Giant Silva, a Brazilian former national basketball player, made a successful transition to mixed martial arts and professional wrestling. As a super-heavyweight wrestler, he was known for his exceptional height, which earned him recognition as the sixth tallest professional wrestler in history in 2014. He began his wrestling career in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) before moving to Dream Stage Entertainment and competing in Pride Fighting Championships, a defunct mixed martial arts organization in Japan.
Silva had a crash course in Brazilian jiu-jitsu before his debut in Pride Shockwave 2003 against Heath Herring, a 250-pound fighter. Although he led the more experienced fighter to the third round, absorbing repeated leg kicks and taking Herring down once, he ultimately lost via rear-naked choke.
In April 2004, Silva participated in the Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament, facing sumo wrestler Henry "Sentoryu" Miller in the first round. Despite Miller's takedown and ground-and-pound attempts, Silva's height neutralized his attacks, and he eventually reversed Miller with a Kimura lock, forcing him to tap out.
Silva advanced to the second round, where he faced former world judo champion Naoya Ogawa, who won the fight via takedown and ground-and-pound TKO. In his next match, Silva faced Pro Wrestling NOAH's Takashi Sugiura, who used his wrestling skills to take him down and land knees and punches for the stoppage. The match was marred by controversy, as a brawl erupted after the bout, and Silva had to be restrained by several ring crew men.
On December 31, 2006, Giant Silva finally faced a heavier opponent, former Yokozuna Akebono Tarō, at K-1 Premium 2006. The sumo clinched Silva and pressed him against the ropes, but Silva broke the hug and transitioned to a Kimura lock on the ground, submitting Akebono for his second and last win.
