UFC Champ Anderson Silva: 'As Soon as This Contract Is Over, I Will Not Fight Anymore'

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, the best mixed martial arts fighter in the world, confirms in this interview with Sherdog that he intends to retire from MMA soon:

"It's true, I will retire," Silva said. "As soon as this contract is over, I will not fight anymore. I have six more fights on my contract. I believe until June of 2009. I can have these six fights and then it's over. Everything has its time, and I believe my time is already over."

Silva says he's not upset about his pay or trying to get more money, just that he thinks it's time to move on.

"It has nothing to do with money because I'm a humble person who has a ordinary life," Silva said. "Actually I never did it for money. ... Now it's time to help the new generation."

It's a little confusing because Silva (speaking Portuguese with English subtitles) says he has six more fights and that he thinks he's done in June of 2009. Obviously, he's not going to have fight six fights in that period of time. But he suggests later in the interview that by the end of 2009, he thinks he'll be done fighting.

So enjoy Silva's fight with Patrick Cote at UFC 90. There might not be many more of them.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-15-2008 @ 11:16AM

Frederick said...

How much is silva making per fight right now?

I think we need to wait

At the end of the contract if anderson silva is still the best he will get offers of a couple millions per fight.

Life is always about money especially in the fighting world lol

10-15-2008 @ 12:27PM

Fred said...

The guy wants to fight Roy Jones, Jr., and Dana won't let him. That's the crux of all this. There is no way someone as competitive as Anderson Silva really wants to retire at 32. You'd have a hard time getting most great athletes to retire at 42. Anderson is probably wanting to get out of his UFC contract so he can having some great boxing fights against the best boxers.

If Dana is keeping on top of this, he'll find a way to allow Silva to have a couple of boxing matches while still fighting MMA. Small price to pay to keep one of the greatest fighters in the sport.

10-15-2008 @ 2:19PM

Eric said...

Anderson is a class act. I'm glad he is going to be on TUF tonight.

Fred - Roy Jones isn't even that good of a boxer at this point in his career. That got alot of media, but I believe it was just something Anderson said in passing. Besides, Roy would get his ass handed to him. BTW, Anderson turns 34 in April.

He is a smart enough fighter to know that he has nothing more to prove. Money is the only reason for him to continue, and as he said he has a simple life and he is interested in devoting himself to training fighters. Personally, I believe he will retire.