White shuts door on Silva’s UFC return: ‘We made a deal’

2020’s Halloween night will mark the final time Anderson Silva stepped inside the UFC Octagon. But as the man himself stated during pre and post-fight interviews, he’s not fully committed on it quits as a competitor just yet.

“The Spider” still has one fight left in his current contract. But as far as Dana White is concerned, Silva’s chapter with the UFC ended on Saturday night.

“It’s not gonna happen,” White said about giving Silva another fight. “There’s no negotiation. We made a deal. We have a deal, I have a deal, and that’s it. I’m sure if you polled the fans and the media, they’d all tell you the don’t want to see Anderson fight again.”

Silva spent the last 14 years of his career with the UFC, where he put up one of the most dominant title reigns in the history of the sport. But after constant setbacks over the years and with how the night ended, White is now hoping that his once most prized fighter would finally decide to hang it up for good.

“Anderson is one of those guys like the Chuck Liddells and the stud warriors that we’ve had here that I might’ve held on too long and let them fight too much,” White said. “Hopefully, he goes home and his family talks him into (saying) ‘that’s a wrap.’

I don’t know if he should’ve retired when he broke his leg, but it’s time. It’s time for Anderson to enjoy the second phase of his life in whatever that is he’s gonna do. I know he’s opened gyms in Los Angeles and he’s doing well with other things.

“It’s good to see him fight his final fight and move on to whatever’s next in his life and everything he’s accomplished and done here in the UFC is part of our history. We love and we appreciate him,” he added.

Silva hasn’t won a fight since 2017 when he picked up a controversial unanimous decision verdict against Derek Brunson. He is currently on a three-fight skid as he drops to a record of 34-11 (1 NC).