UFC Fight Night 58 fight card: Elias Silveiro vs Rashid Magomedov fight preview

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweights Elias Silverio and Rashid Magomedov look for a signature win this Saturday (Dec. 20, 2014) at UFC Fight Night 58 inside the Ginasio Jose Correa in Barueri, Brazil.

Silverio has quietly built up an undefeated record, including three UFC victories. The Brazilian pushes quite a pace and is usually aggressive with his strikes, two habits that indicate great potential for the 28 year old.

Similarly, Magomedov carries an impressive record and has looked good thus far in his UFC career. Despite both men fighting well and displaying promise, each man needs a strong showing to separate himself from the rest of the crowded lightweight division.

Let's take a look at the keys to victory for each fighter.

Elias Silverio

Record: 11-0

Key Wins: Isaac Vallie-Flagg (UFC Fight Night 35), Ernest Chavez (TUF Brazil 3 Finale)

Key Losses: None

Keys to Victory: Silverio is a talented Muay Thai striker, who utilizes excellent kicks and knees. He may not be the most dangerous one-punch knockout artist around, but Silveiro is capable of wearing down his opponent with constant pressure and strikes.

In addition, Silverio is quite a capable wrestler. He mixed in multiple takedowns against Vallie-Flagg and did solid damage from top position. Plus, he won his last fight with grinding wrestler Ernest Chavez via rear naked choke, repeatedly shutting down his opponent's grappling attempts and finishing once he took him down.

In this fight, Silverio will need to mix it up. His opponent is a very technical and more powerful striker, but he's not the best grappler. In his UFC debut, Magomedov was nearly finished by an armbar in the first round, relying more on toughness than technique to escape.

Pressure will also be a major factor for Silverio. His opponent is a slick counter striker, but that requires him to get comfortable. If Silverio can keep Magomedov on his back feet with strikes and then change levels before his opponent gets into a rhythm, he'll have plenty of success.

At worst, the constant threat of the takedown will make standing with Magomedov easier. It may even be enough to shift the advantage to Silverio's corner.

Rashid Magomedov

Record: 18-1

Key Wins: Rodrigo Damm (TUF Brazil 3 Finale), Tony Martin (UFC 169)

Key Losses: None

Keys to Victory: Magomedov has some of the most impressive credentials of any fighters in the UFC. He's a master of sports in both boxing and hand-to-hand combat, as well as a national master of sports in both combat Sambo and Army hand-to-hand fight.

In short, Magomedov can scrap.

Overall, Magomedov is the sharper kickboxer and possesses quite a bit of knockout power, having secured eight finishes via strikes. Therefore, the Russian should look to keep this bout standing and work over Silverio.

As a counter striker, it's Magomedov's job not to get overwhelmed by Silverio's diversity and volume. Since Silverio throws at a high clip, there will be opportunities for Magomedov to find a hole in his defense. When Magomedov finds his opening, he needs to punish Silverio.

If Magomedov can land a decent amount of hard, punishing counter strikes, he'll be able to get Silverio to shell up. Once that happens, "Highlander" will be able to control the bout easily and perhaps sneak in a hard shot to put Silverio down for good.

Bottom Line: Though these two fighters haven't accomplished anything major inside the UFC just yet, both men have potential and are generally entertaining. Fight fans should definitely keep an eye on this bout.

At this point, the lightweight division has an abundance of talented fighters looking to make their mark. Both of these men are on solid win streaks but have yet to secure a truly significant victory. Though even a finish would do little to separate these men from the pack in the eyes of most fans, it could earn them a match up with a well-known fighter.

In short, victory opens up plenty of opportunities for either man.

However, a loss sends either man back to the bottom of the deep lightweight division. It's exceptionally difficult to climb up to the top and become recognized as a top lightweight, so expect both men to fight with some serious motivation.

At UFC Fight Night 58, Elias Silverio and Rashid Magomedov will collide in a battle of lightweight prospects. Which man will continue advancing through the division?