Issue 106
October 2013
Plenty of fighters are taught a lesson in the Octagon but never learn a thing. Consider promising UFC welterweight Erick Silva an exception to the rule, and one that’s reaping the benefits
Knowing the bitter flavor of defeat, perhaps you begin to value the victory even more,” muses Erick Silva, one of the UFC’s highest regarded welterweights. The sub-six-foot Brazilian phenom is assessing whether his first UFC defeat, a controversial disqualification at UFC 142 in Rio over 18 months ago, still grates on him. While he insists it does, he adds: “Losses are the ingredients that form a complete fighter.”
Which is a remarkably calm appraisal of a significant career setback. Especially for a man bearing the pressure of being tipped as a future champion, and one of Brazil’s next great fighters. In fact, there are few signs of stress on the floppy-fringed 29-year-old, who is a 15-3 (1 NC) product of a pair of Brazilian super gyms in Team Nogueira and X-Gym.
Two groups laden with some of MMA’s most accomplished veterans (Anderson Silva, the Nogueira brothers and ‘Jacare’ Souza for a start) have had more impact on his life than just hand-me-down guard passes. It’s clear, not only when you see Silva’s well-rounded skills, but when you hear what he has to say, that a selection of Brazil’s best coaches and combatants have not just created a promising fighter, they’ve created a man mentally capable of being an outstanding fighter.
“It’s great, it’s very important for my development, personal and professional growth,” says Silva of training with such accomplished talent. “Thanks to Team Nogueira and X-Gym I can always be learning with the principal names of this sport.”
And there was learning when he fought a principal name in October last year: the UFC’s once evergreen-contender at 170lb, Jon Fitch. Since that DQ loss in Rio, Silva had notched a ‘W’ by outwrestling wrestler Charlie Brenneman at UFC on FX 3 (then submitting him with a first-round rear-naked choke). Four months later, people picking Silva over Fitch in their UFC 153 bout in Brazil weren’t hard to find.
‘Indio’ was supposed to negate the former Purdue college wrestling captain’s grappling-heavy attack and introduce an unconscious Fitch to the floor, just as Johny Hendricks had done a little less than a year earlier. Instead, one of 2012’s most back-and-forth brawls ensued with Fitch, who’d traded in his ground ‘n’ pound for reckless abandon, the owner of a new decision win and a clutch more fans at the end.
Again Silva was sent back to the drawing board, now 2-2 in a UFC journey that had been predicted to be so effortless. It was proving anything but – though he has another take. “Losses don’t bring problems, they bring learning and they keep your feet grounded,” he says.
“It is hard to be there, inside the Octagon, but it was what I chose for my life and I know I am subject to criticism that should come in difficult moments. Being called a promising athlete and people crucifying you at the first stumble is something that likely nobody likes to listen to, but it doesn’t dishearten me. Like I say, I look on the bright side of each experience.”
Which is, of course, what every young fighter knows to say. Except with Erick Silva there’s a sense it’s not just post-fight lip service. Instead it’s the words of a fighter who tries to better himself, not just wants to.
“Yes I was sad to be beaten. Nobody likes to lose, but I would be disappointed, I was a young fighter looking to stand out and facing a fighter who’d been second in the world for many years. Though many people had believed in me, I have my mind right and the humility to recognize each hurdle is difficult and should be faced with total focus and dedication. The win will never come easily.”
And if there’s anything else that has come out of these defeats, especially his January 2012 disqualification loss to Carlo Prater, it’s knowing who his real friends are. Silva admits following the UFC 142 loss, which snapped a 10-fight and nearly six-year undefeated streak, he noticed “people who are beside me in all moments, good or not.” Just one of the many trappings of being a rising star.
But an up and comer can find real friends among all the fakes. Former Strikeforce 205lb champion, and current UFC light heavyweight, Rafael ‘Feijao’ Cavalcante has been his best companion through thick and thin. Erick having started training in 2001 close to home in Vila Velha, after watching scratchy copies of UFC videos featuring Brazilian fighting legends like Royce Gracie and Vitor Belfort, he didn’t turn pro until 2005.
As he was working his way up through Brazil’s local circuit, en route to ultimately becoming Jungle Fight’s first-ever welterweight champion aged 26 (immediately prior to signing a UFC contract), X-Gym training partner Feijao welcomed the financially struggling Silva into his home.
Erick calls the period the toughest of his life, remarking that Cavalcante has given him “a lot of strength” over the years. He adds: “We’re great friends. And we’re constantly helping each other in training.”
Silva stresses he benefits the most out of all his teammates during the daily grind in the gym “simply for the fact I absorb each detail from what I ask and learn.” It’s those learned skills which are his primary fighting asset. Not just any run-of-the-mill Brazilian to come out of his homeland with a win streak – and there are plenty of them – Silva in action looks like one of those guys who joined a gym with a generous stash of natural talent in his back pocket. Like a born athlete who can’t explain how he does it because he’s never not known how to.
How else do you suppose he got that rare combination of quiet confidence paired with a killer instinct? It must be natural talent. Except it’s not.
“I work hard, I don’t believe nature will make me better than anybody; my effort and dedication do,” he says. “I work very hard and it keeps me focused on my goals, and I listen to my coaches to get the best results possible. There are thousands of people spread all over the world with incredible talent. Besides, having talent doesn’t make any fighter different from the rest.”
Silva remarks bluntly that he could never have become the fighter he is without having chosen to train at Team Nogueira and X-Gym. He offers: “I have a philosophy in life. I believe that we’re not able to get anywhere without friends, family, competent professionals, strength of will and much dedication.”
With friends and professionals in his corner like long-time UFC middleweight king Anderson Silva it stands to reason that Erick can get very far indeed. How far? Who knows? As ever, Erick has a distinctly levelheaded way of looking at it.
“The objective of everybody in MMA is to become champion,” he states frankly. “I would rather just concentrate on progressing one step at a time. Today, my mind is directed to my next goal: winning my next fight. That’s all I can focus on.”
ERICK SILVA TIMELINE
1984
Erick is born in Vila Velha, Brazil. As a youngster, he dreams of becoming a footballer before his attention is drawn to MMA.
2005
Erick’s MMA debut is at Guarafight 1 in his home state of Espirito Santo. He wins by rear naked choke in 122 seconds.
Nov 2006
Earns his fourth first-round stoppage in a row, this time over Leandro Zumbi with an arm triangle.
Dec 2006
Mario Neto hands Erick his first loss with a three-round decision at Superfight Vitoria.
2007
Gets back to winnings ways with a points victory of his own, against Fabio Issa.
2008
Takes a judges’ decision over the now-promising Igor Fernandes at Jungle Fight 11 in Rio de Janeiro.
February 2010
Fighting in the rain during the open-air Jungle Fight 17, Silva lands a knee to opponent Henrique Oliveira’s head while in side control. Oliveira can’t continue and the bout is ruled a no contest.
October 2010
Submits both Gil De Freitas and Francisco Ayon in one night at Jungle Fight 23 to become the promotion’s first-ever welterweight champion.
Early 2011
Signs a UFC contract and, such is the hype surrounding him, he’s booked to face UFC veteran Mike Swick. However, a knee injury forces Swick to withdraw.
August 2011
Announces himself in the UFC with a 40-second TKO of Nova Uniao’s Luis Ramos at UFC 134 in Rio. Has the ‘Knockout of the Night’ check in his grasp until coach ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira revives his career with a KO of his own.
January 2012
Hits Carlo Prater with several shots to the back of the head early in the first round at UFC 142, the bout is stopped and Prater is announced as the winner by disqualification.
June 2012
Shows off his takedown defense against Charlie Brenneman before stopping the American with a rear naked choke at 4:33 of the first at UFC on FX 3.
October 2012
Engages in a series of exciting grappling exchanges with Jon Fitch for a ‘Fight of the Night’ performance at UFC 153 – though he loses a decision.
January 2013
A leg infection and elbow injury combine to remove Silva from a UFC 156 outing against Jay Hieron, stalling his Las Vegas debut.
June 2013
Takes home the ‘Submission of the Night’ check at UFC on Fuel TV 10 after locking Jason High in a first-round inverted triangle-armbar.
HEY, SMALL SPENDER
In his two-year UFC stint, Erick Silva has so far had his palm crossed with $160,000 in fight-night bonuses. He earned ‘Submission of the Night’ honors for tapping Strikeforce vet Jason High with a reverse triangle-armbar ($50,000), and Charlie Brenneman with a rear naked choke ($40,000) – spaced exactly a year apart on June 8th 2013 and 2012 respectively. That’s in addition to a $70,000 ‘Fight of the Night’ with Jon Fitch in October ‘12. Presumably he’s dropped some wedge on a fleet of talking Ferraris by now, right? No dice.
“I try to spend my money wisely, I don’t like to splurge or waste it,” he tells FO. “My main goal right now is an apartment or my own house.” We’re guessing it’s a talking house.
DID YOU KNOW?
Erick Silva has a younger brother who has followed him into fighting. Bantamweight Gabriel Silva is currently 3-0 – with all three victories coming by way of stoppage.
FRENEMIES
Erick Silva and Jon Fitch caught MMA fans’ attentions after their bout at UFC 153 in October. The two fighters, who had been attempting to punch, kick and squeeze each other’s lights out just days before, followed up their bout by palling around for a few days on a promotional tour of Brazil for sponsor Integral Medica.
“I have never had a problem with any fighter,” Silva says when asked if he and Fitch have become friends. “It was a pleasure to fight Jon Fitch. We haven’t kept in contact, but if I meet him somewhere I won’t have the least difficulty in shaking hands and having a conversation with him.”
