UFC light-heavyweight fighter Thiago Silva is close to a return to the Octagon after fully serving his one year suspension for failing a post-fight drugs test at UFC 125.
Silva defeated Brandon Vera by decision at the January 1st event, but inconstencies in his post-fight urine test lead to the Brazilian confessing that he had falsified his sample in order to disguise the fact he was taking a banned substance to combat long-running back issues.
As a result the fight was altered to a no-contest and Silva was banned for a year for his actions.
With the suspension fully served he can now re-apply for a fight license and should get back to fighting again in 2012.
At one time Silva was one of the most promising up and coming talents in the 205lb division, posting a perfect 13-0 record including a four fight winning streak in the UFC by May of 2008.
Injuries, a string of sub-par performances and his recent suspension have all taken their toll however and he’s only fought four times since, going 1-2 (1nc).
Silva is still just 29 though, so if he can put all that behind him and regain the form he once showed then he could still be a fighter to be reckoned with in the light-heavyweight ranks.
