Bruno Silva, after being released by UFC following a knockout loss, is pausing his fighting career to focus on personal well-being and family, while remaining open to a future return.
Bruno Silva might never step into the octagon again after his release from the UFC. And you know what? He’s okay with that.
“Blindado” understood that losing his UFC 315 middleweight bout with Marc-Andre Barriault would be the end of his time in the promotion. It was his last shot, handed to him by matchmaker Mick Maynard, and he faced his first knockout defeat.
After that brutal knockout, Silva was stretchered out of the octagon. Surprisingly, he felt better just hours later.
Back in Curitiba, Brazil, training under veteran coach Andre Dida, Silva decided to take a break from fighting. A couple of years off, just to clear his head.
“Maybe I come back, maybe not. But if I don’t, I’m at peace,” Silva shared in a video on social media. He felt he gave his all and had no regrets. His legacy? Written.
Silva plans to move back to his hometown, Cajazeiras, to be closer to his mother. More than a decade after leaving for Curitiba, he feels blessed to be surrounded by family.
“I won’t say I’m ending my career because I haven’t,” Silva mentioned. “But I’ll pause it.” After 11 years in Curitiba, he’s heading back to the Northeast, fulfilling a promise to his mom.
Silva, who entered the UFC in 2021 with a string of knockouts, had a promising start. Wins over fighters like Alexander Shlemenko set up a bout with future champ Alex Pereira.
He battled Pereira for 15 minutes but lost by decision. Afterward, he had mixed results, including a knockout win against Brad Tavares but then five consecutive losses.
Turning 36 in July, Silva has been candid about his mental health struggles. He hopes his story inspires others to keep pushing forward.
“If the fire still burns and I’m healed from panic attacks, I’ll return to fighting in two years,” Silva said. He’s considering boxing and other promotions like PFL and ONE.
For now, he’s taking a step back. Training remains his therapy, a lifestyle he’s embraced since childhood. Silva wants his story to inspire others to chase their dreams, no matter the path.