Dennis Siver

Dennis D. Siver (Russian: Дмитрий Сивер, tr. Dmitriy Siver, born January 13, 1979) is a retired Russian-born German mixed martial artist who competed in the welterweight, lightweight, and featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Siver is currently teaching martial arts in his hometown, Mannheim.

Background Siver was born in Omsk, the Soviet Union to a family of Soviet citizens of German descent. Siver began training in Sambo and Judo when he was 15 years old and, at 17, moved to Germany where he continued his training with Taekwondo and Kickboxing. That same year, he became the W.A.K.O Amateur Kickboxing Champion of Germany.

Siver fought Ross Pearson on March 31, 2010, at UFC Fight Night 21. Siver lost the fight via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27). However, the fight won Siver a Fight of the Night bonus.

Siver faced Spencer Fisher on June 19, 2010, at The Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale. Siver won the fight via unanimous decision despite suffering a cut from an accidental headbutt in the first round.

Siver defeated Andre Winner via first round arm-trap rear-naked choke after dropping him with a counter punch at UFC 122, earning Submission of the Night honors.

Siver faced George Sotiropoulos on February 27, 2011, at UFC 127. Siver won the bout via unanimous decision, handing Sotiropoulos his first loss in the UFC. Siver showed excellent takedown defense throughout the fight and picked Sotiropoulos apart on the feet, dropping him twice in the first round.

Siver defeated Matt Wiman on July 2, 2011, at UFC 132 in a very close contest, with all three judges scoring the fight 29–28 in Siver's favor. Siver stated at the post-fight press conference that while the decision was close, that he wouldn't go back and score the fight any differently.

Siver was expected to face Sam Stout on October 29, 2011, at UFC 137. However, it was announced on August 29 that Stout had withdrawn from the bout and was replaced by Donald Cerrone. Siver lost by submission in the first round.

Siver was briefly linked to a rematch with Ross Pearson on April 14, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva. However, Siver instead faced Diego Nunes at the event, fighting as a featherweight for the first time in 28 career bouts. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Siver was expected to face Eddie Yagin on September 1, 2012, at UFC 151. However, after UFC 151 was cancelled, Siver/Yagin was rescheduled for December 8, 2012 at UFC on Fox 5. It was then announced that Yagin had been forced out of the bout due to a sparring injury that landed him in the hospital with swelling around his brain, and was replaced by Nam Phan. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Siver was expected to face Cub Swanson on February 16, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV: Barao vs. McDonald. However, Siver was forced out of the bout, and was replaced by Dustin Poirier.

The bout with Cub Swanson was rescheduled for July 6, 2013 at UFC 162. After a back and forth first two rounds, Swanson defeated Siver via third-round TKO. The performance earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.

Siver faced Manvel Gamburyan on December 28, 2013, at UFC 168. He won the fight via unanimous decision. However, Siver's initial urine sample came back with inconclusive results, which caused the NSAC to test an alternate sample. On March 15, it was announced that Siver had failed his UFC 168 drug test following the testing of second sample came back positive for hCG. As a result, Siver has been suspended by the NSAC and his win over Gamburyan was changed to "No Contest".

Siver was expected to face Robert Whiteford on October 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 53. However, Whiteford pulled out of the bout in mid-September and was replaced by promotional newcomer Taylor Lapilus. There was some controversy over the replacement, and the SMMAF subsequently deemed Lapilus an unsuitable opponent, resulting in American Charles Rosa as the last-minute replacement. Siver won the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision. The bout also earned Siver his fourth Fight of the Night bonus award.

Siver faced Conor McGregor on January 18, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 59. Siver lost the fight by TKO in the second round.

Siver faced Tatsuya Kawajiri on June 20, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 69. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Siver was expected to face returning veteran B.J. Penn on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199. However, Siver was forced out of the bout in early May with an undisclosed injury. The fight with Penn was rescheduled and eventually took place on June 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 112. Siver won the fight by majority decision.

Absolute Championship Berkut Siver opted not to re-sign with the UFC in November 2017, instead signing with ACB.

Siver was set to make his ACB debut on 25 November 2017 at ACB 75 against Martin van Staden, but withdrew due to a shoulder injury.

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing World Association of Kickboxing Organizations W.A.K.O Amateur German Championship (1997)

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Three times) Knockout of the Night (Two times) Submission of the Night (One time) UFC.com Awards 2011: Ranked #3 Upset of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Win

B.J. Penn Decision (majority) UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Tatsuya Kawajiri Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Jędrzejczyk vs. Penne

Berlin, Germany Loss

Conor McGregor TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Win

Charles Rosa Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story

Stockholm, Sweden NC

Manvel Gamburyan NC (overturned) UFC 168

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Cub Swanson TKO (punches) UFC 162

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Nam Phan Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz

Seattle, Washington, United States Win

Diego Nunes Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva

Stockholm, Sweden Loss

Donald Cerrone Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 137

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Matt Wiman Decision (unanimous) UFC 132

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

George Sotiropoulos Decision (unanimous) UFC 127

Sydney, Australia Win

Andre Winner Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 122

Oberhausen, Germany Win

Spencer Fisher Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ross Pearson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Win

Paul Kelly TKO (spinning back kick and punches) UFC 105

Manchester, England Win

Dale Hartt Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 99

Cologne, Germany Win

Nate Mohr TKO (spinning back kick and punches) UFC 93

Dublin, Ireland Win

Chas Jacquier Submission (guillotine choke) TFS: Mix Fight Gala VII

Darmstadt, Germany Loss

Melvin Guillard KO (punches) UFC 86

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Gray Maynard Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Swick vs. Burkman

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Naoyuki Kotani KO (punch) UFC 75

London, England Loss

Jess Liaudin Submission (armbar) UFC 70

Manchester, England Win

Jim Wallhead Submission (armbar) CWFC: Enter The Rough House

Nottingham, England Win

Said Khalilov Decision (split) WFC 2: Evolution

Koper, Slovenia Win

Paul Jenkins Submission (heel hook) WFC: Europe vs. Brazil

Koper, Slovenia Loss

Daniel Weichel Submission (rear-naked choke) TFS: Mix Fight Gala III

Darmstadt, Germany Loss

Arni Isaksson Submission (armbar) CWFC: Enter the Wolfslair

Liverpool, England Win

Adrian Degorski Submission (armbar) CWFC: Enter the Wolfslair

Liverpool, England Win

Jonas Eriksson TKO (punches) CWFC: Enter the Wolfslair

Liverpool, England Loss

Fabricio Nascimento Submission (kimura) EVT 5: Phoenix

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Maciej Łuczak Submission (punches) OC: Masters Fight Night 2

Oberhausen, Germany Win

Dylan van Kooten Submission (choke) BFS: Mix Fight Gala 4

Düsseldorf, Germany Win

Kenneth Rosfort-Nees TKO (doctor stoppage) EVT 4: Gladiators

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Mohamed Omar Decision (unanimous) Kombat Komplett

Trier, Germany Win

Kordian Szukala Submission (strikes) Outsider Cup 2

Lübbecke, Germany