UFC legend Anderson Silva will return to the boxing ring for the third time on a May 14 card headlined by fight sports icon Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
TMZ Sports broke the news on Wednesday evening that the former UFC middleweight champion will compete at “The Global Titans Fight Series” event in Dubai next month. The card will also feature the return of Mayweather, Jr. as he fights in an eight-round exhibition against a former pro boxer, and fellow unbeaten talent, in Don Moore.
Anderson Silva vs Bruno Machado set for May 14 in Dubai
Silva will face a countryman and former MMA fighter turned boxer Bruno Machado. The 24-bout cage fighting veteran has won six straight in a boxing ring. On Thursday, MMAFighting confirmed that Silva vs Machado will also be an eight-round exhibition fought at a 194-pound catchweight.
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The 46-year-old “Spider” has not fought since his September 2021 knockout win over former UFC light heavyweight great Tito Ortiz at Triller Fight Club: Legends II. That was Silva’s second win as a boxer after a victorious debut over one-time WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. in June of that year.
- Anderson Silva record: 34-11 (23 knockouts, 3 submissions)
Silva’s run in the UFC ended in October 2020 following three straight losses and winning just one fight during a nine-fight run between 2013 and 2020. Despite the disappointing end to his tenure in the organization, he will go down as not only the greatest 185-pound fighter the sport has ever seen, but one of the top five competitors in MMA history.
During his 22-year cage fighting career, Silva scored monumental wins over top contenders and former champions in Rich Franklin, Vitor Belfort, Carlos Newton, Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin, and Chael Sonnen.
The May 14 card is set to take place on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab Hotel in the United Arab Emirates.