Welcome to the UFC: Bruno Silva

Bruno Silva UFC Greenville
Credit: M-1 Global Facebook

Bruno Silva is an experienced M-1 Challenge champion who will be making his promotional debut on short notice at UFC Greenville.

The UFC is coming to Greenville, South Carolina, on June 22. The event is finalized with 12 bouts and will be held in the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Originally, Deron Winn was supposed to take on Markus Perez in a middleweight bout. Perez though would pull out due to injury and the UFC signed Bruno Silva to take the fight.

“Blindado”
6’0″
Middleweight
29-years-old
Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Evolução Thai MMA
19-6
16 KO/TKO

How Does Bruno Silva Fare in the UFC:

Silva had a rough start to his career going 5-5 in his first 10 fights. Now though Silva has improved a lot with a 14-1 record in his last 15 appearances. Silva is an excellent signing from the UFC, having good experience including winning the M-1 Global championship. Silva has 16 finishes, many coming from his striking as he does have all finishes by KO/TKO. “Blindado” is a bit wild on the feet throwing a lot of looping hooks and tends to storm forward. While he is wild, he makes up for it with his aggressiveness. The Brazilian is really good when he closes the distance with his output of strikes and his excellent use of knees.

He doesn’t have any submissions but still has some pretty decent wrestling with a good explosion behind his shots. Silva has solid ground-and-pound with excellent shot selection going after the body and head. In terms of weaknesses, his takedown defense isn’t great and his striking defense could be better. Overall, a good signing from the UFC and will do very well in the promotion but won’t ever reach the top 15.

  • Striking: C+
  • Kickboxing: D
  • Clinch: B
  • Wrestling: C
  • Grappling: C
  • Striking Defense: C+
  • Takedown Defense: C+
  • Cardio: C+
  • Biggest Strength: Knees
  • Biggest Weakness: TDD

How Bruno Silva Matches Up with Winn:

Winn wrestled at the Team USA trials where he came in fourth place. Winn was also a three-time NCAA All-American, a three-time state champ, and has many international freestyle accomplishments. Winn has the recipe to beat Silva, but Silva is much taller with an eight-inch height advantage. Winn has power on the feet in his hands but isn’t too technical like Silva. Most of Silva’s best work is the clinch but that’s where Winn could grab Silva and get the takedown. Silva, though, is still the much bigger guy and has tons more experience.