Rafael Silva (fighter)

Rafael Silva
Born March 20, 1985
Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Other names Morcego
Nationality Brazilian
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
Division Bantamweight
Reach 65 in (165 cm)
Style Freestyle Wrestling, Kickboxing
Fighting out of Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil
Team Renovacao Fight Team
Years active 2005-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 26
Wins 22
By knockout 8
By submission 9
By decision 5
Losses 4
By knockout 1
By submission 1
By decision 2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Rafael Silva (born March 20, 1985) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division. He is currently signed with the Bellator MMA.[1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Silva made his professional MMA debut in June 2005. After going 2-2 in his first four fights, he maintained an impressive record of 18 wins and only 1 loss from 2009 to 2012. Among his notable wins was a victory over current UFC fighter John Lineker.

A long-time veteran of the national Brazilian MMA scene, Silva fought for a variety of promotions - including World Fighting Combat, Sparta MMA, Octagon MMA, Connect Fight Night, Energy Force, and Nitrix Champion Fight - before making his North American debut.

Bellator MMA

In June 2012, it was announced that Silva had signed with Bellator MMA,[2] although he did not debut until a year later.

Silva entered as a participant in the 2013 Summer Series Bantamweight tournament. He faced Rodrigo Lima in the semifinals at Bellator 97 and won via submission in the third round. The finals were delayed until the fall of 2013 and he eventually faced Anthony Leone at Bellator 102. He won the fight via dominant unanimous decision to earn a title shot.

Silva was booked to face Bantamweight Champion Eduardo Dantas on March 7, 2014, but due to a knee injury, Silva was replaced by Anthony Leone at Bellator 111. [3]

Silva stepped in to replace Eduardo Dantas to face Joe Warren at Bellator 118 on May 2, 2014. The fight was scheduled for the Bellator Interim Bantamweight championship. Silva, however, missed weight and the promotion made the interim title available only if Warren were to win.[4] Silva lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Silva faced Rob Emerson on October 3, 2014 at Bellator 127.[5] He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Silva is scheduled to face Darrion Caldwell at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015.[6]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22–4 Rob Emerson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 127 October 3, 2014 3 5:00 Temecula, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 21–4 Joe Warren Decision (unanimous) Bellator 118 May 2, 2014 5 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21–3 Anthony Leone Decision (unanimous) Bellator 102 October 4, 2013 3 5:00 Visalia, California, United States Bellator 2013 Summer Series Bantamweight Tournament Final
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20–3 Rodrigo Lima Submission (rear naked choke) Bellator 97 July 31, 2013 3 2:03 Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Bellator 2013 Summer Series Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19–3 Fabio Selim Submission (rear naked choke) Sparta MMA September 29, 2012 3 3:01 Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18–3 Luciano Aranha TKO (punches) Connect Fight Night 2 July 17, 2012 1 1:56 Biguacu, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17–3 Mauricio da Silva KO (head kick) Energy Force May 19, 2012 1 0:07 Navegantes, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–3 Saulo Silva KO (Superman punch) Connect Fight Night 1 March 31, 2012 1 1:15 Balneario Camboriu, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–3 Diego D'Avila TKO (punches) Nitrix Champion Fight 10 February 11, 2012 1 N/A Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–3 Wagner Noronha Decision (split) Apocalypse Fighting Championship October 8, 2011 3 5:00 Passo Fundo, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–3 Fernando Giacometti TKO (elbows) Octagon MMA October 1, 2011 1 1:04 Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–3 Tiago Silva KO (punch) Octagon MMA October 1, 2011 1 0:52 Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–3 Jonatan Feitosa Submission (rear naked choke) Centurion Mixed Martial Arts 2 July 9, 2011 3 2:42 Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–3 Ozeias Costa Decision (unanimous) Full Heroes Battle 4 June 25, 2011 3 5:00 Paranagua, Paraná, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–3 Rogerio Goncalves Menna Submission (arm triangle choke) World Fighting Combat: Pretorian June 11, 2011 1 2:46 Pelotas, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 8–3 Diego D'Avila Submission (armbar) Nitrix Champion Fight 6 February 19, 2011 1 4:33 Brusque, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–2 Erikson Lima Submission (rear naked choke) Centurion Mixed Martial Arts January 15, 2011 1 1:38 Balneario Camboriu, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–2 Fabio Nunes Submission (kimura) Colizeu Fight Championship November 20, 2010 1 1:02 Joaçaba, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–2 Edson da Silva Submission (triangle choke) Black Trunk Fight 1 August 14, 2010 1 N/A Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–2 Joilson Costelinha Submission (armbar) Nitrix Champion Fight 5 May 15, 2010 1 4:53 Balneario Camboriu, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–2 David Bad Boy Submission (rear naked choke) Nitrix Show Fight 4 February 6, 2010 1 4:40 Balneario Camboriu, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–2 John Lineker Decision (unanimous) Warrior's Challenge 4 December 30, 2009 3 5:00 Porto Belo, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–2 Wagner Mexicano TKO (retirement) Nitrix Show Fight 3 November 14, 2009 2 N/A Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 1–2 Alessandro Cordeiro TKO (punches) Nitrix Show Fight 2 May 16, 2009 2 N/A Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 1–1 Marcio Furlin Decision (split) Floripa Fight 2 April 29, 2006 3 5:00 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Wallid Wallid TKO (punches) X-treme Combat June 5, 2005 1 2:36 Brazil

References

  1. "Rafael Silva - Official Bellator Fighter Profile".
  2. Staff (2012-06-01). "Bellator signs Brazilian bantamweight Rafael Silva". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  3. Bellator (2014-02-05). "With Silva Injured, Anthony Leone Steps Up To Face Bellator Bantamweight Champion Eduardo Dantas". bellator.com. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  4. "Bellator 118 official weigh-in results: Silva heavy for interim title fight".
  5. "Bellator 127 full fight card finalized for Pechanga Resort & Casino on Oct. 3 on Spike TV". mmamania.com. September 15, 2014.
  6. Tristen Critchfield (April 15, 2015). "Darrion Caldwell-Rafael Silva Matchup Added to Bellator 137 Main Card". sherdog.com.