Conor McGregor tells Anderson Silva to ‘keep going!’

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor reacted to Anderson Silva’s TKO loss to Uriah Hall.

One of MMA’s greats likely competed in the UFC for the last time on Saturday night (that’s if Dana White is to be believed). In the main event of UFC Las Vegas 12 former UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva, 45, failed to turn back the clocks and instead suffered an unceremonious TKO defeat to Uriah Hall.

The fight was Silva’s last on his UFC contract. There appears to be zero interest in an extension on ZUFFA’s end. Prior to yesterday’s event ‘The Spider’ hinted that he may be done with the UFC, but that the same could not be said about the sport of MMA.

After his fight with Hall, Silva received some encouragement from a man who knows a lot about retiring, un-retiring, retiring again and un-retiring again….

Former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor, who seems to be returning to the cage in January to face former foe Dustin Poirier, took to twitter to share his thoughts on Silva’s most recent performance.

“Sad to see tonight, but I say keep going!” wrote the ‘Notorious’ one. “Real fighters never lose that fire so why try to force it out? Simply put time into finding the correct competition and continue on. The right competition is out there, for all levels and ages. Find it and do what you love to do! Forever!”

Even if the UFC stick to their guns and refuse to book a man five years away from being 50, there will still be plenty of suitors for Silva. His close friend Lyoto Machida signed with Bellator after being deemed surplus to requirements by the UFC. And his former rival Vitor Belfort is preparing for his debut with ONE Championship.

Many Brazilian UFC veterans have also found their way to the upstart Taura MMA. The world of bare knuckle boxing, and the BKFC promotion, has succeeded in luring well known MMA talent as of late, too.

Wherever he lands, and whatever he does next, Silva will remain a popular figure in the sport who was at one time the most dominant fighter on the planet.

Silva debuted for the UFC all the way back in 2006, inside the cramped confines of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. There he whomped Chris Leben to earn a middleweight title fight with Rich Franklin.

Silva dismantled Franklin in stunning fashion to win the belt. He defended that belt 12 times, creating highlight reel knockouts and fights for the ages along the way. In 2013 Silva’s crown was snatched by Chris Weidman.

Since that Weidman fight Silva has gone 1-6 (1 NC). During that run there was also a positive test for drostanolone and androsterone.