Antônio Silva (fighter)

Silva was scheduled to face Tyrone Spong on January 28, 2022, at EFC 44. However, he was pulled from the bout to be replaced by Sergei Kharitonov.

Silva returned against Oleg Popov at MMA Series 53 on June 24, 2022. He lost the bout, getting knocked out 15 seconds into the 2nd round.

On December 27, 2022, Silva announced his retirement from MMA competition. After retirement, Silva will continue his involvement in the sport as a grappling and BJJ coach.

Silva made his return to MMA against Quentin Domingos on 13 June 2021 at Megdan Fighting 9. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

Silva was scheduled to headline Gamebred FC 2 against Alex Nicholson on September 11, 2021. However, his prevailing contract with Eagle Fighting Championship prevented him from competing at the event and he was replaced by Jonathan Ivey. In turn, Silva was scheduled to face Davit Modzmanashvili at an EFC event on September 26, 2021. However, Bigfoot Silva pulled out of the bout.

On 28 July 2020, it was announced that Silva had signed a contract with Taura MMA. He was expected to make his promotional debut against Brett Martin at Taura MMA 11 on 30 October 2020. However, the bout was cancelled on the fight week.

Subsequently, Silva signed with Arena Fighting Championship and was expected to face Chris Barnett at AFC 2 on 12 December 2020, but the whole event was postponed due to multiple COVID-19 cases.

In late 2020, Silva adopted twin brothers in his native Brazil.

Silva was scheduled to challenge Greg Tony for World Kickboxing Network Super Heavyweight title at the final day of WKN World Cup 2019 on 30 November 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand. The fight was cancelled due to withdrawal of Silva, who wasn't medically cleared after suffering the defeat by knockout in his previous bout.

On 16 August 2019, it was announced that Silva had signed a contract with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Subsequently, on 28 August 2019, it was announced that Silva would make his promotional debut headlining BKFC 8 against fellow UFC veteran Gabriel Gonzaga on 19 October 2019. He lost the fight by knockout in the second round.

He then faced Vitaly Minakov at Fight Nights Global 68 on 2 June 2017. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

In August 2017 Silva signed with Glory Kickboxing, and made his debut against Rico Verhoeven at Glory 46 on 14 October 2017 in Guangzhou, China. After being dominated by arguably the No. 1 heavyweight kickboxer of the time, Silva was knocked down by a headkick in the second round. The referee stopped the fight less than a minute later officially ruling the match a TKO win for Verhoeven.

Silva next faced Stefan Struve on 8 May 2016 at UFC Fight Night 87. Silva lost the bout via knockout in the first round as he was stunned by a right hook on the chin followed with a knee to the body and multiple elbows to the side of his head.

Silva fought Roy Nelson on 24 September 2016 at UFC Fight Night 95. He lost the fight by knockout in the second round. Subsequently, he was released from the UFC.

After the release from UFC, Silva fought Ivan Shtyrkov in Russia on 18 November 2016. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Silva was expected to face Frank Mir on 28 February 2015 at UFC 184. However, the bout with Mir was moved up a week and instead served as event headliner for UFC Fight Night 61. Silva lost the fight via knockout in the first round, as Mir dropped Silva with a left hook and finished him with a barrage of ground and pound.

Silva faced Soa Palelei on 1 August 2015 at UFC 190. He won the fight by TKO in the second round.

A rematch with Mark Hunt took place on 15 November 2015 at UFC 193. Silva lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Silva faced Andrei Arlovski in a rematch on 13 September 2014 at UFC Fight Night 51. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round. Following this fight, Silva returned to the hospital for surgery to remove a pituitary gland tumor - which causes his acromegaly - that had reemerged. The surgery was successful and he expects to return to fighting in 2015.

Silva next faced Alistair Overeem on 2 February 2013 at UFC 156. Leading up to the fight, Overeem was dismissive of Silva's skills, claiming he was better than his opponent in every aspect of MMA. Despite being a significant underdog and losing the first and second rounds, Silva won the fight via KO in the third round. The win also earned Silva his first Knockout of the Night honor.

Silva faced Cain Velasquez in a rematch for the UFC Heavyweight Championship on 25 May 2013 at UFC 160. Silva was rocked with a right hand early into the fight and finished again via TKO in the first round.

Silva faced Mark Hunt on 7 December 2013 at UFC Fight Night 33 in the main event. It was a back-and-forth affair that saw both men trade the advantage over five full rounds. The result was a majority draw (48–47 Hunt, 47–47, and 47–47). Post-fight, Dana White said the bout won Fight of the Night and, despite the draw result, both men would receive their win bonuses. Silva forfeited his win money and $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus to Hunt after failing a post-fight test for elevated testosterone (he had been undergoing UFC-approved testosterone replacement therapy). He was suspended for nine months, retroactive to the date of the fight.

On 7 January 2012, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira told "Portal do Vale Tudo" Silva had signed a UFC contract. Silva was scheduled to debut against Roy Nelson on 26 May 2012 at UFC 146, but was rescheduled to face Cain Velasquez instead. Velasquez defeated Silva by TKO in the first round.

Silva faced Travis Browne on 5 October 2012 at UFC on FX 5. Early in the fight Browne injured his hamstring, limiting his movement. Silva capitalized on Browne's limited mobility by backing him against the cage. After a big right sent Browne to the canvas, Silva finished him off with strikes on the ground for a first-round TKO victory.

Silva defeated Fedor Emelianenko in the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament, via TKO (doctor stoppage) between the second and third rounds. He was expected to meet Alistair Overeem in the semifinals, but Overeem withdrew from the fight due to injury. He was replaced by one of the tournament alternates, Daniel Cormier. Cormier knocked Silva out with standing punches at 3:56 of round 1.

Silva defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski on 15 May 2010, at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery, via unanimous decision.

Soon after, Silva signed on to fight at World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku no Ran 2009. He was advised not to fight in Japan by the California State Athletic Commission. He ignored this advice, and continued to claim that he had not used steroids. At 4 January 2009 event, he defeated Yoshihiro "KISS" Nakao by TKO when Nakao suffered a knee injury in the first round.

On 7 November 2009, Silva suffered the second loss of his career, losing a unanimous decision to Fabrício Werdum at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers. After dominating the first round, Silva fractured his left hand in the beginning of the second.

On 26 July 2008, Silva won the EliteXC Heavyweight Championship, with a second-round TKO win over UFC veteran Justin Eilers. Silva later tested positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone, and was suspended for one year and fined $2,500 by the California State Athletic Commission. According to Silva's manager, Alex Davis, the positive test was caused by Silva's use of Novedex, a testosterone-booster he takes to raise his low testosterone levels (a symptom of his acromegaly). "He has to treat it", said Davis. "He spends between $6,000 and $8,000 a month just on medicine for it. He needs to be able to keep fighting to make a living. If it's between Antônio's health and pleasing the athletic commission, we have to choose his health."

On 10 February 2007, Silva made his EliteXC debut at EliteXC: Destiny, against UFC veteran Wesley Correira. Silva won by TKO due to strikes in the first round.

Post-surgery, Silva finally faced Jonathan Wiezorek at EliteXC: Renegade in November 2007. He won the fight by a rear-naked choke in the first round. His next victory came by split decision (28–29, 29–28, and 30–27) over former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez.

Silva began his career with the UK-based Wolfslair MMA Academy in 2005. In 2006, after his bout with Tadas Rimkevicius, Wolfslair requested (to Silva's instructor Mario Neto) that Silva leave the team and return to Brazil. The gym claims Silva owed it over £20,000; however, Silva states that it owed him £6,000 in fighter purses for two fights, for which he was promised £3,000 each. After training with Brazilian Top Team during the dispute, Silva joined American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida. He also trained at the Imperial Athletics gym in Boca Raton, Florida, for his quarterfinal bout with Fedor Emelianenko in the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournament.

Antônio Carlos "Bigfoot" Silva (born 14 September 1979) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competes in the Heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor from 2005 until 2022, he has competed for the UFC, Strikeforce, EliteXC, Cage Rage, Fight Nights Global, World Victory Road, K-1 HERO'S, and Cage Warriors. He is the former EliteXC Heavyweight Champion, Cage Rage World Heavyweight Champion, and Cage Warriors Super Heavyweight Champion.