Karine Silva details how near-death experience led to MMA career: ‘Becoming a fighter was an accident’

Karine Silva is carving out quite the career in MMA as she continues to ascend the UFC flyweight ranks.

UFC Vegas 91 saw the surging Brazilian pick up a unanimous decision win over Ariane da Silva (formerly Lipski) three weekends ago (April 27, 2024). It’s been five years since Silva’s last loss and her most recent victory extended her current winning streak to nine (four in UFC, 18-4 record). Most surprisingly, it was Silva’s first time getting her hand raised by decision (nine KO/TKO and eight submission wins).

As successful as Silva has been in MMA, it was never something she planned for or desired 11 years ago.

“Becoming a fighter comes from an accident that happened in my life where I almost died,” Silva told MMA Mania. “That accident threw me in a whole different direction where I became a fighter and life said, ‘Here you go. This is yours to take and go for it.’ I really can’t imagine what I’d be if I wasn’t a fighter.”

Silva, 30, fights out of Curitiba, Brazil, and has had nearly her entire career take place in her home country until she got her Dana White’s Contender Series opportunity in October 2021. A second-round guillotine choke over Qihui Yan was enough to secure Silva a UFC contract and it’s been all systems go as she occupies the No. 12 ranking at 125 pounds.

Before Silva was serving knuckle sandwiches, she dished out delicious treats. One day, that all changed in the blink of an eye.

“I used to work in an ice cream shop before all this happened,” Silva said. “Possibly, I would still be there but really I cannot imagine myself being anything else but a fighter.

“I was getting promoted so I was moving closer to the shop,” she explained. “On the day of the move, I was crossing the street with my bike and a motorcycle came at full speed and hit right on me. It was a horrible accident. The driver of the motorcycle actually passed away and I was completely broken. That completely changed the course of my life.”

As rough of an accident as it was, Silva joked that she loved the ice cream shop and all the flavors inside, therefore, an eventual visit to the gym would have probably been necessary at some point. However, the forced recovery led to some needed weight shedding, and eventually, doors naturally opened from there.

“From the accident, obviously, I was in bed for a long time,” Silva said. “That made me move back with my parents and when you move back with your parents, you gain weight. That weight gain, when I was able to move again, I was like, ‘Oh, let me find a gym.’ It just so happened that at that gym it had Chinese boxing (Sanda) in it. So, many people think that I come from jiu-jitsu but I actually come from Chinese boxing and I started training.

“Within a month, I was competing. A little bit later, my coach said, ‘Oh, there’s an MMA event coming up, do you want to fight?’ I’m very competitive so I said yes, let’s fight. That was the beginning of everything.”

Unfortunately for Silva, her success wasn’t immediate as she dropped her debut fight before rattling off five knockouts in a row. She’s fought across strawweight up to bantamweight until she ultimately found the sweet spot right in the middle at flyweight.

The flyweight division is arguably better than ever globally and the best amongst the women at present. Ideally, Silva wants what all fighters dream of: To be a world champion. For her next order of business, the consummate finisher eyes a Top 10 to Top 7 ranked opponent that will lead her one step closer to the ultimate goal.

“I have to take it one step at a time and I understand that,” Silva said. “Obviously, it’s not depending on me, it’s depending on the organization. The top of the rankings in the division is really clustered right now. I know some things will get resolved soon. So, obviously, I’m always visualizing getting there.

“I’m thinking two or three fights, but it’s not dependent on me. I will keep moving forward and my steps are gonna be solid on that journey to the belt.”