Stepping into the Octagon against Bruno Silva is a daunting prospect! Making his UFC debut in 2021, he has made a name for himself as a decisive finisher as he has secured 4 wins in the promotion via stoppage. The result? A stunning KO/TKO rate according to Tapology. ‘Blindado’ holds notable victories over names like Andrew Sanchez, Jordan Wright, and Brad Tavares, all via stoppage.

While he has faced setbacks in his last few fights, Silva’s career is a story of determination, grit, and resilience. But where did his MMA journey start and what are his origins? Here is a look at all we know about Bruno Silva’s ethnicity, nationality, and the path he took to make his way to the bright lights of the UFC Octagon.

Is Bruno Silva Brazilian? Ethnicity and nationality

Bruno Arruda da Silva was born on July 13, 1989, in Cajazeiras, Paraiba, Brazil, and carries the essence of his Brazilian heritage in everything he does. Like many fighters, Silva’s early career wasn’t smooth. His first few years in MMA were marked by setbacks, as he racked up a record of 6-5 in his first 11 fights when he turned pro in 2010.

These weren’t the results of a future UFC star, but Silva refused to quit. After all, fighters don’t rise through easy wins, rather they build themselves through failure and the resolve to come back stronger. Another reason behind his early struggles was his location, living in the northeast of Brazil, he had to struggle to find work other than fighting which took away from his training time.

But all that changed in 2012. In an interview with MyMMANews, Silva shared, “A very small city that had no structure. I was always an athlete who had to work in other professions so I couldn’t dedicate myself 100% until after 2012. After 2012, I dedicated myself a lot to Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. My career grew a lot, I got 10 straight wins.”

Although the wins earned him a spot on ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil’, he was unable to win but his journey was far from over. Silva’s breakthrough came in Russia. After a few impressive wins in the Russian MMA scene, Silva signed with M-1 Global, one of the world’s largest promotions. In 2018, he captured the M-1 Global Middleweight Championship, cementing his place among the elite fighters. This victory wasn’t just another belt for the Brazilian, but the key to the UFC.

So what were the reasons behind Bruno Silva pursuing a life of combat sports? Let’s find out!

How did Bruno Silva start fighting? Early life

Bruno Silva began training in 2009 out of sheer curiosity, a hobby in a town where combat sports were nearly nonexistent. But tragedy soon struck. His father passed away just three months into his training. Heartbroken, Silva found solace in fighting, turning what was once curiosity into a way to handle his grief. In a statement on the official UFC website, the Brazilian fighter shared, “after three months of training I lost my father and fighting was a therapy that helped overcome the biggest pain I felt in losing my father.”

Silva’s UFC career has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. After a string of knockout victories and impressive performances, including a win against Brad Tavares that earned him a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus, Silva established himself as a dangerous contender in the middleweight division. But like every fighter’s journey, there were losses too. Silva faced tough competitors like future champion Alex Pereira and Brendan Allen and even suffered a controversial TKO loss to Chris Weidman in his last fight, which was later overturned due to illegal eye pokes to a decision.

Now, Bruno Silva is set to take on Ismail Naurdiev on October 26 at UFC 308. With his past 3-fights ending in a loss for the Brazilian, this might be his chance to turn his UFC career around and demonstrate his ability to cement himself as a dangerous contender in the middleweight division. After all, resilience has been the hallmark of his career. ‘Blindado’ is no stranger to comebacks, and with his talent, Brazilian fighting spirit, and dedication to the sport, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make another statement inside the Octagon soon!