Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Antonio Silva has a new home – but it’s not with an MMA or kickboxing promotion.
“Bigfoot” will be taking his talents to bare-knuckle boxing. According to a press release posted on the promotion’s website Thursday, Silva (19-12 MMA) has signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
“We are happy to announce the signing of ‘Bigfoot’ Silva to our roster,” BKFC president David Feldman said. “He has fought and beat some of the best in the world. We have some intriguing matchups that we are talking about with him now. I really expect great fights from Antonio.”
No timeline or opponent for Silva’s debut was disclosed in the release. Further details of the deal were not given.
Silva, 39, has boasted one victory since his win over Alistair Overeem at UFC 156 in Feb. 2013. Over the past six years, Silva has gone 1-8 with one no contest. His lone victory in that stretch came against Soa Palelei at UFC 190 in 2015.
“Bigfoot” has been knocked out nine times since Sept. 2011. After his UFC departure in late 2016, Silva competed twice in Russia. There, he was finished by future RIZIN heavyweight Ivan Shtyrkov and former Bellator champion Vitaly Minakov. The Brazilian has not competed in MMA since June 2017.
In August 2017, Silva announced his venture into the world of kickboxing when he signed with GLORY. In his promotional debut, Silva fought heavyweight champ Rico Verhoeven. Silva lost via second-round TKO.
Silva is currently scheduled to kickbox Greg Tony on Nov. 30 in Auckland, New Zealand at WKN World Cup 2019.
