Edgar Chairez is targeting a place in the flyweight rankings as he heads into his matchup with Bruno Silva at UFC Fight Night 278.
The Mexican flyweight, who holds a 13-6 professional record and is 3-2 in the UFC, is scheduled to face ranked veteran Silva, who is 15-8-2 in MMA and 5-5 in the UFC. Chairez enters the bout on a two-fight winning streak after victories over C.J. Vergara and Felipe Bunes.
"I'm fighting No. 15, so I think if I beat him, I'm taking his place," Chairez said. "And if I don't take No. 15, I think I'll still be among the best 10 in the world. There's been a lot of talk, and those who are haters criticize me like, 'Because you fought Joshua Van, because you fought Tatsuro.' Well, yeah, bro. What do you want me to say? That I fought nobody? Obviously I've been fighting the best, and I'm going to keep saying that. I think it shows my level and placement."
Chairez, who dropped decision losses to Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira within his first year in the UFC, believes those setbacks are behind him. "Also, I'm not the same guy who lost in those fights. I'm much better. I've evolved. I'm going to keep on saying it: I'm evolving, and I know I'm among the best in the world. It's just a matter of getting the opportunity to show it."
After fighting only twice in 2024 and once in 2025, Chairez is focused on staying busy. "Last year, I was left without fighting, so this time around I hope to fight three or four times. I'm sure I'm going to leave unscathed from this fight, and I will raise my hand to get a quick return, hopefully at International Fight Week. Maybe I can sneak on that card. Why not? There's also Noche UFC, if not any card. I just have to stay ready because this year I said I wanted to be active, and that's how it's got to be done."
