LAS VEGAS – Anderson Silva’s next fight is in the works, and it could be his final one for the UFC.
According to UFC president Dana White, the promotion is working on a fight for Silva (34-10 MMA, 17-6 UFC) that will take place sometime in 2020. Although 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 Tuesday after DWCS 29. “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 whom the UFC is targeting as Silva’s next (and potentially final) fight.
“We’re talking about putting him in a very competitive fight that should be fun. … Uriah Hall,” White said.
Silva, 45, has won only one fight in eight attempts since losing his belt to Chris Weidman 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. 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.