The featherweight title picture may not be as obvious as many expected heading into UFC London. With Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy ready to fight in the main event, many assumed the winner would face Alexander Volkanovski next. Instead, according to the latest update from No.6-ranked Jean Silva, the promotion may already have other plans, and the upcoming fight may not decide the next title challenger after all.

‘Lord’ shared a video on social media while at the airport, revealing that he had been invited to the event and hinted that a contract for a title fight could be signed soon.

“Let’s go for another one, bro,” he said in Portuguese. “We have a trip invited by Hunter Campbell and Dana White to watch Evloev and Lerone’s fight up close, really close, and sign the belt contract. Let’s go!”

But he didn’t stop there; he also claimed that his potential title match would be heavily promoted by the UFC.

“Listen, brother, it’s going to be the biggest promotion the guys have ever seen in history when I sign this belt contract,” he said. “I’m going to sell this. I’m going to treat these guys well.”

The 29-year-old believes the deal could be finalized as soon as this week. The statement is certainly surprising given that the London main event features the No. 1 and No. 3-ranked featherweights, a contest that many expected would determine Alexander Volkanovski‘s next title defense.

Evloev and Murphy are both undefeated. Volkanovski himself prefers either of them for a fight. But, as seen with the UFC matchmaking of late, sellability trumps merit, and Silva is undeniably the more fan-favorite. ‘The Great’ wanted to fight one of the undefeated contenders in his last fight but the UFC gave him a Diego Lopes rematch instead. Now, he’s fighting the man Lopes beat to get that title shot.

Silva is coming off a win over Arnold Allen earlier this year and has swiftly gained momentum in the division due to his aggressive approach and finishing ability. With rumors that the UFC wants a big title battle for International Fight Week, his name being pushed ahead of the London winner may be based on entertainment value rather than rankings, leaving the outcome of Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy with less certainty than expected.

It could also be a ploy to ensure the London headliners make an effort to leave it all in the cage and impress the matchmakers with an entertaining fight approach. But if you ask many fight fans, the fight they want to see most is the Jean Silva vs. Kevin Vallejos rematch.

Vallejos has been on a tear in the UFC and finished Josh Emmett in the first round in his last outing this past weekend. The Argentina striker has just one loss on his professional record, and it was a unanimous decision loss to Silva on the Contender Series in September 2023. And if this fight doesn’t make sense, there’s one more.

A Diego Lopes rematch might also be an option, given the rankings and the fact that it would decide the title race standings.

Jean Silva vs. Diego Lopes 2 is the fight to make

Jean Silva is on a 6-1 run in the UFC. And the ‘one’ on that record is Diego Lopes. The two featherweights clapped at each other before and after their fight, but Lopes had the last laugh inside the Octagon. He finished Silva in the second round and went straight at his team for their trash talk.

The pair seemingly smoothed things over backstage, but after their chaotic first encounter, a rematch should definitely be an option.

#6-ranked Silva is on a one-fight win streak, and that was over #8-ranked Arnold Allen. There is no reason for him to leapfrog the UFC London winner for any reason. If that wasn’t enough, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is comfortably sitting in the top five, waiting for a shot at ‘Volk.’

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If ‘Aljo’ had not dropped the belt to Sean O’Malley in 2023, he would have likely moved up and fought Volkanovski for the double champion status. Sterling has fought Evloev, Brian Ortega, and Calvin Kattar at featherweight, coming up short only against the Russian despite an elite performance.

So, that’s three contenders who deserve the title shot over Silva, and one contender he should be looking to even things with. Yet, he will be cageside in London as an added incentive for the headliners to entertain the crowd as opposed to following their game plan and fighting strategically. Do you think it is fair?