This morning, PRIDE/UFC legend Wanderlei Silva released an apology for his ‘fixed fights’ comments of a few months ago and within hours he was released from UFC contract.

Silva made claims last year that UFC were fixing fights. The UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, answered by filing a lawsuit against Wanderlei. It seems that has been an arrangement as Thursday morning, Silva released the following statement, which then freed him of his UFC contract:

“In July of last year, I posted a number of comments on Facebook and Twitter, which included repeated claims that the UFC “fixed fights” and that I could “prove it.” I hereby retract any such statements in their entirety as I failed to understand that the term “fight-fixing” specifically refers to the illegal action or practice of dishonestly determining the outcome of a contest before it occurs. I understand the UFC’s reputation would be harmed if my fans and others actually believed the UFC engaged in fight fixing, and I have no evidence to support such a claim. I apologize for any misunderstanding my comments may have caused.”
Wanderlei Silva.”

“This is a good day for Wanderlei Silva. He is now free to do whatever he wants. This allows him to earn a living. If Bellator want to sign him to promote the company, he can. Before, when he was under contract with Zuffa, he could not do anything” – said Ross Goodman, athlete’s lawyer.

Despite the release, Silva is still banned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for having run away from a surprise drug test, in 2014, at the time he was supposed to face Chael Sonnen. He has a hearing scheduled for February and will try to change the situation. An Idol in Japan since the days of Pride, Wanderlei Silva can fight in Rizin Fighting Federation, after all, the Japanese event has nothing to do with the NAC, which leaves him fit to fight. The former president of Pride, Nobuyuki Sakakibara, also, is the current president of the new franchise.