UFC fighter Jay Silva has sadly passed away at the age of 45. His death comes just days after his birthday. Following confirmation of his death, FAME, a Polish MMA promotion, released a statement.
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"It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of FAME fighter Jay Silva," the statement said. "Through his performances, Jay brought a great smile, positive energy, and the professionalism of a true athlete. He will forever remain a part of our federation's history! We extend our sincerest condolences to Jay's loved ones, family, and friends. Rest in peace!"
Despite being born in Angola, Silve primarily fought out of Los Angeles, California, for the duration of his career. Silva represented multiple promotions throughout his 17-year career, including two fights in the UFC. His final fight occurred on April 5, 2025, in a loss to Denis Labryga by unanimous decision.
In total, Silva fought in 26 professional MMA bouts, earning 12 wins and suffering 14 losses. Six of his wins came via KO, three via submission and three via decision, per Sherdog. When looking at his losses, Silva was only knocked out on four occasions. He has never been submitted. Most of his losses came via judges' decision (10).
Multiple MMA Promotions Shared Tributes to Jay Silva
FAME wasn't the only promotion to share a tribute upon learning of Silva's death. KSW MMA, one of Europe's largest promotions, also took to X to share its condolences.
"The whole KSW Team would like to send condolences to the family and friends of late former KSW fighter and middleweight title challenger, Jay Silva," the statement said. "Rest in peace."
Currently, the UFC has not released a statement regarding Silva's death. Whether the company will do so in the coming days will remain to be seen.
Silva "developed his interest in the sport when he watched the first season of the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter program and 'realized I could do that if I wanted to,' per the Daily Mail. He was certainly able to live out his dream.
Currently, there are no details pertaining to his death, nor regarding his funeral.
