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'I'm so sorry': Emotional scenes after UFC legend's final fight

chris young
Sports Reporter
·3-min read
A 50-50 split image shows the emotional scenes between Uriah Hall and Anderson Silva after their UFC bout.
Uriah Hall was in tears after defeating UFC legend Anderson Silva in what was likely his last bout in the UFC. Pictures: ESPN/UFC

UFC fighter Uriah Hall’s bout against MMA legend Anderson Silva ended in highly emotional scenes as both fighters dropped to their knees after Hall earned a stoppage victory at UFC Vegas 12.

The 36-year-old Hall had too much in the tank for the 45-year-old Silva, who returned to the octagon for his first fight after an 18-month hiatus - but it was an emotional victory for the middleweight fighter and many other in attendance.

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Hall shared an intense moment with Silva in the immediate moments after the fight, with both fighters on their knees.

“I love you, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry,” Hall could be heard saying to Silva, through tears.

“You’re the reason why I’m doing this. Thank you so much. You’re still one of the greatest.”

Still on the mat, Silva gave his opponent some words of encouragement before leaving the ring.

“You have everything...you have time, just do it, do your best. Thank you so much. Enjoy your moment today, alright?” Silva told Hall.

“Thank you so much. It’s so cool, I love you. Thank you for doing this for me. Thank you so much.”

There was a similarly emotional outpouring of support for Silva from others at the venue, including the likes of Israel Adesanya, who shook hands with Silva after the fight.

Silva called the fight his ‘final show’ but would not confirm his retirement after the fight.

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Adesanya, the Nigerian-born, New Zealand-raised fighter who has taken the MMA world by storm over the last 18 months, led the recognition of Silva when asked about the UFC great ringside.

“He’s the man. He’s just the man, seeing him in the cage - if you know, you know. If you fight, you know,” Adesanya said.

“If you’re in the UFC you know. He embraced the moment, he’s just got so much behind it because he’s done this s*** forever.

Anderson Silva is pictured kneeling in the ring after his UFC loss to Uriah Hall.
Anderson Silva stayed inside the ring for some time after his UFC Vegas 12 loss to Uriah Hall. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“I’m honoured to be here, the guy that got me in the game. I got to watch his last fight in the UFC and ride into the sunset.”

Various other fighters and high-profile fans of the sport also weighed in online, with Aussie fighter Alex Volkanovski describing Silva as an ‘absolute legend’.

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