Bruno Silva

Bruno Arruda da Silva, known throughout the sport as "Blindado" (Portuguese for "Armored"), is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division of the UFC.

Born in Cajazeiras, in the interior of Paraíba, Brazil, Silva grew up in a region with little organized fighting culture. He began training in 2009 and stepped into his first professional bout only a few months later. The loss of his father around that same period turned training into a form of therapy, and fighting became his path forward. He built his record on Brazil's regional circuit before relocating to Curitiba, Paraná, where he has trained with the Evolução Thai team since 2014.

Silva holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and assembled one of the more decorated regional resumes in Brazilian MMA, collecting multiple promotional titles on his way to the international stage. In November 2018, he traveled to Chelyabinsk, Russia, and dethroned champion Artem Frolov by fourth-round TKO to capture the M-1 Global middleweight championship, becoming the first Brazilian fighter to hold that title.

His nickname traces back to his willingness, early in his career, to absorb punishment from bigger, more experienced opponents and still find a way to win. That toughness has carried into his professional run, but it is his hands that define him: Silva is a heavy-handed striker with elite finishing instincts, closing out the large majority of his victories by knockout or TKO, frequently in the opening round.

He signed with the UFC in 2021 and opened his run with a first-round knockout of Wellington Turman, later adding finishes over Andrew Sanchez and Jordan Wright and a statement win over longtime contender Brad Tavares, each performance earning a Performance of the Night bonus. He has also shared the Octagon with elite competition, including future two-division champion Alex Pereira

Stats last updated: August 18, 2026