Demetrious Johnson Backs Silva For UFC Title Shot

UFC legend Demetrious Johnson wants Jean Silva to get the next crack at Alexander Volkanovski's featherweight title.

Volkanovski retained his 145-pound strap with a decision win over Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 last weekend, extending his reign atop the division. Silva, who has built a reputation for action-packed performances, is among the names being floated for a shot at the champion.

Johnson Says Silva Is More Dangerous Than Evloev

On his PRECISION podcast with Israel Adesanya, Johnson argued that Silva poses a greater threat to Volkanovski than the challenger he just faced. "That's a more dangerous fight than Movsar Evloev," Johnson said, per MMA Junkie. "He goes for it: young, athletic, not scared."

Johnson added that Silva's willingness to take risks makes him a compelling contender. He noted that Mauricio Ruffy, a training partner of Silva's, recently joined Volkanovski's corner, which could add intrigue to a potential title fight. "Jean's not going to be scared to try to take the fight and take a risk," Johnson said.

The former flyweight champion also mentioned Aljamain Sterling as a possible contender but gave Silva the edge. Sterling has an upcoming fight and has trained with Volkanovski in the past, which could complicate a matchup. Johnson said if he had to pick one challenger, he would go with Silva.

Volkanovski has shown vulnerability to power punchers in previous fights, and Silva is known for landing heavy strikes. The Brazilian's aggressive style could test the champion in ways Evloev's wrestling-based approach did not.

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• BJPenn — Demetrious Johnson backs Jean Silva for UFC featherweight title shot