Anderson Silva Still Wants to Compete After ‘Attempt to Force My Retirement’

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.

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