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Jean Silva will look to put the Fighting Nerds back on track at UFC Fight Night 259.
Silva was in tears watching his teammates, Caio Borralho and Mauricio Ruffy, both lose this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 258 in Paris. Ruffy was submitted by Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event, and team captain Borralho was outstruck by Nassourdine Imavov in the night’s headliner.
Despite the emotional toll it took on him, Silva (16-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) remains confident that he will take out Diego Lopes (26-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in Saturday’s Noche UFC headliner from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
“I think when you’re a family, and to see your family members go through what Caio and Mauricio went through, if you don’t have a reaction like mine, then you’re not a family,” Silva told MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “My reaction was totally normal for someone who’s so close, and what can I say? Of course there’s an impact on me.
“But it does not change the fact that I’m going to knock Diego out. … The sorrow for seeing what my brothers went through and all of that, but it doesn’t change anything for me. I’m still doing what I’m doing, but obviously I didn’t want to see them go through that, but it doesn’t change anything of what I’m doing.”
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski mentioned Lerone Murphy’s name as a potential next title defense after the Brit knocked out Aaron Pico at UFC 319. However, Silva isn’t worried about the title race. He thinks it’s his destiny to become UFC champion regardless.
“I think it’s good to have this movement. I think it makes everyone in the division excited,” Silva said. “But for me, all I know is that I’m going to be the next champion. Be it fighting Volkanovski, Lerone Murphy, whoever it may be, I know that my next win after Diego Lopes is going to be for the belt.”
