UFC: Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva Released After Third Straight Loss

Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva has been giving his walking papers by the promotion.

In this day and age professional fighting is more competitive than ever and if you as a fighter find yourself on the wrong end of a losing streak inside the UFC it will cost you your job. And unfortunately for former heavyweight title challenger ‘Bigfoot’ Silva he has just found that out for himself.

UFC officials confirmed the news of Silva’s departure on Friday after a report by MMAJunkie.com.

Silva (19-10-1) competed, in what was his last fight on his contract, against Roy Nelson in September at UFC Fight Night 95. Nelson won via second round knockout. According to the initial report by MMAJunkie, the promotion and fighter mutually agreed to not resign a new deal.

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The heavyweight has appeared in the octagon 11 times over his 4-year tenure, winning only three times during that time. Silva last tasted victory in 2010 when he finished, the now retired, Soa Palelei at UFC 190.

All seven of his UFC losses have come by way of KO/TKO and since his last victory Silva has been stopped by Mark Hunt, Stefan Struve and Roy Nelson. Prior to which both Frank Mir and Andrei Arlovski also defeated him.

The most successful period of Silva’s UFC came between October 2012 and February 2013 where he recorded back-to-back knockout wins over Travis Browne and Alistair Overeem which culminated in a title shot against Cain Velasquez. Silva would go on to lose the bout via first round TKO.

The 37-year old will always be remembered for his first fight with Mark Hunt which was something straight out of a video game and most of all for his upset victory over Fedor Emelianenko in 2011. While his UFC career may be over, Silva may look to spend the remainder of his fighting days overseas, potentially with Rizin Fighting Federation in Japan.