After charges dropped, UFC's Thiago Silva has a video message for fans

After some serious charges against him were dropped and opened the door for his return to the UFC, veteran light heavyweight Thiago Silva has released a video message for his supporters.

Silva, who was facing charges from an alleged domestic violence incident in February, was recently acquitted when his wife, the alleged victim, proved “uncooperative” and police believed she had left the country.

“So, the good news is I’m back,” Silva says in the video, which was posted on the Blackzilians TV Youtube channel. “I just want to thank my friends for all their support; my manager, Glenn Robinson; JACO; the Blackzilians; all my teammates. The truth just came (out). So everyone knows the truth, everything.”

This past week UFC official Dave Sholler told MMAjunkie that UFC President White and other executives looked at the result of Silva’s case and decided with no charges, he should get another chance in the UFC.

“When this thing went down, I said he’d never fight in the UFC again,” White subsequently said in a prepared statement. “When I watched it and heard of the charges, it didn’t look good for Thiago Silva. But he was acquitted of all charges. How do you not let the guy fight again?

“He went through the legal process and came out of it untainted. He deserves to be able to make a living again. He’s back under contract.”

Silva’s most recent legal issues began with a Feb. 6 incident at the Pablo Popovitch Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Oakland Park, Fla., where Silva’s wife trained. Police said the 31-year-old Brazilian drove to the school and threatened his wife and Popovich with a gun before fleeing to his home, which led to a four-hour standoff with a S.W.A.T. team. He eventually came out of his home and was Tasered before being taken into custody.

After initially charging Silva with two counts of felony attempted murder, prosecutors downgraded them to two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm. However, without his wife’s cooperation in the matter, the charges were recently dropped.

Court documents detailed previous domestic incidents between Silva and his wife, including one in which the fighter reportedly stuck a revolver in her mouth. She subsequently obtained a protective order.

Silva (16-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) most recently fought this past October at UFC Fight Night 29, where he outpointed Matt Hamill. It was his second straight win since a submission victory over Stanislav Nedkov was overturned when he tested positive for marijuana, his second drug-related offense after previously submitting a false urine sample in the wake of a 2011 win over Brandon Vera.

Silva said he recently underwent surgery and is targeting a January return to the cage.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.