The first man to go the distance with Alex Pereira in MMA is no longer in the UFC.
Once a 22-6 middleweight with back-to-back KO bonuses, Bruno Silva’s UFC career never quite looked the same after fighting the former two-division champion Pereira in 2022.
Silva went 3-0 in the Octagon with all knockouts before he lost seven out of his next eight fights.
After four years of running the middleweight gauntlet and a loss at UFC 315 over the weekend, Silva’s time in the UFC has reached its end.
Bruno Silva removed from UFC roster following fifth-straight loss
This week, Silva was removed from the UFC roster, signifying his promotional release after a five-fight losing skid. (h/t: FullContactMTWF)
Silva suffered the worst loss of his career at UFC 315 on Saturday where he lost by first-round TKO to Marc-André Barriault
The Canadian Barriault visibly dented Silva’s skull with his elbows, leaving his opponent unconscious for several minutes.
Silva was carried out on a stretcher and hospitalized. After being released from the hospital the same night, Silva told his fans he was fine in a post-fight health update.
Bruno Silva’s the only middleweight to go the distance with Alex Pereira
Silva fought Alex Pereira in ‘Poatan’s’ second UFC appearance. Silva stood toe-to-toe with Pereira in the smaller UFC Apex and did not get dropped once. After Pereira lost his MMA debut, none of his opponents had survived two rounds with the former kickboxing champion, let alone three.
Silva impressed by making it to the judges’ decision, a feat no other middleweight achieved inside the UFC. Silva lost all three rounds by unanimous decision. The only other fighters to go the distance with Pereira are current champion Magomed Ankalaev and former champ Jan Blachowicz at light heavyweight.
Following Pereira, ‘Blindado’ didn’t lose to just anyone in the UFC.
Silva fought the likes of former champion Chris Weidman, top contender Brendan Allen and an 11-0 Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov.
Three of Silva’s four KO wins ended with a $50,000 performance bonus.
Silva knocked out perennial contender Brad Tavares and ‘The Ultimate Fighter 23’ winner Andrew Sanchez along with Jordan Wright and Wellington Turman during his UFC tenure.