Everything was falling into place for Dana White & Co. as UFC 314—the promotion’s fourth pay-per-view of 2025 promised a blockbuster night in Miami. With a lineup praised by both fans and pundits as one of the most stacked cards in recent memory, excitement is building ahead of fight night at the Kaseya Center. But just 48 hours before the action kicks off, a major hiccup stood in the way of ruining a marquee bout on the main card.

One of the most anticipated featherweight showdowns—Jean Silva vs. Bryce Mitchell—briefly teetered on the edge of cancellation. During the official weigh-ins, the Brazilian contender initially came in heavy at 147 pounds, tipping the scale one pound over the non-title featherweight limit. That misstep sparked immediate speculation! Would the bout proceed at catchweight, or be scrapped altogether? Refusing to let the fight slip away, the ‘Fighting Nerd’ showed unwavering resolve.

Taking to X, he declared, “It’s not over, I’m going to come back and make weight. Bryce Mitchell, I’m going to knock you out.”😳 After a tense 40-minute break, Jean Silva returned to the scale and made good on his word—hitting 146 pounds on the dot. With that, the bout was back on, restoring excitement for what promises to be one of UFC 314’s most electrifying matchups.

But weight issues aren’t new territory for Jean Silva. At UFC 303, ahead of his showdown with Charles Jourdain, he weighed in at 147.5 pounds—over the limit—resulting in a 20% purse deduction. That fight proceeded at catchweight, leaving a mark on his record before this latest slip-up. And the Brazilian isn’t alone this time. Over in the women’s bantamweight division, Nora Cornolle also missed weight, coming in at 138 pounds.

Unlike Silva, Cornolle couldn’t make the mark on her second attempt either. Her bout will move forward at catchweight, with 20% of her fight purse forfeited as a penalty. Now that the chaos around weigh-ins has settled, attention shifts back to the Octagon. With the drama behind him, what kind of statement will ‘Lord’ make at UFC 314? Let’s dive in.

Jean Silva is all ready to give Bryce Mitchell “brain damage”

The tension between Jean Silva and Bryce Mitchell goes far beyond the usual pre-fight trash talk. Instead, this rivalry is fueled by psychological warfare and a stark clash of ideologies. Mitchell, an outspoken Christian, has sparked backlash throughout his UFC tenure—most notably with inflammatory comments about the Jewish community that reportedly didn’t sit well with Dana White and the UFC brass. Nonetheless, White refrained from punishing ‘Thug Nasty’, defending his right to free speech.

Now, as UFC 314 draws near, the feud has taken a bizarre and deeply personal twist. Bryce Mitchell recently accused the Brazilian of being possessed by “legions of demons”—a claim Jean Silva dismissed as nonsense, instead chalking it up to too many shots to the head. During the UFC 314 media day, the Brazilian didn’t hold back. He made it clear that he’s not just looking for a win—he’s aiming to end Mitchell’s career.

“The fight’s going to go: he’s going to try to take me down, I’m going to defend it and I’m going to throw some shots at his head. Might knock him out in the first, in the second. We’ll see, but maybe he’ll need to retire after this because he’s going to have some brain damage after this one,” explained Jean Silva.

As UFC 314 approaches, the tension is at an all-time high. What’s your prediction for this electrifying featherweight showdown? Can Jean Silva withstand Bryce Mitchell’s grit and power when the cage door shuts? Share your thoughts in the comments below!