UFC featherweight Francis Marshall is set to make his Octagon comeback after nearly a year away, facing Erik Silva at UFC Fight Night in Mexico City. The fighter reflects on his 2-3 UFC record, including two split-decision losses, and vows to deliver more dominant performances. Marshall, training at American Top Team, feels sharper and more confident ahead of the February 28, 2026, event.
Francis Marshall earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in August 2022 and has since compiled a 2-3 record in the Octagon. Despite more losses than wins, he views his experience positively, noting close decisions that could have swung differently. "I feel like it's gone decent," Marshall said. "There's some close calls that could have went the other way, that I could have been looking at 4-1 instead of a 2-3 record."
His first defeat ended an undefeated streak from amateur and early pro bouts, prompting a quick return against Isaac Dulgarian. That fight resulted in another loss after a performance he described as poor, driven by fear of consecutive defeats. After a year out, Marshall secured a win on short notice, followed by what he considered a strong showing against Mairon Santos at UFC 313, though it ended in a split decision. "It stings more at first, but then after a couple hours, you rewatch the fight, and you see everyone online or other MMA media outlets kind of swaying my way," he recalled.
Injuries delayed his rebound: a knee issue post-Santos took one to two months to heal, and a rib cartilage tear during camp for an August bout against Austin Bashi sidelined him for six weeks, forcing a withdrawal—his first. "There was really not much I could do," he admitted. The extra time allowed focused training at American Top Team, where he honed his skills, particularly stand-up. "Technically, I feel better, more confident," Marshall explained. "I feel like I've gotten better on the stand-up from where I came two years ago to now—it's night and day."
Now injury-free, Marshall anticipates a fun matchup with Silva, who brings an unorthodox striking style and submission threats. He plans to finish within the first two rounds, open to grappling or striking paths. The bout headlines prelims at UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs Kavanagh on February 28, 2026, at Arena CDMX.
