After compiling an impressive professional record of 9-0 with eight stoppages prior to his UFC debut in 2007, Thiago Silva had garnered a reputation as a fearless Brazilian striker from the streets of Sao Paulo. After defeating James Irvin, Tomasz Drwal, Houston Alexander, and Antonio Mendes—all of them with punches—to start off his UFC career, many felt that the Brazilian slugger was destined to wear the belt. Unfortunately for Silva, Lyoto Machida halted those dreams with a first-round knockout at UFC 94 in January of 2009. Since that fight, Silva has defeated Keith Jardine with a first-round knockout and fought tooth-and-nail with former champion Rashad Evans while suffering from a severe back injury to repair and revitalize his image in the eyes of his fans.

While his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has rarely come into play in his pro career thus far, Silva’s striking ability, honed in the United States at the famed American Top Team gym in Coconut Creek, Florida, has lead him to stoppage victories in the vast majority of his wins. Combining his heavy hands with one of the most sinister staredowns in the sport, Silva figures to be a top contender at 205 and a solid fan draw for quite some time to come.

In January of 2011, Silva defeated Brandon Vera by Unanimous Decision, only to have the result changed to a No Contest several months later when his urine sample was flagged as an artificial substitute by the NSAC. Silva later admitted to using steroids and attempting to cheat his drug test and was subsequently fined, stripped of his fighting license, and suspended from competition for one year.