Anderson Silva (34-11-1) fought Uriah Hall (16-9) at the UFC Apex on Saturday and was the recipient of a TKO in the fourth round.
The Spider had previously hinted that it was his last MMA match ever, although in the end, he wouldn’t definitively say so.
The former UFC middleweight champion was the main event of the UFC on ESPN+ 39 card. It was his third consecutive defeat. According to UFC president Dana White, even though he has one more fight remaining on his contract, it will be the last time he fight in the Octagon.
On Sunday, Silva released a statement via his Instagram. In it he hints at retirement but doesn’t say it outright.
Good morning, my people, today is a very different day for a simple reason, and I wanted to thank you all these years with your cheerleading!
I want to thank the God for granting me the gift of the fight! Thank you my people for all understanding, for all your support and for all your amazing moments that we live in this sport together! _
I hope I left it in memory and in the heart of each of you a little of who I am, that you can overcome difficulties, every second of uncertainty and to overcome obstacles in your lives!”
Never think about giving up, as hard as things get at some point; know that I leave all my love, all my respect for you!”!“Force and time always and God bless you all!” Thank you all, bless you, and bless you 🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾.
At 45-years-old, “The Spider” has gone 1-7 with a no contest in his past nine UFC bouts. His last victory was a decision win over Derek Brunson in 2017.
During the post-fight interview, Silva didn’t answer the question of a full retirement. He also didn’t take off his gloves and lay them in the Octagon after the fight, which is customary in MMA of retirement.
In fact, he spent an extended amount of time in the Octagon praying, congratulating Uriah Hall, and seemingly meditating on his legendary 14 year Octagon career.
Silva entered the UFC with a record of 17-4 in 2006 against Chris Leben at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. He knocked him out in 0:49 seconds of the first round.
At that time he was a feared fighter in Japanese promotion, PRIDE FC but set off his UFC career with a statement over Leben who was known as a KO artist.
From there he went on a 16 fight win streak that garnered him the UFC Middleweight Championship in only his second UFC fight. Also, a shocking first round KO.
He defended the belt ten times while also going up to light heavyweight three times during the incredible and historic title run.
However, Silva’s UFC career changed course in his pair of 2013 bouts against Chris Weidman. The first at UFC 162 where Weidman won via second round KO and the next at UFC 168 where Weidman checked one of Silva’s leg kicks, breaking Silva’s left fibula and tibia and ending the fight via TKO.
The brutal injury went viral and although he had a successful orthopedic surgery to stabilize his tibia with an intramedullary rod, Silva was never the same.
UFC President Dana White has said that he’d allow “The Spider” out of his contract if he wants to compete for another organization. However, he also said it would be a “scumbag” move to for anyone to pick him up.
With rumors in the past of a Roy Jones boxing matchup and Georges St. Pierre super fight, the world will await to see what the talented Mr. Silva does next.
