Bruno Silva faces a pivotal moment at UFC 315; it`s a make-or-break situation, and former opponent Alex Pereira played a vital role in securing him this final opportunity inside the octagon.
Silva, known as “Blindado,” developed a friendship with Pereira following their 15-minute fight in 2022. That bout ended Silva`s seven-fight knockout streak and marked the beginning of a difficult period where he lost six of his subsequent seven appearances. As he prepares to face Canada’s Marc-Andre Barriault this Saturday in Montreal, Silva understands his career is on the line.
Even getting this fight is a bonus, considering Silva was informed of his release from the UFC after a subpar performance against Ismail Naurdiev last October.
Recalling the moment, Silva shared, “I got back home from Abu Dhabi the Monday after the fight and my team and I knew there was a 100 percent chance I was getting cut.” He reflected on his performance slump, stating, “Four losses. And not only losses, but really bad performances… I wasn’t fighting to win, I was fighting to survive. And the last fight was the worst. All I thought was, ‘God, get me out of here. I don’t wanna be here. I can’t do this anymore. Not like this.’ I still survived all three rounds. I fought really bad, but still survived.”
Alone at home with his daughter after the fourth consecutive loss, while his wife and mother were away, Silva tucked his daughter into bed and saw a message from Alex “Poatan” Pereira. The Brazilian star, then the UFC light heavyweight champion, was checking in after Silva`s difficult loss.
“I called him to chat and told him what was going on,” Silva said, referring to the mental health issues he had publicly disclosed that same day. He feared his fighting career was over. Pereira offered a suggestion: “Why don’t you talk to [UFC matchmaker] Mick [Maynard]? Why don’t you reach out to the UFC in person and explain what’s going on? I know you, I fought you, and I know you’re fighting way under your abilities.”
Given that he expected to be released anyway, Silva felt he had nothing to lose by trying. He consulted with his manager, Bernardo Serale, and composed a message to Maynard, sending it via Instagram. Silva didn`t speak English and wasn`t accustomed to direct communication with Maynard.
According to Silva, Maynard’s reply stated, “Bruno, I understand you, But it’s four losses in a row. Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do.”
On Monday, October 28th, two days after the Naurdiev fight in Abu Dhabi, Bruno Silva was no longer a UFC fighter.
“I went back to my bedroom and started praying,” Silva recounted. “God, please give me another chance. Don’t let it end like that. I came this far, to the world’s biggest organization, and when I needed my health the most, I have problems. Help me.”
Minutes later, Silva left the room determined to make another attempt. This time, he decided to write and translate the message himself.
Silva recalled the content of his second message to Maynard: “Mick, I’ve never said ‘no’ to any fight, and never turned down any opponent… I fought everybody you offered. Nobody wanted to fight Poatan and I did it. Nobody wanted to fight Shara [Magomedov] and I did it. There was no one I turned down. You know my performance has dropped, but give me some time, man. Let me get treatment, take care of my head. Let me get a psychiatrist and take medication, let me find balance again.”
He sent the message and received a reply just a few minutes later.
According to Silva, Maynard responded, “Bruno, I’ll give you one more fight. If you lose, there’s really nothing I can do. It’s in your hands now.”
Silva expressed his gratitude to Maynard and requested time to seek the necessary help.
“I dove head first into my health because I needed it,” Silva explained. He emphasized it was not just for his career, but for his personal well-being. Dispelling any notion of depression, he clarified, “No, far from that. I love life… I didn’t ask for this shit, but I had to fight it. I asked God for a cure.” He then realized the nature of his prayer needed adjustment: “The psychiatrist said I had to find a way to live with it, and that panicked me. Then I realized I was asking God for the wrong thing. I was asking for a cure, and I wasn’t willing to do my part? ‘God, please help me do my best.’”
The UFC middleweight fully committed to treatment, which included seeing a psychologist twice weekly and a psychiatrist once a week. Additionally, he engaged with videos, books, medication, and spoke with others who had navigated similar challenges.
As his mental health crisis began to subside, his manager texted him: “Let’s work?” Maynard reached out to his team in February with an offer to fight Barriault on the May 10th card in Montreal. Feeling confident in his recovery, Silva accepted.
To support him during this crucial training camp, Silva`s mother and brothers traveled to Curitiba, providing emotional support and guidance. The fighter who once ventured into hostile territory to defeat veterans needed to reconnect with his foundational strength, and UFC 315 is his chance to do just that.
Describing his preparation and mindset for the fight, Silva said, “When the fight was booked, I watched three of his fights and then told [coach Andre] ‘Dida’ to just tell me what should be done and that’s it.” He articulated his desire for the fight: “If you see me covered in blood and my hands raised, that’s peak happiness for me. I wanna go there and break him. I don’t want a nice technical game. I’ll do what I’ve always done: have fun.” His goal is to finish the night feeling proud and continue building his legacy. “It would be very unfair for my story to end like that,” he added.
Looking ahead, Silva plans to use his experience to help others. “When I beat him, I already have in my head what I’m going to tell Mick, the UFC, and the people that have gone through the same thing.” He hopes his story will serve as an example, showing that “It’s not the end of the world. Everything has a cure, everything has an answer, and you can bounce back if you believe in God.” He views this upcoming fight as a “rebirth not only as an athlete, but as a person,” representing another chance for his career. He is hopeful his struggles are behind him and he will emerge victorious.
