TLDR
- Jean Silva has ended his friendship with Fighting Nerds teammate Mauricio Ruffy, unfollowing him on Instagram during UFC 325 fight week
- Silva confirmed Ruffy will not return to the Fighting Nerds camp, stating ‘It’s over’ when asked about a potential reunion
- The split came after Ruffy trained in Australia with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski instead of with his Brazilian team
- Silva cited internal issues and recommended Ruffy seek psychiatric help, revealing he sees a psychiatrist weekly himself
- Other Fighting Nerds members like Caio Borralho were seen supporting Ruffy’s UFC 325 victory, suggesting the entire team may not have cut ties
Sources: NY Fights | MMA Mania | MMA Mania
UFC featherweight Jean Silva has ended his friendship with longtime teammate Mauricio Ruffy, declaring their relationship finished in a recent interview with Brazilian journalist Laerte Viana. Silva unfollowed Ruffy on Instagram during UFC 325 fight week and confirmed the split is permanent.
“Look, there’s a lot to explain. It’s like Ruffy over there, me over here, internal stuff,” Silva said. “I’m not going to be the one to expose anything. What I can say is that I want distance from him, and I hope he wants the same too.”
When asked directly whether Ruffy could ever return to the Fighting Nerds camp, Silva’s response left no room for interpretation. “It’s over. Over!” he stated.
The split comes after Ruffy conducted his entire training camp for UFC 325 in Australia with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Ruffy defeated Rafael Fiziev via second-round TKO at the Sydney event on January 31, 2026.
Training Camp in Australia Sparked Tensions
Ruffy’s decision to train away from the Fighting Nerds camp in Brazil reportedly created tensions within the team. After his victory, Ruffy indicated he planned to continue traveling to Australia for future training camps while still returning to his old team.
Silva’s comments suggest that reunion will not happen. The connection between Ruffy and Volkanovski may have played a role in the fallout, as Volkanovski is the reigning champion in Silva’s own division.
Silva recently defeated Arnold Allen at UFC 324, just one week before Ruffy’s fight in Sydney. He has been mentioned as a potential future challenger for Volkanovski’s title.
Despite the personal split, Silva said he wants Ruffy to succeed. “I wish Ruffy the best. I genuinely want him to win. This kid has absurd star quality, but he has internal issues he needs to resolve,” Silva explained.
Silva Recommends Mental Health Support
Silva encouraged Ruffy to seek professional help for what he described as internal struggles. “I hope he seeks help, not only him, but many athletes like me. I see a psychiatrist every week,” Silva revealed.
The Brazilian fighter concluded with a final statement on their relationship. “Jean Silva and Ruffy doesn’t exist anymore. Straight up. It only existed in my head,” he said.
The Fighting Nerds team includes other rising UFC stars like Carlos Prates and Caio Borralho. Borralho was seen celebrating Ruffy’s UFC 325 victory on social media, suggesting some team members may maintain their relationship with Ruffy.
Similar gym splits have occurred throughout MMA history. T.J. Dillashaw’s departure from Team Alpha Male, Jon Jones becoming rivals with Rashad Evans, and the fallout between Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington at American Top Team are past examples of teammate relationships ending.
How the rest of the Fighting Nerds team navigates their relationship with Ruffy remains unclear. Silva made his position clear when asked if their friendship could be genuine despite the split: “If he says he loves me, that’s fine. I just hope it’s genuine.”
