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Anderson Silva plans to continue fighting: ‘It’s not over yet’

By MMA Fighting Newswire
UFC 208 photos
Anderson Silva
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

It’s been 11 months since Anderson Silva stepped foot inside the Octagon, but he’s looking forward to coming back as soon as possible.

“The Spider” has not fought since February 2017, a unanimous decision victory over Derek Brunson at UFC 208 that snapped a four-year winless drought. Silva, 42, was supposed to fight Kelvin Gastelum in Shanghai, China, this past November, but he was removed from the bout after failing an out-of-competition drug test.

That marked the second drug test failure for Silva, who also tested positive for the steroids drostanolone and androsterone in an in-competition test following a win over Nick Diaz in January 2015 that was subsequently overturned to a no-contest.

On Sunday, the UFC legend sent out an Instagram post in which he expressed gratitude to everyone for their support and proclaimed that he plans to continue his MMA career.

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

“Thank you, my people!” Silva wrote. “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.”

No mention is made of Silva’s ongoing case with the USADA.

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