Daniel da Silva’s Last Stand

Daniel da Silva appears to have exhausted his margin for error within the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The Brazilian flyweight will look to break into the win column on his fourth try when he faces C.J. Vergara as part of the UFC on ESPN 43 undercard this Saturday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Da Silva has been finished in all three of his appearances inside the Octagon, losing to Jeff Molina, Francisco Figueiredo and Victor Altamirano. He feels fortunate to have been given one more opportunity to stick on the roster at 125 pounds.

“We always say that things will play out differently this time, but sometimes the unexpected happens,” da Silva told Sherdog.com. “All I can say is that all my efforts have been focused on me and this fight. The result itself is in God’s hands. I’m controlling what I can control.”

Vergara punched his ticket to the UFC on Dana White’s Contender Series, as he wrecked Bruno Mesquita with a knee strike to the body in the first round of their September 2021 encounter. However, he has lost twice in three subsequent appearances, his defeats to Ode Osborne and Tatsuro Taira sandwiched around a split decision victory over Kleydson Rodrigues.

“It’s going to be a good fight,” da Silva said. “If I have the opportunity to knock C.J. out, that’s what I’ll do, and if I have the opportunity to catch him in a submission, then I’ll do that. I don’t plan to have it go to the judges. It’s not my style, whether I win or lose. I don’t like to wait. It’s going to be a war. All my fights are wars.”

The stakes are undeniably high for both men.

“C.J. is tough and deserves to be in the UFC,” da Silva said. “Once I’m there with him, we’ll see who makes the least mistakes, and whoever’s most intelligent will come out on top. I’m studying him. I’m sure he’s doing the same.”

Da Silva continues to train out of the Diego Lima-fronted Chute Boxe affiliate—the same gym that gave rise to former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira—in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“The guys here help me every day,” he said. “Every day, we go to war. It’s what I needed to get out of my comfort zone. I’m ready, mentally and physically. For me, this is going to be a fight of opportunities. I’m training very hard: boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, muay thai—everything.”

While da Silva foresees a bright future in the UFC, he must first establish a foothold in the organization. Vergara stands in his way.

“I’m bringing this win home,” da Silva said. “After that, I want to renew [my contract] with the UFC. They know I’m always at their disposal. To renew me is good business for both the UFC and me. They enjoy having fighters like me. I never run from a fight, and I’m always at the ready. I’d love to be fighting every two months. I’m ready for more battles.”