"It’s all over": The friendship between Fighting Nerds stars Mauricio Ruffy and Jean Silva is facing serious challenges following Ruffy's decision to relocate to Australia for his UFC 325 training camp. He is now training alongside Alexander Volkanovski, who is currently at the pinnacle of Silva’s weight division.
Both Ruffy and Volkanovski celebrated victories this past weekend in Sydney, defeating Rafael Fiziev and Diego Lopes, respectively. Amidst this, Silva took the notable step of unfollowing Ruffy on social media during the week preceding UFC 325, indicating a desire to create some distance between them.
In an interview with Laerte Viana, Silva expressed, "I don’t think there’s much to explain. It’s Ruffy on one side and me on the other. This is an internal matter; I won't be the one to air it out. I haven’t spoken about it publicly. I feel at peace and prefer not to discuss it further. That’s the reality—he’s on his path, and I’m on mine. What I can say is that I wish to keep my distance from him, and I hope he feels the same way. If he claims he has affection for me, that’s fine. I genuinely wish him success; he has a wonderful family, and I truly hope he reaps the rewards of his hard work. However, I have my own aspirations to pursue."
On the other hand, Ruffy addressed the situation during his conversation with Viana as well, clarifying that despite his temporary relocation to Australia for training, he remains part of the Fighting Nerds team and continues to hold deep affection for Silva. He noted that Volkanovski was there for him during a particularly trying period in his life, which included experiencing his first loss in the UFC and coping with the death of his brother.
Ruffy stated, "I have love for Jean, regardless of how he feels about me. I respect him immensely and have nothing negative to say—only good things. Jean is an amazing individual."
He also mentioned, "I’m not entirely sure what led to Silva unfollowing me on social media, but I respect his reasons. I still follow him, and I harbor no ill feelings towards him. On the contrary, I feel only love and respect."
After achieving victory at UFC 325, Ruffy plans to return to Sao Paulo and intends to train at The Fighting Nerds gym, leaving the possibility open for collaborating with Silva in the future.
However, when asked about the potential for reconciliation or partnership, Silva decisively responded, "Zero chance. It’s over. I want to clarify something as we shift topics: I wish Ruffy nothing but the best. He is a true star. He has personal issues to confront, and I hope he seeks help. Many athletes, including myself, experience this pressure. I visit my psychiatrist weekly. I genuinely hope he finds his way and thrives. But as far as Jean and Ruffy are concerned, that chapter has closed. To be straightforward, it existed only in my mind."
