Some of the most exciting hunters who have come through the Dana White competition series in recent years have all been from the same team.
Jean Silva will represent the Fighting Nerds when he walks to the Octagon for the fifth time this weekend at UFC 314.
The Brazilian quickly came forward as a favorite with fans, but on 12 April in Miami his shares could rise to all new levels as he can be seen in one of the most discussed matchups of the year so far.
Silva has shared a number of incredibly tense fairs with Bryce Mitchell prior to their featherweight battle in the Kaseya Center on Saturday evening.
The 28-year-old immediately made an impression when fighting for his contract in 2023, where he defeated an unbeaten prospect that has since received an 'Future Star' by UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Jean Silva handed Kevin Vallejos his first defeat about the Contender Series of Dana White in 2023
In episode 5 of Season 7 of the Contender Series of Dana White, five new Namur contracts received impressive way after winning their fights.
Dione Barbosa, Dylan Budka, Serhiy Sidey and Brendson Ribeiro all did enough to secure a contract, but it was in the second fight of the night where the star of this group appeared.
With his fighting nerds teammate Carlos Prates who booked his place at the Roster in the main event of last week, Jean Silva looked through in 2023 on 5 September to continue this momentum.
Silva brought a 7-field profit racing and 100% finishing percentage in the Octagon, but he was still considered the Underdog against the 11-0 Kevin Vallejos who was only 21 years old at that time.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
The fight was dynamite from an early stage when the two men exchanged strikes with Vallejos who took the first round on all three score cards.
Silva started pulling forward in the second half of the fight and ended the second round in an explosive way before he continued this form in the third.
Somehow the toughness of Vallejos kept him in the struggle to refuse Silva's 100% finishing percentage and although the young Argentinian made an impression, it was clear that the performance of his opponent was sufficient to win him the victory and a contract.
Dana White spoke strongly about Vallejos when announcing the contract winners who deserved more praise for Silva's display.
'Silva, the underdog. Throw elbows as if he were throwing hands. Big chin, incredible hand speed. Of course he fights like a dog, he is fun to watch. He is 26 years old, he is not even in his prime yet. I am excited to see this child and he absolutely comes to the UFC, come here Silva. “
Both Jean Silva and Kevin Vallejos hit the ground in the UFC
With Dana White stating that Kevin Vallejos would be back after he had gained even more experience, that is exactly what happened when the young prospect returned to the show a year later, where he put Cam Teague in the first round.
Vallejos won his UFC debut last March, also with a first round, to announce his arrival in the featherweight division where he could be a serious problem.
Silva did something similar last year and stopped his first opponent before the end of the first round and he is now driving a four-field and finish streak that sees him compete on the main map of one of the largest events of the year.
Perhaps the two former enemies will meet again in the future, considering how impressive they have both been after arriving at the big stage.
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