Jay Silva, MMA Fighter, Dies at 45

Jay Silva, a seasoned MMA competitor who also fought in the UFC, passed away on Sunday, as reported by Polish MMA organization FAME.

His death came just days after he celebrated his 45th birthday, and, at this time, the cause hasn’t been revealed.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of FAME fighter Jay Silva. Jay brought a great smile, positive energy, and the professionalism of a true athlete throughout his performances,” FAME MMA shared on social media. “He will forever be a part of our Federation’s history! Our deepest condolences go out to Jay’s loved ones, family and friends. May he rest in peace!”

Silva’s UFC career included two matches; he faced CB Dollaway at UFC Fight Night 19 in 2009 and Chris Leben at UFC Fight Night 20 in 2010, both resulting in decision losses.

The former nightclub bouncer from New York discovered his passion for MMA after watching the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” back in 2005. However, his serious training only began in 2007, influenced by UFC star Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who urged him to move to California.

Born in Luanda, Angola, Silva’s career included fights across various organizations, such as Superior Cage Combat and Bellator. He concluded his fighting journey with a record of 12 wins, 14 losses, and 1 no contest.

In past interviews, Silva expressed aspirations of being remembered as one of the greatest fighters, saying, “I want to be remembered as the greatest fighter the world has ever seen. I want people to remember me as a beast.”

His opponents ranged widely, from Plinio Cruz, the head coach of UFC fighter Alex Pereira, to Mausz Pujanovski, a five-time World’s Strongest Man. He also earned the nickname “Spider Killer” after defeating Kendall “Da Spider” Grove at Superior Cage Combat 4 in 2012.

The last match on Silva’s record occurred against Denis Labriga at FAME 25 in Częstochowa, Poland, in April 2025, where he again lost by unanimous decision.