Jean Silva says title talks with the UFC have happened and the next move is up to Volkanovski

Silva said the UFC took him to Abu Dhabi to watch Volkanovski's UFC 333 win over Movsar Evloev, and that it is now down to the champion whether he stays at featherweight to face him.

Jean Silva says the UFC has already spoken to him about a featherweight title shot, and that it is now up to Alexander Volkanovski whether the fight happens.

Speaking to Ariel Helwani through an interpreter, Silva said the UFC took him to Abu Dhabi to watch Volkanovski stop Movsar Evloev in round two at UFC 333 on Saturday 24 October.

"The UFC invited me as the biggest fighter to go to Abu Dhabi and be there, so there's a confirmation, the discussion was had and just this is about Volk now, whether is he going to move up or he wants to face me," Silva said.

The Brazilian said it was not the first time the belt had come up. He said he had the same conversation with the UFC before his fight with Diego Lopes, who went on to get a title shot afterwards.

Silva made his case on his record since 2024. He said no one has finished more opponents at 145lb in that time, pointed to his finish of Bryce Mitchell, and said he moved up to 155lb and beat Drew Dober after breaking both hands in the first round.

"What I don't accept is people saying I'm not next and I'm not the one that should be next. That I don't accept," Silva said. "If someone doesn't want to fight me, that's on them."

After beating Evloev, Volkanovski pitched a lightweight fight with Justin Gaethje, after which both men would retire. Before UFC 333, he named Silva and Aljamain Sterling as the featherweight contenders who stood out to him and said he would be willing to stay at 145lb to fight one of them.

READ NEXTRobert Whittaker says UFC Sydney main event will be 'terrible' for Benoit Saint-DenisRead the next story →

Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing

Add Combat Sports UK as a preferred source on Google