Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
On 7 January 2012, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira told "Portal do Vale Tudo" Silva had signed a UFC contract. Silva was scheduled to debut against Roy Nelson on 26 May 2012 at UFC 146, but was rescheduled to face Cain Velasquez instead. Velasquez defeated Silva by TKO in the first round.