UFC boss says Thiago Silva fueled by Ben & Jerry's, fighter vows to improve

BARUERI, Brazil – You know you’re having a bad night as a UFC fighter when company president Dana White suggests your pre-fight diet consisted mainly of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and milk shakes.

Thiago Silva (16-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) endured such a wrath following his lackluster decision win over Matt Hamill (11-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) at Wednesday night’s UFC Fight Night 29 event in Barueri, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Thiago Silva is on the Dana White diet and workout plan pic.twitter.com/ste89bgZQX

— Dana White (@danawhite) October 10, 2013

Silva, the oft-troubled 30-year-old Brazilian, missed weight for the card, registering 208 pounds for the scheduled light-heavyweight contest. The disappointing development was the latest in a string of issues for Silva, who has twice been suspended for failed drug screens.

Rather than win back supporters with an outstanding performance, Silva was flat throughout the 15-minute affair and was visibly tiring as the night wore on.

“I think it was a bad fight,” Silva admitted. “I had a bad weight cut, which was my own fault. I disappointed the UFC, but I’ll make up for it.”

The hard-hitting Brazilian has previously finished 12 of his wins by knockout, and while he wobbled Hamill multiple times with heavy punches and nasty leg kicks, he simply wasn’t able to finish off his wounded foe.

At the final bell, Silva had outstruck his opponent 108 to 74, as well as stuffing 11 of 14 takedown attempts. But the slow-paced contest left something to be desired from a fighter who was once a single win away from a shot at the UFC’s light-heavyweight belt.

Silva didn’t shy away from the disappointment.

“I had many chances to knock him out, but I gassed out,” Silva said. “It was a bad fight even though I won.

“He takes punches well, but I feel I could have finished it and just didn’t have the energy. I am not pleased at all.”

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 29, check out the UFC Events section of the site.