Bruno Silva, the first fighter to take Alex Pereira the distance in an MMA bout, is reportedly no longer with the UFC.
Once a promising 22-6 middleweight with impressive knockout bonuses, Silva`s trajectory in the UFC seemed to shift after his fight against the former two-division champion Alex Pereira in 2022.
Silva initially began his run in the Octagon with a perfect 3-0 record, securing all wins by knockout. However, this was followed by a significant downturn, as he lost seven of his subsequent eight fights.
After competing in the demanding middleweight division for four years, a recent defeat at UFC 315 over the weekend has marked the end of Silva`s tenure with the promotion.
Bruno Silva Removed from UFC Roster Following String of Losses
Confirmation of Silva`s departure came this week, as he was removed from the official UFC roster. This signifies his release after enduring a challenging five-fight losing streak.
At UFC 315 on Saturday, Silva suffered arguably the most severe loss of his career, succumbing to a first-round TKO against Marc-André Barriault. Barriault landed elbows that visibly appeared to dent Silva`s skull, leaving him unconscious for several minutes.
Silva required transport via stretcher and was taken to the hospital. Despite the serious nature of the knockout, he was released later the same night and updated fans on his health, stating he was fine.
Silva: The Only Middleweight to Go the Distance with Alex Pereira
Silva faced Alex Pereira in what was `Poatan`s` second appearance in the UFC. In the confined space of the smaller UFC Apex cage, Silva notably exchanged powerful strikes with Pereira and managed to avoid being knocked down. Prior to their fight, after Pereira`s initial MMA debut loss, none of his opponents had survived beyond the second round against the former kickboxing champion, let alone the full three rounds.
Making it to the judges` decision was a notable achievement, as no other middleweight fighter in the UFC had managed to do so against Pereira. Despite his resilience, Silva lost all three rounds by unanimous decision. The only other fighters who have gone the distance with Pereira in the UFC are current light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev and former champion Jan Blachowicz, both in the heavier weight class.
Following his bout with Pereira, `Blindado` continued to face high-calibre competition in the UFC.
His later opponents included prominent names such as former champion Chris Weidman, top contender Brendan Allen, and the then-undefeated Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov.
Three of Silva`s four knockout victories during his UFC career earned him a $50,000 performance bonus.
Notable knockout wins for Silva during his time with the promotion include victories over veteran contender Brad Tavares, ‘The Ultimate Fighter 23’ winner Andrew Sanchez, Jordan Wright, and Wellington Turman.
Percy Harlow