Anderson Silva Signs New 15-Fight Deal with UFC

More of Anderson Silva is never a bad thing.

The former middleweight champ agreed to a new 15-fight deal last Thursday over a meal with UFC president Dana White and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta. During an interview with Combate.com, per MMAFighting.com, Silva admitted the news would probably make his family crazy.

“I had seven fights on my contract [after upcoming fight with Nick Diaz]. I met Lorenzo and Dana on Thursday and that contract was canceled. We signed for another 15 fights,” Silva said. “To make Dana crazy, I signed for 15 more fights. And to make my family crazy, too."

Silva also announced that he would no longer be sponsored by Nike. He thanked the juggernaut sports apparel for helping him fulfill his dream while also hinting to a possible future sponsorship deal with Adidas.

There will certainly be skeptics galore clamoring about the unlikelihood of a 39-year-old sticking around in the UFC for 15 fights. Silva, who is coming off a devastating leg injury, was thought to be done fighting after losing for a second time to Chris Weidman back in December 2013.

The legendary middleweight broke his tibia and fibula after having a leg kick checked on Weidman’s knee. It was a gruesome scene that will be forever seared in the minds of spectators. Silva’s flailing leg and blood-curdling screams left a strong impression that he would never fight again, let alone walk right.

Against the odds, Silva made a full recovery in under a year’s time.

The new contract pretty much ensures that Silva gets to retire in the UFC. But for now, he is slated to return on January 31 to fight Nick Diaz in the headliner of UFC 183.

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for Rocktagon.