Joaquim Silva Record: 14-5-0

Early UFC success

Silva established himself quickly, knocking out unbeaten prospect Andrew Holbrook in the first round at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale in July 2016 and edging Reza Madadi by split decision in May 2017. After a unanimous-decision loss to Vinc Pichel in January 2018, he produced a signature performance that December, stopping Jared Gordon by third-round knockout to push deeper into the lightweight picture.

Navigating the lightweight gauntlet

The division's depth caught up with Silva over the next stretch. He was knocked out by Nasrat Haqparast in August 2019 and again by Ricky Glenn in June 2021, though he stayed busy with a grappling-match guillotine of Neil Magny in between. He returned to the win column in the octagon with a second-round TKO of Jesse Ronson in October 2022, then ran into rising contender Arman Tsarukyan, who stopped him by strikes in June 2023.

Recent form

Silva showed his durability and experience with a unanimous-decision win over the rugged Clay Guida in December 2023, then dropped a decision to Drakkar Klose in May 2024. He bounced back with a split-decision victory over Claudio Puelles in September 2025, improving his professional record to 14-5 and reaffirming his status as a battle-tested gatekeeper in a brutal division.

Fighting style

Silva is a well-rounded finisher who pairs a jiu-jitsu black belt with crisp, powerful striking. Seven of his 14 wins have come by knockout and three by submission for a 71 percent finish rate, and his standout finishes have come from his hands as often as his grappling. His best work blends pressure striking with a credible submission threat, allowing him to hurt opponents on the feet and hunt finishes if the fight hits the mat. His vulnerabilities have shown up against the division's biggest punchers and rising pressure fighters, with all three of his losses by stoppage coming via strikes.

Career highlights

• The Ultimate Fighter Brazil run — fought his way to the late stages of the TUF Brazil 4 tournament before launching his UFC career.
• Knockout of an unbeaten prospect — stopped 11-0 Andrew Holbrook in the first round to announce himself in the UFC.
• Durable lightweight gatekeeper — owns wins over veterans such as Clay Guida and Claudio Puelles across a decade in the division.