UFC Vegas 114’s prelim card features a flyweight clash between American veteran Charles Johnson and Brazilian brawler Bruno Silva. This 3-round bout pits the 35-year-old switch-stance fighter with 26 professional bouts against the stocky 36-year-old orthodox striker at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Johnson opens as a -185 favorite, with Silva at +150 as the underdog. This flyweight matchup is a competitive prelim bout between two experienced fighters both looking to avoid the wrong side of the win-loss column.
Here’s how we’re betting UFC Vegas 114: Johnson vs Silva, including our UFC predictions, best bet, key props and an expert final verdict.
Mini Fight Info Strip
Event: UFC Vegas 114
Weight class: UFC Flyweight bout
Fight length: 3-round main card fight
Date & time: March 14, 2026 – main card start 10:00 p.m. ET, walk time ~10:00 p.m. ET
Venue: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada
Best Bet Card
Best Bet: Johnson by Decision (+130)
Book: Best price at FanDuel
Our best bet for this flyweight prelim fight is Charles Johnson by Decision at +130. Below, we’ll break down the matchup and key props.
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Odds updated: March 13, 2026 – 08:00 AM ET. Lines may move before fight night, especially after weigh-ins.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats to Know
Before we get into the matchup, here’s a Tale of the Tape for Johnson vs Silva.
Tale of the Tape
Charles Johnson
Bruno Silva
Record
18-8-0
15-7-2 (1 NC)
Age
35
36
Height
5’9″
5’4″
Reach
70″
65″
Stance
Switch
Orthodox
Sig. Strikes Landed
4.68
3.82
Striking Accuracy
49%
50%
Strikes Absorbed
3.94
4.55
Striking Defense
56%
52%
Takedowns
0.55
2.30
Takedown Accuracy
20%
29%
Takedown Defense
66%
63%
Submission Avg.
0.4
0.3
Johnson holds clear advantages in height, reach, striking volume, striking defense and strikes absorbed. Silva counters with superior takedown volume at 2.30 per fight and comparable striking accuracy. The five-inch height and reach gap is significant at flyweight and shapes how this fight plays out at distance.
Fighter Breakdown – Charles Johnson Analysis
Johnson comes in with an 18-8-0 record as a durable, switch-stance flyweight who has been competitive throughout his UFC tenure. The 35 year old from Indianapolis uses his size and reach advantages effectively against smaller opponents.
Strengths: Significant height and reach advantages at 5’9″ and 70″ respectively. Solid striking volume at 4.68 significant strikes per minute. Good striking accuracy at 49% and excellent striking defense at 56%. Switch stance creates adjustment problems. Absorbs only 3.94 strikes per minute.
Weaknesses: Poor takedown accuracy at 20% limits his ability to use wrestling offensively. Only 66% takedown defense leaves him vulnerable to Silva’s 2.30 takedown average. Eight losses on his record show inconsistency at the highest level. At 35, questions about durability against a relentless pressure fighter remain.
Betting Angles: Johnson by Decision (+130) is our primary play given his size and output advantages. His -185 moneyline is heavy but reflects the physical edge he carries into this fight.
Silva comes in with a 15-7-2 record (1 NC) as a stocky, aggressive flyweight for his relentless forward pressure style. The 36-year-old Brazilian is a physical mismatch problem at 5’4″ who crowds taller opponents and drags fights into uncomfortable territory.
Strengths: Relentless pressure style that disrupts taller opponents’ range management. Respectable 50% striking accuracy. Active takedown game at 2.30 per fight. Durable veteran with 25 professional fights.
Weaknesses: Absorbs 4.55 significant strikes per minute. Only 52% striking defense is below Johnson’s 56%. Poor takedown accuracy at 29% means his wrestling attempts are inconsistent. At 5’4″ with a 65″ reach, he must close distance against a longer opponent every single round.
Betting Angles: Silva’s +150 moneyline is worth a small play given the competitive nature of this matchup. Silva by KO/TKO (+500) offers value if his pressure overwhelms Johnson in close quarters.
Getting plus money on the favorite’s most likely path to victory is the clearest value on this board. Johnson’s 5-inch height advantage and 5-inch reach advantage create an insurmountable distance management edge over three rounds. He can pepper Silva with strikes, avoid takedowns often enough, and accumulate rounds on the scorecards without taking excessive risks.
Silva’s pressure will make this competitive, but Johnson’s striking defense at 56% and lower strikes absorbed rate suggest he handles the forward pressure better than most. At +130 (implied 43.5%), we project this outcome closer to 50-55%, making it a clean value play.
Both fighters have shown durability throughout their careers and neither carries overwhelming finishing power. Johnson’s 56% striking defense neutralizes Silva’s best offensive moments, and Silva’s pressure style is more about accumulation than single-shot power.
At -150 (implied 60%), this is reasonable value for a flyweight battle between two durable veterans who figure to go the full fifteen minutes.
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Small stake only. Silva’s forward pressure and inside fighting style creates legitimate knockout opportunities if he can close the distance and land the right combination. Johnson absorbs 3.94 strikes per minute which is manageable, but if Silva smothers his reach in the clinch, the dynamic shifts.
At +500 (implied 16.7%), a small stake is justified for the upset scenario. Keep stakes at 0.5 units maximum.
Prediction – Final Verdict
Official Pick: Charles Johnson by Decision
We are backing Johnson to use his physical advantages to control this fight over three rounds and earn a clear decision victory. Silva will press forward as he always does and make it uncomfortable in the pocket, but Johnson’s reach and striking defense give him the tools to manage distance and outwork the Brazilian on the scorecards.
Johnson’s 4.68 strikes per minute against Silva’s 52% striking defense means clean shots land consistently across all three rounds. Silva’s takedown attempts will keep Johnson honest, but his 20% accuracy suggests he won’t be dragged to the mat often enough to change the fight’s direction.
This is a competitive prelim that likely goes the full 15 minutes, with Johnson winning on points in a fight that is closer than the moneyline suggests.
How to Bet UFC Vegas 114: Tips for This Card
Card Tips:
Johnson’s five-inch reach advantage at flyweight is one of the bigger physical edges on the prelim card.
The main card features Josh Emmett vs Kevin Vallejos in a 5-round featherweight main event.
Ion Cuțelaba vs Oumar Sy offers the best knockout potential of the evening at light heavyweight.
UFC Vegas 114 Fight Card
Main Card (10:00 p.m. ET – Paramount+)
Josh Emmett vs Kevin Vallejos — Featherweight bout, 5 rounds
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