Former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva Becomes U.S. Citizen

One of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s all-time greats is now a United States citizen.

Former middleweight champion Anderson Silva took part in a naturalization ceremony held by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Tuesday, as approximately 8,000 people became U.S. citizens. Silva’s son, Kalyl, and his daughter, Kaory, also took part in the ceremony.

“I feel very happy, you know,” Silva told the Associated Press. “It’s a great moment for me and my family.”

“The Spider” was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and grew up in Curitiba. He has lived in Los Angeles for the past decade and considers himself to be an American.

“I have my family in Brazil. I have my mom and my brothers in Brazil. But I think this is my country now,” he said.

Silva’s wife, Dayane, and three more of their children — Joao, Gabriel and Kauana — were also in attendance at the ceremony. They are still awaiting their U.S. citizenship.

Once regarded as perhaps the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, Silva was a long-reigning middleweight champion in the Las Vegas-based promotion. He captured the 185-pound belt with a stoppage of Rich Franklin at UFC 64 in 2006 and went undefeated in 16 bouts until 2013. Now 44, Silva is coming off a TKO defeat to Jared Cannonier at UFC 237, where the Brazilian suffered a leg injury in the opening stanza due to a low kick.

“Everything USA (gave) for us, it’s time to give back, you know,” Silva said.