Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz in their middleweight bout during UFC 183 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 31, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. *** Local Caption *** Anderson Silva; Nick Diaz

One of the greatest fighters in UFC history makes a definitive statement on his future

He's made his future quite clear now.

Many have speculated that former UFC middleweight champion and MMA legend Anderson Silva could be done in the fighting world and, frankly, that viewpoint had some obvious value. Silva has been suspended in the aftermath of a positive drug test in 2017 and that hiccup cost him the chance to battle against Kelvin Gastelum back in November. As a result of that, he could even be in the mix for a more lengthy absence and, given his age at 42, it wouldn't be crazy to think he would not fight again.

Still, Silva took to Instagram over the weekend in an effort to dispel that buzz, indicating that "it's not over yet" when it comes to his chosen profession.

Silva's most recent suspension was not his first, as he had a positive test for steroids following his last bout against Nick Diaz. As a repeat offender, he could come under the microscope for a multi-year absence and that places things in real peril.

In the same breath, it would be on-brand for a competitor at this level to fight until every door is closed and, for Silva, that simply isn't the case yet. It may seem far-fetched that he would become a top contender again, but the veteran isn't yet ready to hang it up.