One of the most horrific cuts of we have seen in some time was delivered by a breakout star.
2024 was a huge year for the Fighting Nerds team out of Brazil who were able to really announce themselves in multiple weight classes.
Middleweight contender Caio Borralho has helped to lead the way for the rest of the team as an unofficial captain for the group.
Carlos Prates, who also made his UFC debut in 2024, earned a lot of plaudits for the year that he had, winning four fights via knockout to establish himself in the top 15 at welterweight.
However, that doesn’t mean that Jean Silva has gone under the radar after he debuted in the Octagon following an impressive underdog win on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Jean Silva tore Drew Dober apart on short notice at UFC Denver last July
Jean Silva earned his second win inside the Octagon at UFC 303 during International Fight Week but it is what followed his impressive display against Charles Jourdain that really got people excited.
After Mike Davis withdrew due to an injury, Drew Dober was left without an opponent for the Denver card which would allow him to fight in his current home.
Silva stepped up on two weeks notice, moving up to lightweight after missing weight for his featherweight clash with Jourdan in Las Vegas.
The Brazilian was in fine form last July, producing a fight of the night bout with Dober which was stopped in the third round.
He landed some devastating and creative elbows in the fight which split the American open right above his right eye and when the cut continued to get worse, Herb Dean waved the fight off following advice from the doctor.
Dober spoke about the cut in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder where he commended his opponent for stepping up to the plate.
“Yeah I got these Neanderthal eyebrows, they cut open very easily but I’m talking about both Jean Silva and I, this is what I mean being a warrior. He took it two weeks notice, I will fight anybody, this is what fighting is all about. I don’t care who, when, and where. We throw hands and we make war.”
Jean Silva returns at UFC Seattle in search of his fourth consecutive UFC win
Despite his success in his recent move up to lightweight, Jean Silva is set to return to featherweight for his fourth outing since signing with the UFC.
The Brazilian is back this weekend at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington where he will take on Melsik Baghdasaryan on February 22.
Armenia’s Baghdasaryan has gone 2-1 inside the Octagon but the 33-year-old hasn’t fought since his decision win over Tucker Lutz in July of 2023.
Following cancelled fights against William Gomis, Hyder Amil and Muhammad Naimov, he will be welcomed back to the cage by one of the most exciting additions to the roster in recent years.