The UFC has officially parted ways with middleweight contender Bruno Silva, ending his four-year tenure with the promotion following a devastating knockout loss to Marc-André Barriault at UFC 315.
Social media account Borrachinha Depot was the first to report that Bruno Silva is no longer on the UFC roster, and now UFC Roster Tracker and UFC Roster Watch confirmed that he has officially been released.
The 35-year-old Brazilian, who was stretchered out of the Octagon after the fight, has ended his turbulent UFC run that began with promise but ultimately fizzled amid a string of losses and personal struggles.
Silva’s UFC career started explosively in 2021, with three consecutive knockout wins—including finishes of Wellington Turman, Andrew Sanchez, and Jordan Wright—that earned him two “Performance of the Night” bonuses and positioned him as a rising threat in the 185-pound division.
However, his momentum stalled after a gutsy, yet decisive loss to future two-division champion Alex Pereira in 2022, sparking a downward spiral that saw him lose seven of his next eight fights.
The final blow came at UFC 315 in Montreal, where Silva, already on thin ice after four straight losses, was knocked unconscious by Barriault in just 87 seconds. The brutal elbow strikes left Silva motionless, requiring medical attention and a stretcher exit. Though he later confirmed via social media that he was “fine” after hospital tests, the loss sealed his fate with the UFC.
Behind the scenes, Silva had been battling mental health challenges that he openly attributed to his declining performances.
A heartfelt plea to UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard in which he cited his willingness to face tough opponents like Pereira and Sharaputdin Magomedov earned him one final chance, but the Barriault fight proved insurmountable.
Despite his early knockout prowess and three bonus awards, his four wins and 7 losses in the UFC, as well as his recent struggles, made him expendable in a division brimming with new talent.
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