Solemn Silva Laments ‘Changed’ UFC

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Olive Garden fans can relate.

Boyz II Men were not wrong about goodbyes.

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Anderson Silva is expected to retire after his UFC Vegas 12 main event against Uriah Hall this weekend at the promotion’s APEX facility, and it doesn’t sound like there’s much incentive to stick around.

Blame Lorenzo Fertitta, who sold UFC back in summer 2016.

“I think the UFC changed for me when Lorenzo came out,” Silva told MMA Junkie. “Lorenzo tried to put inside the UFC the big family, and right now it’s completely different, but I continue to fight inside the UFC because I have a lot of friends, and I feel the same family. But, yeah, of course it’s changed a lot when Lorenzo is not inside.”

I guess Silva forgave Fertitta for the “lack of respect” he got a few years back after stepping up on short notice to fight Daniel Cormier at UFC 200. I suppose like any family, you have your petty squabbles from time to time and move on.

“I think Lorenzo and the Fertitta brothers, who (were) the owners of the UFC, the relationship with fighters was more close, especially for me,” Silva continued. “I love Dana (White), but Lorenzo and his brother (were) very close to the fighters and tried to make the UFC fighters part of the UFC family.”

Silva (34-10, 1 NC), who turned 45 back in April, has fallen out of the Top 15 at 185 pounds and has just one win over the last eight years, a controversial decision victory over veteran bruiser Derek Brunson at UFC 208 in early 2017.