The biggest fighter in mixed-martial arts history is not under contract with the UFC.
The UFC has released former middleweight champion Anderson Silva, the promotion and Silva’s team confirmed on Thursday.
The loss from Silva’s Uriah Hall at Fight Night last month was billed as his UFC swan song, but Silva has not yet committed to retirement. The legendary “Spider” is now free to compete for any other promotion, whether it’s MMA or in another combat game.
Hale defeated Silva by TCO in the fourth round on October 31 in Las Vegas. After that, UFC president Dana White said he did not think Silva, 45, should ever compete again.
White reiterated those comments to TMZ on Thursday.
“First, I go back home and see my team and everything,” Silva said after losing the hall. “Let’s see, because it’s hard to say it’s my last [fight] Or not. This is my air. This I do for the rest of my life and with all my heart. Let’s see “
After the fight, White said “I made a big mistake” but also agreed to the fight in the first place.
Silva (-11 34-11, 1NC) has had just one win since 2012, and since then there have been two positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs, although it was most recently canceled in 2017. The last few years ago, the Brazilian knockout artist had a brilliant resume and is still lost to the division’s top-tier fighters.
Silva won the UFC middleweight title from 2006 to 2013. He set UFC records for the longest title reign (2,457 days), longest winning streak (16), title fight finish (9) and knockdown (18). It ranks second in promotion in title defense (10)
Scott Cocker, president of the Baleter MMA, was asked Thursday if he had any interest in signing Silva.
“I have a lot of respect for one of my favorite fighters and one of the best fighters, Anderson Silva, but I’m happy with our roster and I’m happy with the direction Bellator is heading,” Cocker told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani.
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