Bigfoot Silva set for surgery following next fight

MMA Fighting is reporting that Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, who just has a shoulder surgery earlier this year, will also have to have surgery to remove a pituitary gland tumor. The tumor has returned after Silva had a similar surgery earlier in his life to combat acromegaly.

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While on The MMA Hour, Silva said: “I will have to do the surgery again after my next fight, and then I will be cleared to train again in four or six weeks. I will have to do the surgery again since I can’t take testosterone (replacement therapy).”

Silva used testosterone replacement therapy for the first time in his last fight and tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone. Although Silva suffers from acromegaly, he won’t won’t be able use TRT since it was banned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission earlier this year, as many were abusing it.

Silva also added “some use it for ego, but (the TRT ban) is a problem for those who really need it. That was the first time I used it. I always fought without TRT and I will continue.”

Sivla was suspended until September 7 for the drug test failure. After stating that he was hoping to fight in Brazil on the September 13 Fight Night card, he got his wish, as he will main event the card in a heavyweight re-match against former UFC Heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.