Anderson Silva Releases Statement After Upset Win Over Chavez Jr.

Check out what ‘The Spider’ had to say in an Instagram message to fans after a couple hard years without many wins.

It’s going to be one of the top feel good stories of 2021: an aging Anderson Silva, largely written off after a dismal 1-5 finish in the UFC, took on former boxing world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. … and won! We’ve seen enough MMA fighters cross over to boxing to know how this was supposed to go, but Silva flipped the script and put on an amazing showing against Chavez Jr., taking the fight via split decision (watch the highlights here).

Now Silva has taken to the internet with a statement for the fans who have stuck with him over the years.

“I’m grateful for all the opportunities that life has given me, all the difficulties I’ve been through, and I never stopped believing in my potential,” he wrote in Portuguese. “I always dedicated myself to the maximum, overcoming all obstacles, never letting myself get down for absolutely anything. I am immensely grateful to everyone who was part of my journey, to those who cheered for my success and even those who played against, because each one of them was a key part for me to get here.”

“Finally MY PEOPLE, this message it’s for you, my followers, don’t stop believing, do the best with what you have at the moment, donate 100% in everything you do, with your heart and with love. No one but you can dictate the rules of your journey!!! Kiss, MY PEOPLE!!!! Success is the result of hard work, a lot of love and dedication!!!”

It’s unclear what might be next for Silva, who is now 46 years old. Leading into the fight against Chavez Jr., “The Spider” sounded like he was open to a number of different fighting possibilities, and with this win he certainly has the momentum to make some good money off another big fight. But at the post-event press conference, Silva sounded closer to being satisfied with what he’d done than we’ve heard him in a while.

“Let me tell you something, I don’t have nothing more to prove to anybody,” he said (via MMA Fighting). “The boxing community have shown me respect, for my opponent I showed my respect, for the people here in Mexico. I love Mexico. I don’t know. Maybe I fight again in boxing. I’m free right now. I’m a free man. I try to do my best in everything I do in my life. My focus right now is to help my son. My son has a fight very soon and I’ll go help my son in training. I’m training my son for his next fight.”

“The future is amazing. Everything is possible. Maybe I fight again or not. Right now my focus is enjoy my day and help my son to the next fight.”