Many an eyebrow was raised when Jean Silva opted to take a short-notice fight with Drew Dober at UFC Denver, making a two-week turnaround following a win over Charles Jourdain at UFC 303.
That fight arrives Saturday, July 12, 2024 at the Ball Arena; during this weeks UFC Denver media day, Silva (13-2) explained how it all came together. Both in terms of his willingness to fight, and how to opportunity came about.
“That’s easy to explain. I’m a brawler. I’m going to go for it. I’m a fighter, and that’s it,” said the Brazilian, speaking via translator. “I like it. Call me up, I’ll be there.”
“It’s the story of my life. I’m used to actually taking fights on short notice, being called upon. Now it’s new to people, because I just came into the UFC. People haven’t seen that from me. But throughout my life, I’ve been able to do this. I’m called upon, I do it.”
That explains the willingness the featherweight has to turn around and take a fight with a very dangerous opponent in Dober, up a weight class. As to how he landed the fight over other names who no doubt coveted the opportunity, “I’m also curious to know what my manager did,” Silva admitted. “He had a very, very fundamental touch on this one.”
Despite being the first to knock out Charles Jourdain, Silva simply wasn’t happy after his win last month. “I was telling people, people looked at me after the fight, they were talking after the fight saying like ‘why don’t you seem satisfied?'”
Silva’s response was that “I’m not.” Likewise when people asked why he was so quiet, he replied by saying “this was not enough. I’m not satisfied with what I did, I think I want more.”
With his team ready to pack their bags and go home, Silva’s manager informed him that he’d booked another fight. “You’re going to have to gain some weight for this one, it’s one division above,” Silva was told. “Not a problem,” came his response. “I’m a brawler. I’m a fighter. I’ll be there.”
He’ll get his chance to brawl with Drew Dober in Denver this Saturday.
Watch the full UFC Denver media day appearance by Jean Silva above.
