UFC boss Dana White has labelled Brazilian mixed martial arts star Anderson Silva 'the GOAT of combat sports.'
Despite his last three MMA bouts ending in defeat, White had high praise for the former UFC middleweight champion, who refuses to put his gloves down.
Silva left UFC as one of the consensus best MMA fighters of all time. He has even recently tried his hand at professional boxing, winning his last two fights.
His latest fight in a ring came in an exhibition boxing match against fellow MMA star Tito Ortiz on September 11. Silva won by knockout in the first round. The fight took place in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (or better known as The Guitar Hotel) in Hollywood, Florida.
White told reporters after the latest edition of his Contender Series that Anderson Silva needs to be talked about more.
"Anderson Silva, we honestly need to start talking again about this guy as the GOAT," he said, as per The Insider.
At 46 f*****' years old, he left this sport where he was considered one of the greatest of all time… goes out, beats Chavez Jr. in a boxing match, then goes and knocks Tito out in 40 seconds."
White also said: "He did to Tito exactly what should be done to Tito. Knocking Tito out in 40 seconds is what should've happened in that fight.
Anderson Silva might actually be the GOAT of combat sports.
Where Anderson Silva goes from here remains to be seen. There has been speculation there may be some more exhibition boxing matches in his future. Names such as Roy Jones Jr and Jake Paul have been potentially eyed-up as opponents.
Silva made his own history back in December of 2013, with his fight with Chris Weidman drawing over one million buys on pay-per-view.
To this day, it is the most purchased Anderson Silva fight to have been showcased.