Fabian Edwards has only lost twice in the past four years, a pair of title bouts to Johnny Eblen in Bellator and PFL. Josh Silveira, who stands across the cage from Edwards in a tournament semifinal match Friday at PFL 7, was the man responsible for emulating him in Eblen’s camps at American Top Team in Florida.
“I was him,” Silveira told MMA Fighting. “I was him in training for Johnny because I’m also a southpaw. I understand his style, I’ve already studied him a lot. If he thinks it’s going to be easy, that’s good for me. I love that. I know I’m not an easy fight and I know I’ll be ready to battle.”
Despite playing the role of Edwards to help Eblen twice in previous years, Silveira believes he’s nothing like the British fighter.
“It’s hard to imitate him because he doesn’t like to do takedowns, he doesn’t like putting pressure,” Silveira said. “I’m the type of fighter that puts pressure. For Johnny, I imitated his kicks. He likes to score points, and only once in a while he ends fights. But he doesn’t take you down and take your back, things like that. I’ve seen plenty of tape of him. He’s talented, but I know the path to beat him.”
Silveira said the undefeated Eblen helped him during camp with crucial advice, and watching them both go to war inside the cage showed the son of ATT leader Conan Silveira that Edwards “gave him a great fight, so I have to respect him.”
Having never opened as such a steep underdog oddswise before in his career, Silveira feels that puts Edwards in a must-win situation.
“Good name, good fighter, semifinal, there’s a lot on the table,” Silveira said. “When you look at my career and his career, he’s fought for the belt twice against my team. He beat the guy I lost twice to, so on paper there are some things that maybe you say, ‘This guy is better,’ but I don’t know, it’s almost the same.”
The winner of Silveira vs. Edwards advance to the $500,00 grand prix final against whoever emerges from the Dalton Rosta vs. Aaron Jeffery matchup, which takes place the same night in Chicago.
“We’ve reached a point where the fights will always be hard,” Silveira said. “Get that idea out of your head that you’ll have an easy fight. That doesn’t happen anymore. The difference now is that I know where I’m at in my life and how important this moment is for me. I have to go there and do my job. I’ll feel stressed, I’ll feel nervous, but that’s part of the work. I’m ready for this.”
“On paper, you’re supposed to beat me,” he continued. “On paper, you will win, but fighting doesn’t work like that. I’ve seen many things on paper don’t come to reality. At the end of the day, I have a ton of respect for him and his family. His brother [Leon Edwards] was also a champion, they’ve made some noise in England and represent the country very well. I respect him, but I’ve seen my team beat him.”
Aside from Eblen, the only men able to crack Edwards’ game were Costello van Steenis and Austin Vanderford, both via decision back in 2020 and 2021. Silveira sees similarities between Fabian’s style and brother Leon Edwards’—the former UFC welterweight champion who faces a long road to get back on track after two lopsided defeats to Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady.
“They’re good when they move forward, they know how to box and kickbox, but they don’t like being pressured,” Silveira said. “I’ll put my pressure to make him walk backwards and find my path. I’m a wrestler but I don’t always show that in my fights. Sometimes I stand and brawl, too. I have to go there and see what I’ll do, but I’ll definitely walk forward and put pressure.”
“Honestly, I think I’m a bad matchup for him,” he continued. “I’m a wrestler but I grew up in jiu-jitsu. If I end up on top and take his back, I end this fight with a submission. He’s been knocked out before. I have a big chin—I haven’t been [knocked out] before, thank God, and I’m not trying to get on the 27th, but if I have to get my chin there and trade with him, I will. It’s going to be a great show either way.”
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