Jean Silva believes his knockout power could lead to serious consequences for Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314, potentially ending Mitchell`s fighting career.
The tension between Silva and Mitchell has been building up before their featherweight match this Saturday in Miami. This fight has become a major point of interest on the card, largely due to Mitchell`s controversial remarks, including support for Adolf Hitler and questioning the Holocaust, which Silva strongly opposes and wants to address in the ring.
During a UFC 314 media day, Silva commented on the upcoming fight, warning that Mitchell might face his second knockout defeat in a short period, an outcome that could force him to retire from MMA.
Silva pointed out Mitchell`s previous fights, including against Ilia Topuria, Edson Barboza, and Dan Ige, noting his success until a knockout loss to Josh Emmett. Silva argues this knockout significantly impacted Mitchell, affecting his mental and emotional state, and changing his approach to fighting.
Silva anticipates Mitchell will try to take him down, but he plans to defend, strike, and potentially knock Mitchell out in the first or second round. He reiterated his prediction that Mitchell might need to retire after this fight due to potential brain damage.
Despite some mixed messages from Silva about his relationship with Mitchell post-fight, Mitchell has expressed strong distrust. Mitchell claimed Silva treats him poorly and that he`s been experiencing nightmares related to their fight since it was scheduled.
Silva dismissed Mitchell`s claims about evil spirits but emphasized his disapproval of Mitchell`s expressed opinions and public conduct.
Silva stated he respects Mitchell`s fighting skills and UFC career but is disturbed by Mitchell`s lack of awareness as a public figure, his offensive language, and contradictions in his statements, particularly regarding religion.
Silva believes his fight with Mitchell is attracting significant attention, even without a title on the line, suggesting he is seen as a potential highlight of the event. He anticipates even greater recognition when he eventually competes for a title.
Marcus Blakely