than the reaction to the announcement of this fight for Silva’s winning argument. Social media—in particular, Reddit—was flabbergasted that Silva couldn’t wind up with a higher-profile after clobbering Drew Dober in July.
This helps explain why “Lord,” as he is called, has emerged as the heaviest favorite at UFC Seattle. And you will be hard pressed to build a case against him.
Silva is averaging 5.37 significant strikes landed per minute at a 52 percent clip. That type of volume and accuracy—the UFC average for successful striking attempts is around 47 percent—is pretty flipping bonkers.
However, Silva also combines his speed and precision with actual power. Planet Earth basically shook when he knocked out Charles Jourdain with a nasty uppercut at UFC 303. And his KO of Dober more recently was just as impressive.
Simply put, quality defense is not enough to slow down Silva. He will find an opening to go for the one-shot victory even if you’re playing him to perfection. That does not bode well for Baghdasaryan.
The Case for Melsik Baghdasaryan to Beat Jean Silva
Most are penciling Baghdasaryan in for a quick and thorough loss at UFC Seattle. And as you can tell above, we understand the acclaim for Silva.
Still, Silva has not been knocked out in at least half a decade. His defense is that good. He can be a little shaky when fending off grappling positions, but Silva will not look to turn this into a wrestling contest.
On top of that, Baghdasaryan’s offense is not too shabby, either. He is an even less skilled wrestler than Silva, but he’s connecting on 5.28 significant strikes per minute at a 61 percent clip himself.
Now, the degree of difficulty in his matches does not hold up to Silva’s track record. And Baghdasaryan isn’t as powerful with his combinations. But his additional size and reach coupled with his speed and accuracy give him a puncher’s chance.
UFC Seattle Picks for Silva vs. Baghdasaryan
After digging into Baghdasaryan’s resume, it is clear that he’s being somewhat undervalued in this specific matchup. With that said, though, we would be remiss to pick against Silva.
The heavy favorite is on an absolute heater. It would be one thing if he wasn’t making mincemeat of could-be ranked opponents. But that is exactly what he’s doing.
Even if you are a fan of Baghdasaryan’s overall fighting package, it’s impossible to overlook the effortless force with which Silva operates. And on an even more basic level, he is working off two KOs of superior opponents, in Dober and Jourdain. Ergo, he deserves to be the heaviest favorite on the UFC Seattle fight card.
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