The UFC terminated Thiago Silva’s contract Friday after the light heavyweight was arrested following an armed standoff with police in Florida.
“This guy will never fight in the UFC again,” UFC president Dana White told TMZ, per Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting.
The news of the contract termination was confirmed by FoxSports.com’s Damon Martin, who made the announcement via Twitter:
UFC issues new statement: “The Ultimate Fighting Championship has terminated the contract of Thiago Silva, effective immediately” #UFC
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) February 7, 2014
Late Thursday night, MMA Junkie reported that Silva had been arrested and taken into custody after an armed standoff between him and police at his Fort Lauderdale, Fla. home. The scene apparently shifted to Silva’s home following an altercation at Pablo Popovitch Mixed Martial Arts Academy, according to a report from the TV affiliate Local 10.
The Local 10 report stated that Silva barricaded himself inside his home, and that before going to the Popovitch academy, he pulled a gun on his wife, Thaysa. He allegedly told a Local 10 reporter, “She wanted my house. She wants my money.”
No one was hurt in the incident.
Silva was booked into the Broward County Jail on four felony counts, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was denied bond. An update from TMZ Sports claims Silva will not be charged with attempted murder.
According to the TMZ report, the entire incident began because Silva suspected his wife of having an affair with Popovitch.
The 31-year-old Silva is 16-3 (2) in his pro MMA career. In 2011 and again in 2012, he failed drug tests and was suspended. He fought most recently on Oct. 9, when he defeated Matt Hamill by decision. Silva, however, failed to make weight for the bout, which was ultimately contested at a catchweight of 208 pounds.
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