UFC Denver plays host to a lightweight thriller.
In his next bout, hometown hero Drew Dober draws the always dangerous Jean Silva, who’s fresh off a KO win at UFC 303 last month. Silva steps in on short notice for the injured Mike Davis after a training session gone wrong.
Dober, 35, makes his return to the Octagon suffering a decision loss to Renato Moicano in February. The UFC veteran has exchanged wins and losses in his last four fights, with TKO wins over Ricky Glenn and Bobby Green. Denver’s Dober has yet to fight in his home state in his nine year-long UFC tenure, that is, until now.
Brazilian bruiser Silva will look to spoil Dober’s homecoming with his third win in the promotion – his first in the lightweight division as Silva’s moving on up from the featherweight division. There, the ‘Fighting Nerds’ prospect scored a TKO over Westin Wilson in his debut and then followed it up with a knockout of Charles Jourdain, unfortunately missing weight prior to that one.
Middle Easy is on the ground covering the lightweight matchup – live from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Round 1:
Dober lands a leg kick to begin the fight. Dober catches Silva’s attention with a punch with back towards the cage. Silva throws a combo that partially connects. Silva goes up top with a head kick, Dober returns with a leg kick. Silva throws a flying knee but is caught with a counter punch from Dober. Dober and Silva continue to stand and trade. Dober pushes the pace with Silva more than happy to stand his ground. A cut opens around the eye of Dober. Dober applies pressure with Silva waiting for his moment to counter. Silva evades Dober’s combos in the pocket. Silva lands two shots with Dober missing on a spinning back kick. The two fighters smile each other as the round ends.
Round 2:
Dober lands a couple of body shots on Silva. Silva shakes off an apparent kick to the crotch area, continuing to fight. Dober presses forward with Silva showboating, but Dober’s as serious as can be, going to work in the striking department. A shot get through for Silva. Dober lands a flurry of strikes on Silva, with Silva returning with a few strikes of his own. Dober works to the body with a kick and then a punch. Straight right lands for Silva. Dober swings wild but finds the chin of Silva, who throws right back at the American. Silva and Dober exchange shots with Dober getting a little rocked from a punch from Silva. Silva smells blood in the water, clipping Dober with a spinning back elbow and more punches right before the bell.
Round 3:
Dober and Silva hug it out before they get back to slugging it out. Dober shoots for a takedown on Silva with Silva using a guillotine choke to get back up to his feet. Dober swarms the Brazilian on the feet as he rushes in for another takedown. Silva knocks Dober down with a punch. Blood runs red on the face of Dober with a cut over his eye. Referee Herb Dean stopped the contest, bringing in a doctor to check on the eye of Dober’s – in turn, ending the fight via doctor’s stoppage due to Dober’s bloody gash.
Official result: Jean Silva defeats Drew Dober via TKO (doctor stoppage)
Check out the highlights below:
https://x.com/ufc/status/1812331487615934581
https://x.com/ufc/status/1812334701836902408
https://x.com/ufc/status/1812335464621449265
