UFC fighter Jean Silva is fresh off a back-to-back win in 14 days and plans to keep the momentum going. The fighter defeated Charles Jourdain and Drew Dober and is confident he can beat any featherweight opponent, including Max Holloway.
Silva showcased his striking skills when he battled Drew Dober at UFC Denver. The fighter landed a savage blow that left a cut over Dober’s eyes, leading to a doctor stoppage. The fight was initially meant to be featherweight, but Silva could not make the cut. Notwithstanding, the fighters earned Fight of the Night bonuses, and Silva believes he still has prospects of making it into the featherweight division.
“I’m a featherweight, and all these featherweights are going to get beat up,” Silva told MMA Fighting. “My team and I know [Silva] likes challenges and as soon as they heard Dober needed an opponent. They called my manager and suggested volunteering because they knew Dober is a knockout artist. We knew this was the best opportunity to send a message to my division because there’s no one knocking people out like Dober in my weight class.
“I mean, there is now — me.”
Silva explained that he missed his weight cut after falling down the stairs but is determined to make it for his next bout. The fighter explained that he took the Dober match on short notice. He plans to take more fights so he can be crowned MMA Fighting’s Rookie of the Year.
I’ll knock out a lot of people in the UFC,” Silva said. “Let’s be honest, based on that fight [with Dober], there’s no featherweight to beat [me]. The featherweights who just got to the UFC won’t take this fight. They’re smart. Even if they say they will, in their hearts, they know they won’t take it.
“Veterans might take this fight. Josh Emmett would easily take this fight. All I know is that [my manager] Ivan Jatoba and Sean Shelby will have a hard time finding people to fight me. I feel like featherweights are in shock right now. Maybe down the line, Max Holloway would be one that accepts to fight me because he’s tough, but I’d knock him out. If he stops in the middle and calls me like he called Justin Gaethje, he’s screwed, brother. I’ll knock him out.”
