Like it or not, mixed martial arts has become a sport mired in the detriment that comes along with being associated with performance enhancing drugs. As we watch these highly-athletic men and women dominate each other within the cage, it is often hard not to wonder if they are “on something.” While in many cases the fallout of positive tests is cast aside, some fighters have been unable to wash off the stigma that comes with failing a drug test. Thiago Silva has become one such fighter, the poster child of how a career can be derailed by failing a drug test at the highest level of MMA.
Silva was once a top prospect in the light heavyweight division. The Brazilian had put together an impressive four-fight win streak from 2007-2008 that included four stoppages in highlight reel fashion. Lyoto Machida put a stop to his rise when the soon-to-be 205-pound champion stopped Silva in the first round of their 2009 fight. However, Silva was able to bounce back later that year when he dispatched the fading Keith Jardine at UFC 102. Still, the worst was yet to come for Silva, as he prepared to move up to face the premier fighters in his division.
A lackluster performance against Rashad Evans at UFC 108 caused Silva to fall back down the rankings, and many began to question if he really was one of the top fighters in the weight class. Then, before he could step into the Octagon at UFC 117, where he was due to face Tim Boetsch, a back injury forced him off the card. At UFC 125 Silva gave Brandon Vera a beating so bad that many fans grimaced at the sight of Vera’s misshapen nose during the post-fight interviews. Silva was expected to get another shot at the big names at the top of the 205 ladder when he was matched with Quinton Jackson, but his drug test sample from UFC 125 would put a stop to that.
The NSAC commissioner, Keith Kizer, released the statement that Silva’s test sample was “inconsistent with human urine.” The UFC responded by immediately pulling him from the upcoming bout with Jackson and replaced him with Matt Hamill. Silva tried to get out in front of the situation by admitting to changing the sample and hoping it would not be discovered.
“I used a urine adulterant when giving a sample following my fight with Brandon Vera,” Silva admitted in a statement. “I re-injured my back 45 days before the fight with Brandon Vera. After not fighting for a year, I made the decision to not pull out of the fight. I also decided that the only way I could continue with the fight was to take injections in my back and spine that contained substances prohibited by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. I also made the decision to use a product to hide the presence of these substances in a urine test.”
Silva was rewarded for his honesty with a one-year suspension, and his victory was changed to a no-contest. Upon his return, the injury bug that has affected the UFC as of late created a path that allowed Silva to face Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 2. While some individuals questioned the UFC almost “rewarding” the returning Silva with a main event fight, he was unable to capitalize on the opportunity. The Brazilian was unable to find a way to threaten the Swedish fighter at any point in the bout, and was thoroughly dominated from start to finish. Another injury caused Silva to miss a major opportunity for a high-profile matchup with Mauricio Rua at UFC 149, and now he is set to face Stanislav Nedkov at UFC on Fuel TV 6.
This is a very dangerous fight for Silva, who has been unable to return to the form that we saw from him back in 2007-2008. Ever since being stopped by Machida, Silva has looked very slow and tentative in the cage, which has allowed his opponents to open up against him and work their offenses. And Nedkov is not the opponent to be apprehensive against in any fashion; at 12-0, this Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt has demonstrated a capacity for accumulating victories that not only come from his grappling background, but from his ability to finish fights on the feet as well.
Silva has consistently said that he wants to give the fans exciting fights, which means he stands in the pocket and trades with his opponents in hopes of creating a knockout finish. However, the Imperial Athletics team member should instead focus on using his size advantage, and get the fight to the ground like he did against Vera. Staying in front of the Bulgarian would be a very risky strategy that would likely end in defeat. And Silva cannot afford another loss under the UFC’s banner; since 2010 he is 0-2 with one No Contest, and as the organization continues to grow its roster, the space for struggling fighters becomes more and more limited. Another loss for Silva, and we should all expect to read his name among the list of fighters cut in the weeks to follow.
Thiago Silva was once a prospect the MMA community expected would remain near the top of the 205-pound division. However, a back injury and the subsequent use of illegal substances to assist his recovery have removed the luster that once followed him into the Octagon. At UFC on Fuel TV 6 Silva has the opportunity to restore some of that shine with a impressive performance. He had better, because anything less than a standout victory will leave him standing on the outside of the UFC.
If Nedkov's last performance is how he always fights then I think thiago has this.
But then I've only seen him perform once.