Om Anderson Silva trots allt skulle fortsätta fightas efter nattens UFC on ESPN+ 39 kommer detta äga rum utanför oktagonen.
UFC:s VD Dana White sade inatt efter att Silva förlorat via TKO i fjärde ronden mot Uriah Hall att legendarens UFC-karriär definitivt är över. White sade enligt MMA Junkie att han faktiskt ångrar att han tillät Silva kliva in i oktagonen igen:
He fought a guy that has absolutely zero output. They’re in a five-round main event on ESPN and they threw (expletive) 11 punches in the second round. You fight any of these other savages, he’ll be in big trouble, and he’ll take a (expletive)load of punishment. Uriah Hall threw 11 punches in the second round. Uriah Hall is one of the most gun-shy fighters in the UFC.
And look at Anderson. When the fight was over, he couldn’t even stand up to do his interview. He had to sit down and do an interview. I made a big mistake and I shouldn’t have let him fight this fight tonight. He’s a legend of this sport and he’s a legend of this company, and I did something I disagreed with. I knew I was right, and tonight proved I was right, and Anderson Silva should never fight again.
White visade sin frustration över intervjun Silvas gjorde innan matchen med MMA Junkie där legendaren sade att UFC förlorat sin familjekänsla under åren. Uttalandet gjorde White besviken som behandlat den framtida hall of fame-fightern i synnerhet med respekt och till och med låtit denne möta Hall när han inte borde det:
So, let me start here: It used to be a family when Lorenzo (Fertitta) was here and all that kind of stuff. We all miss Lorenzo, and I will always admit that Lorenzo was always the kinder, gentler side of the UFC. But I’ve done nothing but be good to Anderson Silva, and tonight I don’t feel good about myself that I let Anderson Silva fight out this last fight. We’ve treated Anderson Silva with nothing but respect, and if you guys knew what Anderson Silva gets paid to fight, you’d (expletive) your (expletive) (expletive) pants. So, I think that we’ve treated him like family. I shouldn’t have let him fight this fight tonight.
White bekräftade att Silva har en match kvar på sitt UFC-kontrakt efter inatt men att denna inte kommer bli av. Om brassen vill fortsätta kommer White tillåta Silva att gå ut ur kontraktet för att fightas i en annan division. Han tycker dock att det vore fult av någon organisation att plocka upp Silva:
I’m not trying to prevent him from doing anything. 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.
I’m in a really hard position right now because this is a guy I care about and this is a guy that’s been here for a long time and is a legend of his company, and I don’t want to sit here and (expletive) on him. But he’s almost 46 years old. Unless you’re trying to defend your (expletive) life or save your family, no one at 46 should be fighting.
I och med förlusten har Silva nu 34-11 i record och 17-7 inom UFC.
