Josh Silveira is gearing up to face Jordan Newman in a highly anticipated professional mixed martial arts bout at PFL Chicago. This significant matchup will take place just before Newman’s teammate, Sergio Pettis, makes his promotional debut against Mitch McKee.
Silveira anticipates a challenging atmosphere, acknowledging the strong local support for the Pettis brothers, who hail from Milwaukee, a mere 40 minutes from Chicago. He also notes Newman’s connection to the same local gym, predicting a substantial home crowd advantage for his opponent. Silveira, however, relishes the idea of being in “enemy territory,” stating, “I’m ready to get booed and stuff like that, I guess.” He expects a packed house and embraces the intensity of the environment.
Josh Silveira Aims to Show Jordan Newman That “Losing Sometimes Is Part of the Formula to Get Better”
When reflecting on Jordan Newman’s skills and his current undefeated professional record, Silveira expressed his admiration. He views Newman as a great fighter, noting that despite his “young” fight record, Newman is actually around 30 years old. Silveira speculates that Newman’s career might have seen fewer fights than typically expected for his age, possibly due to cancelled bouts or injuries.
A central theme for Silveira revolves around Newman’s undefeated status. He suggests that while impressive, this also means Newman has not yet experienced the unique pressure and crucial learning opportunities that come from a professional defeat. Silveira firmly believes that “losing sometimes is part of the formula to get better” in the unpredictable world of MMA. He intends to leverage this aspect, ready to introduce Newman to this critical element of growth. While acknowledging Newman’s resilience after a quick knockdown in his last fight, Silveira is prepared to either secure a finish or control the pace of the fight.
Silveira draws upon his own extensive career, marked by both significant victories and challenging losses. He describes these setbacks as “trials and tribulations” that have forged his character, leading him through “dark, dark spot[s]” in his career. He implies that every fighter eventually faces an opponent who forces them to confront these difficult experiences. With Newman competing in his hometown, Silveira also expects added pressure on his opponent.
Despite the competitive nature of the upcoming fight, Silveira holds immense respect for Newman, viewing their matchup as an excellent pairing. He points out that Newman is a southpaw wrestler, a style that shares similarities with how Silveira himself began his fighting career. This commonality provides Silveira with valuable insight into Newman’s potential strategies and what he might bring to the cage.