Former Bellator Competitor Sergio da Silva Convicted of Third-Degree Robbery

One-time Bellator MMA competitor Sergio da Silva was convicted of third-degree robbery for holding up a Queens, N.Y., bank in August 2017, according to a recent report from the New York Daily News.

On Aug. 24, 2017, a masked da Silva allegedly jumped the counter of a local Citibank and threatened to shoot a teller before leaving with $46,000. Jurors deliberated for four days before finding da Silva guilty of third-degree robbery. The fighter avoided a first-degree robbery charge, which was contingent upon him having a gun during the incident.

Da Silva faces up to seven years in prison for his charge. Had he been convicted of first-degree robbery, the sentence could have been as long as 25 years.

Former mob boss John Gotti Jr. was present on the second day of jury deliberations in support of da Silva, according to the report. Da Silva trains with Gotti Jr.’s son, John Gotti III. “I believe the kid is innocent,” Gotti Jr. said. Da Silva is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 28.

Nicknamed “The Savage,” da Silva last appeared in the cage at a CES MMA event on May 4, where won a fight with Walter Smith-Cotito by disqualification when his opponent landed an illegal knee. Da Silva owns a 7-9 career mark and has also competed numerous times for the Cage Fury Fighting Championships promotion. Other notable opponents for da Silva include UFC veterans Aljamain Sterling and Alptekin Ozkilic, both of whom defeated him via unanimous decision early in his career.