TRT ban forces UFC headliner 'Bigfoot' Silva into surgery

BRASILIA, Brazil For the past several years, testosterone replacement therapy has been one of the most controversial topics in the sport of MMA. Regulating the use of the hormone therapy proved such a challenging process that the Nevada State Athletic Commission in February banned the procedure, and UFC officials also followed suit.

But where does that leave Antonio Silvaahead of Saturdays UFC Fight Night 51: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski 2 event?

Its unfortunate that the good sometimes pay for the bad, but Im going to keep fighting anyway, Silva told MMAjunkie.

Brazilian slugger Bigfoot Silva, 34, suffers from acromegaly, a form of gigantism that occurs when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone. Silva has dealt with the condition throughout his MMA career, and it will force him to undergo surgery later this month.

Antonios acromegaly is caused by a cyst on the pituitary gland, Silvas longtime manager Alex Davis explained. The only way to access it is through the nose its underneath the brain. So after this fight, Im going to have to take him from here to head surgery because of the ban on TRT.

Were taking a guy that really needed TRT and forcing him to do an operation, which he did not have to do otherwise.

Silvas procedure, in which the cyst will be removed, is scheduled for Sept. 22 at Hospital Das Clinicas de Brasilia, and the surgery will force him out of any contact in training for approximately two months.

Its not necessarily a risky procedure, Davis said. Hes going to be very well treated, but would you like to have someone operating on your head?

Davis said prior to the TRT ban, radiotherapy could have been used as an alternative to such an invasive procedure. However, radiotherapy would also further lower Silvas testosterone level, which is already well below the Mayo Clinics recommended average level for a man of his age of 250-1000 nanograms per deciliter.

We could have done radiotherapy, but radiotherapy would possibly make his testosterone go even lower, so we cant do that, Davis saaid. Surgery is the only option we have.

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TRT ban forces UFC headliner 'Bigfoot' Silva into surgery