Ten years after moving to the US in search of a better future as an MMA fighter, Bruno Silva returned to his home country of Pirachikaba, Brazil, preparing for a UFC 316 collision with Joshuavan on June 7th.
The Bulldogs spent many years as a teammate and key training partner for Arizona Henry Sejude, where he went to recent training camps for the top team in the US. I stopped by Manel Kape in December 2024 and snapped a four-game bonus streak with four knockouts.
“I was single and mostly alone,” Silva told MMA Fighting. “I was staying in the American top team for six months out of seven months, and it’s good that you’re in the gym, but you’re trapped there, you won’t leave the gym, and I was a bit sad there, and you know? And here I have physical therapy. I’m the only UFC guy here.
As a rising prospect, it makes sense to live in the gym and be completely focused on making it as a professional athlete. At 35, Silva felt it was a time for change, having been competing eight times under the UFC banner, plus pocketing $200,000 with a performance bonus and a fight wallet.
Silva lives in Team Nogira in Rio de Janeiro, Sejudo home in Arizona, the Pitbull brothers in Natal and the top team in America in Florida. He does not rule out returning to Arizona after UFC 316 to train with Henry’s brother Angel Sejude. But for now, he celebrates being under his parents’ wings as he used to be.
“I’ve done this for a long time in my life,” Silva said. “I’ve felt like I’ve been in the last few years so now I’ve decided to get closer to my family. Time won’t come back.
The Bankrush was originally planned at UFC 313 on March 8th, but the Brazilian chose to withdraw from the card after being injured in his ribs, hands and arms, which he did not properly train for the battle. Van won the decision on his alternative Ray Turya to improve his winning streak to 3, and they will eventually clash in Newark on Saturday.
“It’s a good fight,” Silva said. “He’s very tough, he’s grown in the department and he’s very young. It’s a good matchup for me, do you know? I’ve been ranked for many years. I’m not used to this already. I’m already used to this.
Silva laments the fact that he was overly confident in being impressive ahead of Kape’s match after four knockouts, giving Kape props for “his best performance” in the UFC. After learning from his mistakes, “The Bulldog” said he was “healthy and happy” to chase another knockout and another $50,000 bonus.
“We always want a fight that matches well with style, but I still don’t have it in mind,” Silva said of the next person after his victory at UFC 316. “We want the best fight.