Charles Oliveira‘s fight camp has just received an unexpected—and possibly game-changing—offer they cannot refuse. Jean Silva, one of Brazil’s most promising featherweights, has made a bold proposal: he wants to join Oliveira’s UFC 317 training camp and play Ilia Topuria. But ‘Lord’ isn’t just offering to mimic the former featherweight champion; he claims to be better than ‘El Matador’ himself.
While the MMA world is still buzzing about Oliveira’s fight against Topuria, Silva’s statement adds another element of excitement to the buildup. His proposal was neither subtle nor diplomatic. It was confident, calculated, and, most importantly, personal. He made it clear that this wasn’t simply about showing the world what he’d been thinking for a long time: that Ilia Topuria isn’t as untouchable as some believe.
“I just know I fight much better than Ilia,” Jean Silva said, volunteering to be Oliveira’s “secret weapon. ” He believes he can reproduce Topuria’s technique better than anybody else, thanks to extensive technical study and personal experience. “I know he walks and hides his back foot to throw the straight or cross.”
‘Lord’ continued, “He has powerful hips, but when he throws and misses a heavy hook, it often causes him to turn so much that he gives up his back. We saw that in the Bryce Mitchell fight. How many times did he give up his back? Let’s be honest here.” Jean Silva’s analysis was not limited to the surface. According to him, the Spanish-Georgian follows a constant pattern, which ‘Lord’ believes ‘Do Bronx’ may exploit with the right preparation.
“I’m better than you,” Silva claimed emphatically, implying that his grasp of Topuria’s timing and movement is so accurate that Charles Oliveira would gain an advantage simply by sparring with him. He stressed that when ‘La Leyenda’ overextends, especially with his cross, his form collapses, leaving him vulnerable to counterattacks or positional disadvantages.
Jean Silva offers his services to Charles Oliveira in preparation for his #UFC317 fight camp vs. Ilia Topuria and says he’s better than Ilia:
“I just know I fight much better than Ilia…I know he walks and hides his back foot to throw the straight or cross.
I know he has… pic.twitter.com/da9kFGfcih
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) May 27, 2025
The offer has piqued the interest of fans. This level of technical expertise, paired with Silva’s fierce confidence, has sparked interest in the MMA community. While Charles Oliveira’s camp has yet to reply publicly, having someone who legitimately feels they can expose Topuria’s vulnerabilities sparring with ‘Do Bronx’ might make all the difference in preparation.
Whether Jean Silva’s statements are arrogance or brilliance remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: he is not backing down from his claim that he has Ilia Topuria figured out. But while many may believe that getting Silva on his fight camp is crucial for the fighter from the favelas, another UFC fighter thinks that ‘Do Bronx’ is lethal enough right now to get a win anyway.
Beneil Darius believes in Charles Oliveira for this massive clash
Jean Silva may be hoping to join the camp, but Charles Oliveira already has believers—and not just fans and coaches. One of them is none other than Beneil Dariush, who has shared the Octagon with ‘Do Bronx’ and witnessed firsthand how devastating the Brazilian can be. As Silva stirs the pot with his offer and technical breakdowns of Ilia Topuria, Dariush provides a different type of insight—experience under fire. And he isn’t buying the idea that ‘El Matador’ will have an easy ride.
“I think it’s a lot closer than people think,” Dariush told Submission Radio. He didn’t sugarcoat it: Topuria is dangerous. But he believes the betting odds are missing an important component of the story. Dariush cited Oliveira’s knees and deadly clinch game as tools that may disrupt any boxer’s rhythm, particularly one who thrives on being in close, such as the Spanish-Georgian.
“Charles’ striking is really dangerous against good boxers,” Dariush said. “A good boxer will dip low… and that’s where Charles just raises his knee or throws a kick. He messes with your timing.” For a striker like Topuria, whose game is built on forward pressure and crisp entering angles, those disruptions may be deadly.
June 9, 2023, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: CHARLES OLIVEIRA of Brazil poses on the scale during the UFC 289 official weigh-in at the Westin Bayshore hotel on June 09, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver Canada – ZUMAc132 20230609_zap_c132_034 Copyright: xAndrewxChinx
Dariush isn’t the only one singing this tune. Mateusz Gamrot also made his prediction on The MMA Hour, siding with Oliveira. “Ilia can hit him hard, sure,” Gamrot said. “But Charles is too big, too well-rounded.” He stressed the Brazilian’s stature and grappling edge, which few people are discussing since everyone is focused on Topuria’s rise.
As the fight approaches, more voices—those who have been inside the cage—are speaking out for ‘Do Bronx.’ And if Jean Silva joins that training room, Topuria may be stepping into a lot bigger storm than he expects. What do you think? Who will win the fight? Let us know in the comments.
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