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Ex-UFC title challenger Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva books fight against TUF 28 winner Juan Espino on March 23

Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva is making a comeback. The former UFC heavyweight title contender squared off with some of the…

Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva is making a comeback.

The former UFC heavyweight title contender squared off with some of the biggest names in MMA history, including former world champions Fabricio Werdum, Andrei Arlovski, Daniel Cormier, Frank Mir, and Fedor Emelianenko. However, ‘Bigfoot’ has struggled to find the win column in recent years, losing 11 straight fights — nine by way of knockout — before finally deciding to hang up his gloves for good.

Eight days later, Silva canceled his retirement, declaring that he was once again looking for a fight.

As announced on his Instagram, ‘Bigfoot’ is scheduled to return against TUF 28 heavyweight winner Juan Espino on March 23 at Gran Canaria Arena in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain. No further details regarding the bout have been released.

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Silva’s lone UFC heavyweight title opportunity came against Cain Velasquez at UFC 160 in May 2013. He suffered a first-round KO 81 seconds into the bout. He went on to lose five of his next six inside the Octagon before receiving his release from the promotion. ‘Bigfoot’ has primarily fought in Russia since then, but his last outing came under the Kingdom Fighting banner in Grenoble, France.

Silva, 44, went 3-7 during his UFC tenure and currently sits with an overall record of 19-15.

Espino has fared better in his MMA career, amassing a solid 10-2 record since making his pro debut in 2009. His scheduled scrap with Silva will be his first fight since a controversial technical split decision loss to Alexandr Romanov in 2021. ‘El Guapo’ went 2-1 in the Octagon after winning The Ultimate Fighter, but ultimately walked away from the sport due to injuries.

“I couldn’t allow injuries to keep me from saying goodbye to mine the way I like best,” Espino wrote in Spanish on Instagram.

UFC veteran Antonio Silva announces MMA retirement following string of worrying losses

Brazilian heavyweight veteran, Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts active competition, amid a worrying run of seven straight losses, which includes six knockout defeats to boot. Silva, 43, a native of Brasilia, last featured professionally in mixed martial arts in Moscow, Russia back in June of this year at an […]

Silva, 43, a native of Brasilia, last featured professionally in mixed martial arts in Moscow, Russia back in June of this year at an MMA Series 53 event, where he suffered a 15-second second round KO loss to Oleg Popov.

The loss followed a prior string of knockout defeats to Mark Hunt, Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson, Vitaly Minakov, and Quentin Domingos, with a unanimous decision defeat to Ivan Shtyrkov the only defeat in that run in which Silva did not suffer a knockout loss.

In his most recent professional win, Antonio Silva, a former EliteXC, Cage Rage, and Cage Warriors titleholder, defeated Soa Palelei with a TKO win back in August 2015 at UFC 190.

Antonio Silva confirms his retirement from MMA competition

Receiving multiple calls to consider his career in the sport, Silva admitted that “everybody has a limit” before announcing his decision to call time on his career.

“I fought the best, I beat the best and also lost to the best,” Antonio Silva told Canal Encarada during a recent interview. “There’s a time in life when you can’t – I fought in Russia, back-to-back fights basically, and I’m not taking anything away from my MMA opponent (Oleg Popov), but I never saw myself losing to this guy three or four years ago. This guy has nothing for me, but I’m 43 now.”

“I still have the same head I had when i was 35, but my body isn’t 35 anymore,” Antonio Silva explained. “It’s different. We have to respect it. Everybody has a limit. … It’s hard to say ‘I’ll stop, I can’t anymore.’ It’s hard for any professional in any sport.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Boasting a 19-14(1) professional record at the time of his mixed martial arts retirement, Silva holds professional wins over the likes Ricco Rodriguez, Justin Eilers, Andrei Arlovski, Mike Kyle, Travis Browne, Alistair Overeem, and Fedor Emelianenko.

MMA Twitter Reacts To Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva’s Retirement

The MMA community has taken to social media to react after news emerged that former UFC heavyweight Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva has retired from the sport. Silva made his name under the banners of Strikeforce and the UFC. In the now-defunct pro…

Continue Reading MMA Twitter Reacts To Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva’s Retirement at MMA News.

Antonio Silva signs with Brave CF, will face Haim Gozali on March 9

Former UFC heavyweight, Antonio Silva is set to return to professional MMA. It was recently announced by Silva via his Instagram that he had signed a deal with Brave CF and would be taking on Haim Gozali. “Hi everyone, now it’s official,” Silva said. “I signed the contract to fight on March 9th in the […]

Former UFC heavyweight, Antonio Silva is set to return to professional MMA.

It was recently announced by Silva via his Instagram that he had signed a deal with Brave CF and would be taking on Haim Gozali.

“Hi everyone, now it’s official,” Silva said. “I signed the contract to fight on March 9th in the Brave organization against Haim Gozali. I’m so excited for that, and I’ll see you soon Haim.”

Silva will look to get his first win in seven years, spanning 10 fights across MMA, kickboxing, boxing and bare-knuckle. Now aged 43, there is serious concern over the health of Silva who has been KO/TKO’d in all but one of those 10 fights, some of which were particularly heavy and worrying stoppages.

Silva has been knocked out 12 times in his professional career and has been shipping and receiving punishment since turning pro in 2005. After getting cut from the UFC after going 1-6 (1 NC) in his last seven fights, all of which were stoppage losses, Silva has consistently been signed by promotions all over the world to be used as cannon fodder.

Silva was even signed by Glory Kickboxing, the premier kickboxing organization in the world to take on current heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven, who is widely considered to be one the best heavyweights ever. The bout was a completed mismatch, Verhoeven floored the Brazilian several times as he slowly plodded forward before it being stopped in the second round.

Antonio Silva taking on Rico Verhoeven

Prime Antonio Silva

While Silva has clearly suffered a significant drop-off, a prime ’Bigfoot’ was a terrifying man. Silva possessed serious power which saw him earn stoppage victories over Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, and Travis Browne.

The former UFC title challenger also produced one of the all-time classic heavyweight contests when he squared off with Mark Hunt for the first time back in 2013.

How will Antonio Silva do against Haim Gozali?

Antônio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva Announces MMA Return Despite Long Skid

Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Antônio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva will look to win his first MMA fight in seven years. Silva, at 43 years old, made his professional MMA debut in March 2005. Stints in Strikeforce and Elite XC led him to the UF…

Continue Reading Antônio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva Announces MMA Return Despite Long Skid at MMA News.

Bigfoot Silva Set For Kickboxing Match Despite KO Losing Streak

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva is returning to kickboxing at 42 years old. Another fight has been lined up for Antonio Silva. The Brazilian native has not been successful in his combat sports efforts for some time now, but it hasn’t stopped …

Continue Reading Bigfoot Silva Set For Kickboxing Match Despite KO Losing Streak at MMA News.