Anderson Silva Ahead of USADA: ‘I Will Stop When God Thinks I Can Not Do It Anymore’

No matter his current circumstance, mixed martial arts legend Anderson Silva seems steadfast that he wants continue fighting.

Silva, 42, is currently provisionally suspended pending a hearing in front of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. “The Spider” was scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night 122 in Shanghai, the promotion’s debut in mainland China, against Kelvin Gastelum on Nov. 25 of last year. On Nov. 10, Silva was pulled from the contest after he was flagged for a potential USADA drug test failure pursuant to an Oct. 26 sample collection.

The UFC nor the USADA has yet to disclose the substance for which Silva failed his test. In November, Silva disclosed that his “medical team [was] working very closely with USADA” in order to ascertain the nature of his test failure.

While Silva is still preparing his defense ahead of his USADA hearing, the all-time middleweight king took to Instagram on Sunday to release a perhaps cathartic post, in both English and Portuguese, that offered some explication of the legend’s future plans.

“Thank you, my people! You can be sure it's not over yet,” Silva wrote. “My love and my passion for the fight are here, firm and strong. The fight continues, I will stop when GOD thinks I can not do it anymore.”




Quando olho esta foto, percebo o quanto Deus me fortalece sempre me dando luz na minha caminhada. Em uma longa viagem, lembranças fantásticas do tempo em que brincava nas ruas do bairro onde cresci em Curitiba. Tudo que passei, tudo que consegui construir com força de vontade, com determinação e muita honra. Tive o previlégio de colocar o brasão do meu time do coração, de uma certa forma, dar um título mundial pra ele e principalmente, pro meu povo. Só tenho a agradecer a todos vocês por tudo, digo de coração, amo vocês todos que sempre estão me dando forças. Beijo! Amo vocês de verdade, força e honra a todos, independente de time, cor, raça, religião e opção sexual, somos todos irmãos. Obrigado meu povo! Podem ter certeza que ainda não acabou. Meu amor e minha paixão pela luta estão aqui, firmes e fortes. A luta continua, vou parar quando DEUS achar que não dá mais. Então quem é meu fã, pode ter certeza, que logo estou de volta, pra alegria dos que torcem por mim e pra tristeza dos que não kkkkkk beijo . When I look at this photo, I realize how much God strengthens me by always giving me light in my walk. On a long trip, fantastic memories of the time I played in the streets of the neighborhood where I grew up in Curitiba. Everything I've been through, everything I've built with willpower, determination and great honor. I had the privilege of putting the coat of my heart team, in a way, to give a world title to him and especially to my people. I just have to thank you all for everything, I say from my heart, I love you all who are always giving me strength. Kiss! I really love you, strength and honor to all, regardless of team, color, race, religion and sexual choice, we are all brothers. Thank you, my people! You can be sure it's not over yet. My love and my passion for the fight are here, firm and strong. The fight continues, I will stop when GOD thinks I can not do it anymore. So who is my fan, can be sure, that soon I'm back, to the joy of those who cheer for me and to the sadness of those who don’t kkkkkk kiss

A post shared by Anderson "The Spider" Silva (@spiderandersonsilva) on Jan 7, 2018 at 6:06am PST

Silva last saw action at UFC 208 last February, taking a controversial decision over Derek Brunson. Prior to the win, Silva had gone 0-4 (1 NC) in the Octagon. “The Spider’s” No Contest during this period came courtesy of his January 2015 decision win over Nick Diaz being invalidated due to testing positive for the steroids androstane and drostanolone.

For his failure, Silva served a one-year suspension and paid a $380,000 fine to the NAC.