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Wanderlei Silva Apologizes for ‘Fixed Fights’ Comment, Released from UFC Contract

Wanderlei Silva has been released from his Ultimate Fighting Championship contract and is free to pursue offers from other promotions.

A source close to the situation confirmed the news with Sherdog.com on Thursday following an initial report from MMAJunkie.com. The UFC is expected to eventually issue a statement on the matter.

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Silva’s release coincides with “The Axe Murderer” issuing an apology for accusing the UFC of fixing fights last year. That allegation led to the UFC filing a lawsuit for defamation against the fighter.

"In July of last year, I posted a number of comments on Facebook and Twitter, which included repeated claims that the UFC ‘fixed fights’ and that I could ‘prove it,’” Silva wrote on Facebook.”I hereby retract any such statements in their entirety as I failed to understand that the term ‘fight-fixing’ specifically refers to the illegal action or practice of dishonestly determining the outcome of a contest before it occurs. I understand the UFC's reputation would be harmed if my fans and others actually believed the UFC engaged in fight fixing, and I have no evidence to support such a claim. I apologize for any misunderstanding my comments may have caused.”

Silva was under UFC contract when he was handed a lifetime ban by the Nevada Athletic Commission for admittedly dodging an out-of-competition drug test ahead of UFC 175. However a Nevada district court judge eventually overturned the lifetime ban, ruling that the NAC’s actions were arbitrary, capricious, and not supported by substantial evidence.”

Silva still must appear before the commission for a rehearing on the matter; that hearing was supposed to take place this week but was postponed until next month.

The 39-year-old Brazilian announced his retirement after receiving the lifetime ban. He has not fought since March 3, 2013, when he knocked out Brian Stann in the second round at UFC on Fuel TV 8.

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