LAS VEGAS – Bruno Silva is on cloud nine following his latest triumph in the octagon.
The UFC middleweight notched one of his best career wins on Saturday night, stopping veteran Brad Tavares in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 222, which took place at the UFC Apex. And for Silva (14-5-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), who entered the fight with back-to-back defeats, beating Tavares (19-8 MMA, 14-8 UFC) was a career high.
“Winning against him was very personal to me,” Silva told reporters through an interpreter at the UFC Fight Night 222 post-fight press conference. “He’s a guy that’s fought so many big names, and that shows a lot about who he is. Also, the way he behaves himself, he’s a very respectful fighter. The way he approaches his fights and plus his style.
“You want to see a guy just yelling on social media and yapping and just offending people? That’s not me. You want to see violence inside the octagon? That’s what you got.”
With consecutive losses, one may think that Silva was could’ve been fighting for his spot on the UFC roster. However, the Brazilian stripped himself from any pressure and just for himself.
“If I told you I was fighting for my job, I would be lying. If I told you I was not fighting for my job, I’d be lying, too,” Silva explained.
“I fought for myself. I fought for everything I’ve worked for. I fought for my family. I fought for everything I represent. I fought to be here, and I was just worried about myself. The times that I walked into the octagon thinking not to lose, I made mistakes and lost. This one, I came into the octagon to win the fight. My legacy is more than just a contract.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 222.