The saga of Wanderlei Silva versus the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) has finally reached an end. At a long-awaited re-hearing on Wednesday, the NAC voted unanimously to amend Silva's lifetime ban to a three-year suspension retroactive to May 2014, granting the former Pride legend the right to return to active competition in the spring of 2017.
In addition, the commission retracted a $70,000 fine it initially levied on Silva. "The Ax Murderer" will be required to submit a clean drug test before being reinstated.
Silva (35-12-1, 1 NC) fled from a random drug test in May 2014 in Nevada ahead of a scheduled bout against Chael Sonnen at UFC 175.