UFC Fighter Thiago Silva Arrested on Multiple Charges Following Altercation at MMA School, Armed Standoff With Police [UPDATED]


(Thiago Silva mugshot via SunSentinel. Props to CP reader ‘Toto Africa’ for the tip.)

UFC light-heavyweight veteran Thiago Silva was arrested last night at his home in Oakland Park, Florida, after an armed standoff with police. The incident began around 7:45 p.m. ET, when Silva allegedly stormed into the Pablo Popovitch Mixed Martial Arts Academy while carrying a gun, made “unspecified threats,” then left and barricaded himself inside his home. Broward County police — including a SWAT team — surrounded his residence, and Silva eventually surrendered at about 11:15 p.m.

Early this morning, Silva was booked into Broward County’s maximum-security Main Jail facility on four charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest/obstruction. That’s pretty much all we know right now. Though there were a lot of reports flying around twitter last night regarding Silva’s motives and the weapon he was carrying, none of those details have been officially confirmed as of yet.

Currently riding a two-fight win streak, Silva was scheduled to fight Ovince St. Preux at UFC 171 (March 15th, Dallas). It’s unclear if that fight will still take place. The UFC released the following brief, non-committal statement last night:

This evening, we were made aware of a situation involving Thiago Silva. We are in the process of gathering the facts and have no further comment at this time.

We’ll update you when we know more.

UPDATE #1: After the jump, a video of Silva being taken into custody, flipping off cameras, and telling cops that his wife wanted his money.


(Thiago Silva mugshot via SunSentinel. Props to CP reader ‘Toto Africa’ for the tip.)

UFC light-heavyweight veteran Thiago Silva was arrested last night at his home in Oakland Park, Florida, after an armed standoff with police. The incident began around 7:45 p.m. ET, when Silva allegedly stormed into the Pablo Popovitch Mixed Martial Arts Academy while carrying a gun, made “unspecified threats,” then left and barricaded himself inside his home. Broward County police — including a SWAT team — surrounded his residence, and Silva eventually surrendered at about 11:15 p.m.

Early this morning, Silva was booked into Broward County’s maximum-security Main Jail facility on four charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest/obstruction. That’s pretty much all we know right now. Though there were a lot of reports flying around twitter last night regarding Silva’s motives and the weapon he was carrying, none of those details have been officially confirmed as of yet.

Currently riding a two-fight win streak, Silva was scheduled to fight Ovince St. Preux at UFC 171 (March 15th, Dallas). It’s unclear if that fight will still take place. The UFC released the following brief, non-committal statement last night:

This evening, we were made aware of a situation involving Thiago Silva. We are in the process of gathering the facts and have no further comment at this time.

We’ll update you when we know more.

UPDATE #1: After the jump, a video of Silva being taken into custody, flipping off cameras, and telling cops that his wife wanted his money.


(Props: NBCMiami via MMAMania)

UPDATE #2: A pro-fighter and Popovitch black belt named James Brasco has made a post on the UG explaining the domestic situation that might have led to Silva’s armed freak-out.