Anderson Silva is widely regarded as the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time and on Saturday, UFC fans saw him compete for the final time in the promotion. The legendary former champion was looking to put on a vintage performance in his match against Uriah Hall at UFC Vegas 12, but was stopped by the No. 10-ranked middleweight in the fourth round of the night's main event.
Two of the most dynamic strikers in the UFC, both fighters were respectful of each other's knockout potential. There wasn't too much work between the two for the first round, but Hall picked it up in the second. Even so, "Prime Time" was believed to be giving Silva a little too much respect in the Octagon and was unwilling to press the attack.
The action picked up towards the end of the third with Hall landing a right hand that sent Silva to the canvas, saved only by the horn. Hall dropped Silva again with a right hand in the middle of the fourth and with plenty of time to work, laid on the barrage of strikes until referee Herb Dean stepped in and waved it off.
Silva was respectful as always in his post-fight interview. While this was his final fight in the UFC, the former champion was noncommital when asked if this would be his final professional mixed martial arts fight.
"I don't know," Silva said when asked if he was done fighting. "First I go back home and I go see with my team, everything, and let's go see, ya know. It's tough to say it's my last or not because this my air. This I do for my entire life and do it with my heart."