[autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag]’s next fight is in the works – and it could be his final one under the UFC’s banner.
According to UFC president Dana White, the UFC is working on a fight for Silva (34-10 MMA, 17-6 UFC) that will take place sometime in 2020. Though White said he’s under the impression the fight will be Silva’s last, he wants to leave that announcement up to Silva.
“We’re working on a fight for him coming up soon here,” White said at the DWCS 29 post-fight news conference Tuesday. “He will fight again. I met with his managers the other day. This will be his last fight. This will be his last fight. I think he’s going to retire. That’s not our business. That’s up to him. That’s up to him. Let him do this the way he wants to do it.”
As for an opponent, White initially didn’t reveal a name. However, when asked a few follow-up questions, White name-dropped who the UFC is targeted as Silva’s next (and potentially last) fight.
“We’re talking about putting him in a very competitive fight that should be fun. … [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag],” White said.
Silva, 45, has only won one fight in eight attempts since losing his belt to Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in July 2013. In 2019, Silva competed twice against Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier. Against Cannonier, Silva suffered a leg injury on a kick. In May 2020, Silva underwent knee surgery. Upon announcing his surgery completion on Instagram, Silva indicated he had two fights left on his UFC contract and intended on fighting them out.
Hall (15-7 MMA, 8-9 UFC) was scheduled to fight Yoel Romero on Aug. 22. However, Romero recently withdrew from the bout for unknown reasons. Hall is currently riding a two-fight winning streak – the most consecutive wins he’s compiled since late 2015.
The two fighters were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 198 in May 2016. However, Silva fell ill and the fight was scrapped.
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