Former UFC fighter Jay Silva has passed away at the age of 45, according to Fame MMA, the last promotion that he competed for.
Fame MMA announced the sad news via its social media accounts on Monday morning.
No cause of death was announced at this time.
“With immense sadness, we inform you of the death of FAME athlete Jay Silva. Jay brought great joy, positive emotions, and the professionalism of a true athlete through his performances. He will forever remain a part of our federation’s history! We extend our deepest condolences to Jay’s loved ones, family, and friends. Rest in peace!” Fame MMA wrote on Instagram.
Jay Silva Fought Twice in the UFC
Silva is most remembered by MMA fans for his two-fight stint in the UFC. In 2009, he made his UFC debut when he lost a decision to CB Dollaway, and he followed that up with another decision loss to Chris Leben, which led to his release from the organization.
The Angola native was well-traveled in MMA, however, as he fought for many different promotions all across the world.
He competed in Bellator MMA, KSW, and Golden Boy MMA. He fought notable names such as Hector Lombard, Kendall Grove, Sam Alvey, Mariusz Pudzianowski, and Michał Materla, whom he picked up a massive upset KO win over in 2013 while competing for KSW.
Silva also fought Plinio Cruz in his third career MMA bout in 2009, who later turned out to be one of the coaches of UFC superstar Alex Pereira.
Overall, Silva finished his MMA career with a 12-14-1 record. He also competed in kickboxing.
Jay Silva Finished his MMA Career With Fame MMA
At the end of his MMA career, Silva finished up his time fighting for Fame MMA in Poland.
His final MMA bout was a decision loss to Denis Labryga at Fame 25 in April 2025. He also fought in kickboxing for the promotion, with his final combat sports event being a kickboxing match against Tomasz Sarara at Fame 29 in January 2026, which he lost via decision.
Fame MMA promoter Michal “Boxdel” Baron also released the following statement on his social media this morning after his promotion revealed that Silva had passed away.
“You were a great man, Jay. Thank you for the cheerful moments on the shows, the good fights, and the private chats. We will all miss you very much,” Baron wrote on his X.
At this time of writing, no cause of death is known, though fans all over social media are wondering what happened to Silva, who turned 45 years old last week. It’s shocking and upsetting news for everyone in the MMA community, as Silva was known for being very well-liked in every organization that he fought for. It’s a big loss for the sport, and everyone who knew Silva, who watched him fight, and who trained with him, is going to miss his presence in this world.
We at Heavy extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Jay Silva during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.
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