With Falcao off team, Bellator 97's Rafael Silva looks to win back sponsors

Despite the individual nature of fighting, MMA remains a team sport. Bellator 97's Rafael Silva has seen both the positives and negatives of the fact.

Silva (19-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes his Bellator debut tonight in a bantamweight-semifinal tournament fight against Rodrigo Lima (11-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA), which streams on Spike.com ahead of the Spike TV-televised main card at Santa Ana Center in Rio Rancho, N.M.

It marks the U.S. debut of Silva, who carries an 11-fight win streak that the Brazilian built in his home country. And though the veteran 135-pounder makes a living fighting and teaching MMA, “Morcego” hopes this fight can secure some financial help from sponsors.

That, he said, has been harder to do lately. Earlier this month, ex-teammates Maiquel Falcao and Kaue Mena appeared to spark a brawl at a gas station in Brazil. Both suffered violent beatings. Soon afterward, their MMA team, Renovacao Fight Team, kicked them off the squad. Marcelo Brigadeiro, who runs the team in Balneario Camboriu, said all parties were at fault, but that he couldn’t tolerate such behavior from his team members.

The video of the incident, according to team member Silva, hurt RFT’s reputation.

“Our coach has worked very hard for years to have a very professional team,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “There was no way we could be associated with them after that street fight. We ran the risk of losing all sponsorships for our entire team. I feel it was a fair decision to let them go. That altercation had daily coverage on the national news. One of our sponsors canceled their contract with us.”

Now, he’s hoping this Bellator affiliation can lead to more.

“I do have a few sponsors who still help me,” he said. “I hope the exposure in Bellator will help me get new ones.”

Of course, winning tonight’s fight, picking up a subsequent victory in the final this fall, and then getting a title shot would also help. Silva enters tonight’s bout as a nearly 3-1 favorite, likely due to his well-balanced skills. In 19 career wins, the 28-year-old has posted eight knockouts and eight submissions.

“It’s always my intent to put on exciting fights,” he said. “I love to fight. I move forward whether on the feet or on the ground.”

Like many up-and-comers, Silva’s record is bloated by some wins over clearly outmatched opponents. His past five opponents have a combined 0-15 record, according to “Fight Finder,” but there are some bright spots. He recently avenged one of his career defeats with a TKO of Diego D’Avila (7-3 at the time). He also defeated current UFC contender John Lineker back in 2009.

“I love that he’s been wining,” Silva said of Lineker. “Plus he’s my friend. In Brazil, he had around 18 fights at bantamweight, and only I was able to defeat him.”

He knows the spotlight will be brighter tonight, and a victory over Lima would be a quality win for his ledger. A tournament title and a shot at the belt hangs in the balance.

He understands what’s on the line if he can navigate it all, and he said he’s well-prepared for the challenge.

“I’m training hard, and I’m coming to conquer this thing,” he said.

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