Bryce Mitchell and Jean Silva’s rematch quickly turned into a wild night in Brazil, with the two even brawling outside the ring.
The featherweights first crossed paths at UFC 314 in April 2024, where Silva choked out Mitchell. Since then, the rivalry has not cooled down one bit.
This time around, they squared off under grappling rules in an eight-minute, submission-only bout for Hype FC. But things boiled over on Wednesday before they even stepped into the ring, with both getting into a fight backstage.
Jean Silva vs Bryce Mitchell 2 Hype FC result
If you had to pick a fight most likely to go off-script tonight, it was always going to be Silva against Mitchell. The pair have been at each other for more than a year now and have never exactly been shy about it.
Their match this time took place well above featherweight. Silva came in at 170lb and Mitchell at 178lb, compared to the 146lb they both hit before their first meeting last April.
The 31-year-old American looked tense even before stepping into the ring, but after a quick handshake, he went straight in for the collar tie. ‘Lord’ reversed him inside the first minute but could not capitalise on top position.
After taking top control with a trip, Silva leaned on his size advantage – even though he was lighter on paper – while Mitchell tried to break free and nearly got caught in a heel hook during the scramble.
With a minute left and not much happening, Silva tried to stir up the crowd while both men looked for an opening. He went for another heel hook near the end, but Mitchell reversed it and pointed back towards the centre mat in good spirits.
Post-match tensions seemed to cool off as they shared an embrace. ‘Thug Nasty’ gave away a bible to a young fan afterwards, suggesting that things might finally be settled between them.
Pre-fight tension boils over between Bryce Mitchell and Jean Silva before Hype FC clash
Before the match even began, things got heated backstage when Silva tried to offer a handshake. Mitchell was not having any of it, slapping Silva’s hands away, which led to the Brazilian diving in for a takedown. The two were quickly pulled apart before it could escalate further.
While on his back during the scuffle, Mitchell threw a few kicks as members of both camps joined in. Eventually, things calmed down and they returned to their warm-ups. It was just one more incident on what turned out to be an eventful night both inside and outside the ring.
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