Even at 45 years old, the competitive fires still burn strong
within Anderson
Silva.
In an Instagram post over the weekend, “The Spider” expressed a
desire to continue fighting despite recently being
released from his UFC contract.
I didn’t want to talk about this subject, especially because I’m on
vacation and as the saying goes, ‘a deal is a deal,’” Silva wrote.
“I’ll make it clear to all my fans that this is a moment of joy and
gratitude!!! I feel free, after an attempt to force my
retirement!
“I love and have always loved what I do, winning and losing are a
part of it, it has absolutely nothing to do with age, I made
technical mistakes and lost, but I didn’t lose what’s most
important, the will and the desire to continue doing what I love,”
he continued. “I still have the warrior spirit and that burning
flame in my heart that motivates me, I have total belief that I can
continue to compete in the elite of MMA. I take this moment to
reflect about my career and to plan my next moves… Stay
tuned!!!”
Silva last appeared at in the main event at UFC Fight Night 181,
where he suffered a fourth-round technical knockout loss to
Uriah
Hall on Oct. 31. “The Spider” has been victorious in just one
of nine bouts since 2015, and at the evening’s post-fight press
conference, UFC president Dana White
shut the door on the Brazilian veteran competing in the Octagon
again.
“I’m not trying to prevent him from doing anything,” White said
then. “He’s a grown man and he can do what he wants, and he’s got
one fight left with us. I’ll never let him fight here again. I want
him to retire. And what I hope is when he goes home his family, he
tells him that same thing.”
It is currently unclear where Silva might fight next, though
Bellator president Scott Coker recently dismissed
the possibility of “The Spider” competing with the
California-based organization.