VIDEO: Wanderlei Silva announces retirement; 'UFC took away my desire to compete'
One of the most recognizable names (and faces) in mixed martial arts has decided to call it a career.
Wanderlei Silva posted an emotional video on YouTube on Friday, slamming the UFC for its treatment of fighters while announcing his retirement from the fight game.
Since the video is 13 minutes long, here are the keynotes, as transcribed by Sherdog:
Today is a very sad day for me. Unfortunately the UFC took away my desire to fight. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep being treated this way. And with a heavy heart I come here today to declare: I am stepping down from the ring. After today, Wanderlei Silva will not fight again. My career is over. Because I don’t have the stage to perform where the athletes get the proper respect. For these reasons, I have had enough.
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They are wearing down the athletes. They make them fight under any circumstances and any conditions. As if; either they accept any fight or they’re worthless. Fighters have to fight injured, cut weight fast; who will protect them in the future?
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They tried to turn my fans against me. My fans, who have followed me for 20 years. Much before this event existed I was already fighting bare knuckle in Brazil. I fought bare knuckle and I helped to build this sport.
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Everything you see today, I helped build with my sweat and my blood. And now these guys come around and try to tell us what we are and what we are not.
Silva hasn't fought since March 3, 2013, his 49th professional fight and 12th with the UFC. He'll retire with a 35-12-1 [1] record, a 5-7 mark in the UFC, and a Pride middleweight championship to his name.
While he never rose to the level of champion in the UFC, he did earn five Fight of the Night bonuses, two Knockout of the Night bonuses, and - before landing with the UFC full time - won the 2004 Sherdog Fighter of the Year and multiple various fight and knockout of the year awards from other publications.
In June, Silva avoided a random drug test and was set to face the Nevada Athletic Commission on Sept. 23 as a result. It's unclear if the 38-year-old will continue with those proceedings in the event he wants to return at a future date.