Thiago Silva
Thiago ‘Pitbull’ Silva – MMA Profile
At only 25, Thiago Silva has amassed an impressive record of 13 wins and 0 losses. 10 of his wins have been by knockout and is evidence of his favorite striking technique: punching his opponents in the face. When grappling, Silva favors a guillotine choke which has delivered 2 of his wins. His style comes from a blend of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing. Though young, he shows an aggressiveness that many older fighters lack.
Nicknamed “Pitbull,” Silva recognized early that his passion lay with mixed martial arts. He began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and progressed to an advanced level at an early age. Before long, he had earned his black belt. However, realizing that he would need to become a well-rounded fighter if he wanted to pursue a career in MMA, Silva began learning Muay Thai while training at the Chute Boxe academy. Soon, he was teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the other students, supporting himself financially as he developed his grappling skills.
Over the next few years, Silva would go on to become the Brazilian State Jiu Jitsu Champion. He continued to hone his skills and eventually won the Brazilian National Jiu Jitsu Championship. In September of 2005, he finally climbed into the Octagon as a professional MMA fighter. By the end of that year, he had won 3 fights by knockout and TKO.
Since 2005, Silva has defeated most of his opponents by knockout and TKO. This is undoubtedly a result of his learning Muay Thai at the Chute Boxe. The academy has produced many ferocious MMA strikers. While training there, he learned how to strike from many of the most proficient fighters in the sport.
In May, 2007, Silva climbed into the cage for UFC 71, his first official UFC bout. He defeated James Irvin during the first round. Today, Silva is on a path to establish himself as a UFC champion. He aspires to the long, prolific career of his hero, fellow UFC fighter Wanderlei Silva. In time, Thiago seems ready to make an unforgettable mark on the face of MMA.