Antonio Silva

Antonio Silva (born September 14, 1979) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He initially fought in the super heavyweight division, but currently competes in the heavyweight weight class. He is the first and last EliteXC heavyweight champion.

Mixed martial arts career

He has competed in organizations such as Hero's, BodogFight and Elite Xtreme Combat (where he was heavyweight champion), Strikeforce and Sengoku.

Club affiliation

Antonio Silva began his career with the UK-based Wolfslair MMA Academy in 2005. In 2006, after his bout with Tadas Rinkevicius, Wolfslair requested (to Silva's instructor Mario Neto) that Silva leave the team and return to Brazil. The gym claims Silva owed it over £20,000; however, Silva states that it owed him £6,000 in fighter purses for two fights, for which he was promised £3,000 each. After training with Brazilian Top Team during the dispute, Silva joined American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.^[1] He also trained at the Imperial Athletics gym in Boca Raton, Florida, for his quarterfinal bout with Fedor Emelianenko in the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament.^[2]

EliteXC

On February 10, 2007, Silva made his EliteXC debut at EliteXC: Destiny, against UFC veteran Wesley Correira. Silva won by TKO due to strikes in the first round. He then defeated Jonathan Wiezorek at EliteXC: Renegade by rear naked choke in the first round. His next victory came over former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez.

On July 26, 2008, Silva won the EliteXC Heavyweight title, with a second round TKO win over UFC veteran Justin Eilers. Silva later tested positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone, and was suspended for one year and fined $2,500 by the California State Athletic Commission.^[3] According to Silva's manager, Alex Davis, the positive test was caused by Silva's use of Novadex, a testosterone-booster he takes to raise his low testosterone levels (a symptom of his acromegaly). "He has to treat it", said Davis. "He spends between $6,000 and $8,000 a month just on medicine for it. He needs to be able to keep fighting to make a living. If it's between Antonio's health and pleasing the athletic commission, we have to choose his health."^[4]

Sengoku

Soon after, Silva signed on to fight at Sengoku 7. He was advised not to fight in Japan by the California State Athletic Commission. He ignored this advice, and continued to claim that he had not used steroids. At the January 4, 2009 event, he defeated Yoshihiro "KISS" Nakao by TKO when Nakao suffered a knee injury in the first round.

At Sengoku 10 he fought Jim York, winning by submission in the first round. With both fighters looking tentative on the feet, Silva took York down once, but was stood up by the referee. Later in the round, he took York down again, assuming the half-guard position and landing effective hammerfists and punches, before moving into an arm triangle choke from the side control position to secure victory.

Strikeforce

On November 7, 2009, Silva suffered the second loss of his career, losing a decision to Fabricio Werdum at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers. After dominating the first round, Silva fractured his left hand in the beginning of the second.^[5][6][7]

Silva defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski on May 15, 2010, at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery,^[8] via decision.

He was scheduled to face Valentijn Overeem on Dec. 4, but Overeem suffered an injury and withdrew from the fight.^[9] He was replaced by Mike Kyle.^[10] Kyle knocked down Silva in the first round with a punch, but Silva survived Kyle's ground and pound and recovered. In the second round, Silva mounted Kyle and forced a TKO stoppage with punches.

Silva defeated Fedor Emelianenko in the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament, via doctor stoppage between the second and third rounds. He was expected to meet Alistair Overeem in the semifinals, but Overeem withdrew from the fight due to injury. He was replaced by one of the tournament alternates, Daniel Cormier. Cormier knocked Silva out with standing punches at 3:56 of round 1.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On January 7, 2012, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira told "Portal do Vale Tudo" Silva had signed a UFC contract. Silva was scheduled to debut against Roy Nelson on May 26, 2012 at UFC 146,^[11] but was rescheduled to face Cain Velasquez instead.^[12] Velazquez defeated Silva by TKO in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

• Cage Rage
  • Cage Rage World Heavyweight Championship (One Time, Last)

• Cage Warriors
  • Cage Warriors Super Heavyweight Championship (One Time)

• EliteXC
  • EliteXC Heavyweight Championship (One Time, First, Last)

• Strikeforce
  • 2011 Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinalist

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of current Strikeforce fighters

Footnotes

External links

• Professional MMA record for Antonio Silva (fighter) from Sherdog