Following a shoulder operation earlier this year, UFC Heavyweight contender Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (18-5) will be undergoing additional surgery this year to remove a pituitary gland tumor.
Having already dealt with this same operation in the past, Bigfoot told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour at MMAFighting.com, “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.”
The fourth-ranked UFC Heavyweight noted that not being able to take TRT resulted in him needing the additional operation. “I will have to do the surgery again since I can’t take testosterone [replacement therapy].”
After having used TRT for the first time in his last fight, an epic five-round war with Mark Hunt (9-8) in Australia last December, Silva noted, “Some use it [TRT] 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.”
Silva is currently on suspension until September 7th for failing the post-fight drug test after his December thriller with Hunt. He is currently targeting a September 7th return, where he hopes to compete on the UFC Fight Night card in Brasilia, Brazil.
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