This incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking a wave of reactions from MMA fans. Many viewed Jean Silva's action as provocative and disrespectful towards his opponent.

Towards the end of the third round, with only seconds remaining in the fight, Arnold Allen was swept to the ground and found himself on his hands and knees. Silva then stopped striking, stepped directly onto his opponent's back, and celebrated.

Jean Silva jumps onto Arnold Allen's back with only 9 seconds left in the fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US, on the evening of 24/1. Photo: Sun

The action lasted only a few seconds but drew a strong reaction from the crowd at T-Mobile Arena. On social media, many fans questioned the legitimacy and sportsmanship of the move, as the Brazilian fighter used his opponent's back as a platform. According to Sun, this act was overly provocative.

The scoring also fueled controversy. Despite the fight being considered close and intense, all three judges scored Silva as the winner over Allen with scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28. Many spectators felt the 30-27 score was too wide a margin compared to the actual fight, adding negative connotations to the act of standing on his opponent's back at the end of the bout.

The Arnold Allen versus Jean Silva fight opened UFC 324. The two featherweight fighters delivered three intense rounds, meeting the organizers' expectations. Allen returned to the octagon after an 18-month hiatus due to injury, while Silva sought to regain his winning momentum following his first UFC loss to Diego Lopes in 9/2025.

In the first round, Allen started actively, moving flexibly and utilizing low kicks to control distance. The English fighter held an advantage at various points before Silva landed a powerful right punch in the final seconds of the round. In the second round, the Brazilian fighter gradually increased pressure, consistently delivering strikes to the body and head. However, Allen still had notable moments, including a knee strike that excited the audience.

Silva demonstrated better stamina in the third round. The Brazilian fighter continuously pressed forward, forcing Allen to defend and attempt to slow the pace. Both fighters exchanged blows for most of the round before Silva swept Allen to the ground in the final seconds, leading to the controversial moment when he stepped onto his opponent's back.

Jean Silva, 29 years old, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, ranked 10th in the UFC featherweight division as of late last year. He has competed in 20 professional fights, boasting an 85% win rate.

Arnold Allen, 32 years old, from England, is ranked sixth in the same UFC weight class. He has fought 24 MMA bouts, with an 83% win rate.

After the fight, Silva was announced as the winner by unanimous decision and became emotional. In an interview, he admitted that Allen was an idol and a challenging opponent. This victory helped Silva return to his winning streak and also allowed him to surpass Allen, moving into the top six featherweight fighters in the UFC and closer to a title shot.

For Allen, this defeat ended his strong comeback attempt after a long absence. Despite having a 10-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC and only losing to top contenders like Max Holloway or Movsar Evloev, the English fighter will have to postpone his short-term title aspirations.

Hoang An (according to Sun, talkSport)