For Bruno Silva, a sweepstakes selling supplements in Piracicaba, Brazil literally changed the trajectory of his life.
It sounds dramatic, because it is. Silva’s story is filled with unfathomable obstacles and various bouts with adversity during his journey from a São Paulo favela to the UFC Octagon.
In 2012, Silva caught word of a sweepstakes that was awarding winners with a trip to Rio de Janeiro to tour the Black House gym and the city as a whole.
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More than just an opportunity for a free trip 350 miles east, this was a chance for Silva to get noticed by the renowned Team Nogueira — one of the most elite training camps in the fight game at the time, with names like Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza and José Aldo stacking the roster.