Jean Silva Admits ‘Fighting Nerds’ Need to Fix Up After Worrying Trend: “Making Similar Mistakes”

Featherweight star Jean Silva opens up about Fighting Nerds' downfall following his Noche UFC loss against Diego Lopes.

Jean Silva Admits ‘Fighting Nerds’ Need to Fix Up After Worrying Trend: “Making Similar Mistakes”

Jean Silva talks about working on his shortcomings and bouncing back (via X)

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At last weekend’s Noche UFC main event, Jean Silva stepped into the Octagon against top featherweight contender Diego Lopes. The fight ended in the second round, when Lopes caught the Brazilian with a spinning back fist, followed by a barrage of strikes that sealed the victory.

Silva’s loss marked a heartbreaking moment, not only for him but also for his team, Fighting Nerds, which has now lost its final undefeated fighter in the UFC. The Brazilian camp had quickly risen to prominence, producing a wave of undefeated talent, including Carlos Prates, Caio Borralho, and Mauricio Ruffy across multiple weight classes.

Once seen as an unstoppable force, the team’s recent setbacks have begun to expose cracks in its once-flawless reputation. After the defeat, Silva took to social media to share his disappointment, expressing raw emotions and frustration with the team’s recent struggles.

Unfortunately, yesterday the emotion got the better of me. I was seeing well in the second round, but I ended up rushing in with everything…One thing you guys were right about: The Fighting Nerds lost three in a row. So the three of us must be making similar mistakes…Caio and Ruffy will have a meeting. We’ll figure this out and improve. Whether people like it or not, I’m sorry. But we’ll be back.

Jean Silva via Instagram 

Before Silva’s tough loss in Texas, both Borralho and Ruffy suffered their first Octagon defeats at UFC Paris. The middleweight engaged in a contested fight against Nassourdine Imavov, a bout that carried significant implications for future 185lbs title contention. Despite entering the fight as the betting favorite with strong momentum, the Brazilian ultimately lost the contest by unanimous decision. 

Similarly, Ruffy was defeated by Benoit Saint-Denis in the second round via submission, leaving him devastated and visibly disappointed afterward. Former UFC pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev mocked the Fighting Nerds, suggesting they should focus less on talk and train harder.

Apart from this, Prates was the first one to lose his UFC undefeated record against Ian Garry at UFC Kansas earlier this year. Following his dominant win against Silva, Lopes echoed similar remarks, further questioning the discipline of the Fighting Nerds.

Diego Lopes reacts to Jean Silva’s loss following UFC Noche 

In his last UFC bout, Diego Lopes challenged Alexander Volkanovski for the vacant featherweight title at UFC 314 but suffered a defeat. The 36-year-old veteran dominated the young Brazilian fighter completely, reclaiming the championship belt for the second time in impressive fashion. However, at Noche UFC, Lopes bounced back impressively, reminding everyone exactly why he remains one of the division’s most elite fighters.

Jean Silva vs. Diego Lopes face-to-face
Jean Silva vs. Diego Lopes face-to-face (via X)

During the build-up to the fight, Silva relied on his usual loud trash-talking strategy, attempting to mentally unsettle opponent Lopes. This psychological tactic has been used often by other Fighting Nerds members in the UFC, but it has lately backfired. After securing his victory, Lopes flipped off someone in the crowd, later addressing and clarifying the situation during the presser. 

This is your (Silva’s) training partners. Before I entered the octagon, your training partner is talking a lot. ‘Oh, you die today.’ ‘This guy kill you, you (expletive)’ Talking a lot of bad words. But after I finish the fight and I go see the training partners. Sorry, I show fingers for these guys. Maybe talk less, train more(advice for Jean Silva)

Diego Lopes via UFC Noche post-fight presser 

Silva’s story has always been intriguing, especially with the traumatic incident involving his mother, which deeply resonated with fans everywhere. His wild personality, unpredictable antics, and fearless approach inside the Octagon quickly turned Silva into a fan favorite admired by many.

However, following his devastating loss at Noche UFC, Silva is now expected to return to the drawing board immediately. The talented Brazilian fighter will aim to regroup, refine his skills, and ultimately make a strong comeback in UFC.

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