Thiago Silva Fighting for First Time Since South Florida Arrest

Former UFC fighter Thiago Silva is stepping back into the ring to fight for the first time since his arrest in South Florida on aggravated assault charges.

Silva, 31, will be fighting at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale on Aug. 29 in an independent MMA event organized by Fight Time Promotions. His opponent is scheduled to be Mike Hayes.

Fight Time CEO Howard Davis and Silva held a press conference Wednesday to discuss the fight.

"I'm so happy because I had a good opportunity," Silva said. "I do what I like to do, you know. I train hard every day. So I'm ready to fight."

Silva was arrested in February after authorities say he threatened his estranged wife and her boyfriend with a gun before barricading himself inside his Oakland Park home.


SWAT officers and deputies responded and set up a perimeter around the home, and Silva came outside after a couple of hours, authorities said. Deputies used a stun gun on Silva, who appeared intoxicated and said he didn't know what was going on, authorities said.

Silva was initially charged with attempted murder but it was reduced to aggravated assault with a firearm, and resisting arrest without violence.

UFC terminated Silva's contract after his arrest. He had fought in the UFC 12 times and had been scheduled to fight in Dallas in March.

The next hearing in Silva's case is scheduled for September.

Silva wouldn't talk about his case during Wednedsay's press conference.

"I don't talk about my personal life," Silva said. "I'm ready to fight."

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