It isn't just Anderson Silva's status for UFC 212 that's in question.
The former UFC middleweight champion appeared on "The MMA Hour" on Monday and went off on the promotion that he's called home for the past 11 years. Silva is booked to compete at an event on June 3 in Rio de Janeiro and he's currently without a dance partner, as originally scheduled opponent Kelvin Gastelum was recently removed from the card after testing positive for marijuana.
Several fighters have stepped forward as a potential replacement, but the one that Silva is interested in most is No. 1 middleweight contender Yoel Romero. Silva wants to meet Romero for an interim belt and if that match can't be arranged, the 42-year-old fighter may decide that he's done with MMA.
"The guys no give this fight for me for the interim belt, I'm done," Silva said, according to Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting. "I'll go be with my family. I'm done."
The 185-lb division has become one of the UFC's most competitive, as contenders like Romero, Gegard Mousasi, and Robert Whittaker have gone on lengthy winning streaks, while former champions Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman remain in the title picture.
However, the curious matchmaking surrounding middleweight champion Michael Bisping saw his first defense take place against 46-year-old Dan Henderson and he is next scheduled to fight the returning Georges St-Pierre, a career welterweight.
Related: Silva says he was promised GSP fight, vents his frustration with UFC
The Bisping-GSP bout might not take place until late 2017, so Silva would like to fight Romero for an interim belt rather than wait for Bisping.
"(They gave me options to fight in Rio), and I said, 'Okay, I'll go fight Yoel Romero.' Because I know and respect Yoel Romero, he's a great fighter, he's No. 1 in the rankings," said Silva. "But one thing, why would Romero come to Brazil to fight me for nothing?
"More important now is my fight in Brazil. I told my manager I'd fight Yoel Romero, I don't have problems with fighting Yoel Romero. But (make it for) the interim belt for a fight in Brazil, because this is a business."
With just one win in his past six bookings, Silva knows that he's closer to the end of his career than his peak and his mounting problems with the UFC have him left him with a bitter taste in his mouth as he seriously considers hanging up the gloves for good.
"I'm far too old and I'm done, bro," Silva said, according to Raimondi. "I'm sorry. I know I need to respect my fans - I respect my fans. I'm sorry guys. I love the sport. I love fighting. Fighting is my life. But it's too much bulls--t."
