Gabriel “Gabito” Silva | 8-0 | 5’4 135 lbs. | Age 24 | Reach N/A | Orthodox Stance | Fighting Out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Undefeated Gabriel Silva (8-0) follows the footsteps of his brother, Erick Silva, into his first UFC fight in San Antonio. While “Gabito” is more of a grappler than his elder brother, the 5’4 Bantamweight packs a serious punch for his size, evidenced by his three first-round knockouts.
Gabriel embarked on his professional career back in 2011 on the Brazilian regional MMA scene. The Team Nogueira product flashed his potential early, scoring two first-round finishes in three pro fights. Injuries and lengthy layoffs only gave him three opportunities to fight in six years, but he never showed any ring rust and impressed fans every time he stepped in the cage.
Silva scored a brilliant round one knockout in his American debut. He trounced fellow undefeated fighter Jake “The Grinder” Heffernan (7-0) and in turn, earned a UFC contract for his handy work. With brother Erick now in Bellator, the Silva torch is passed to “Gabito” for his first taste of The Octagon this weekend (7/20). Gabriel gets the honor of facing former Flyweight title contender Ray Borg (11-4). Silva aims for nine in a row and Borg wants to get his first 135 lb. win in his home State at UFC San Antonio.