Dana White says his relationship with Anderson Silva has completely broken down, revealing the former UFC middleweight champion still refuses to speak to him after their fallout.
In a Rolling Stone interview ahead of UFC Freedom 250, the UFC CEO said Silva has not talked to him since White told him his fighting career was over while Silva was in his 40s. Silva left the UFC in October 2020 on a three-fight losing streak, having dropped seven of his last eight bouts.
"Anderson Silva, a guy who was always a unique individual to deal with, but he lost like eight or nine in a row, something like that, and that guy won't talk to me to this day because I said it's over, and he was in his 40s," White said.
After Silva’s TKO loss to Uriah Hall, White told the media that Silva was retired, even though Silva still wanted to continue fighting. The UFC later released Silva from his contract despite one fight remaining on the deal. White recalled Silva’s reaction, saying, "His thing was, 'Who are you to tell me that I'm done doing what I love to to do?'"
Since his release, Silva has moved into boxing and compiled a 4-1 record, including a decision loss to Jake Paul in 2022. He did not attend his UFC Hall of Fame induction in 2023.
White said Silva is not alone in taking retirement talks hard. "Even guys that were really good, but it's at the end, and I'm like, 'Yeah, it's time for them to hang them up,' and they get upset, and some of these guys never talk to me again," he said.
