Because it hit close to home, after witnessing firsthand what happens to mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters who get chewed up and spit out by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) when they are no longer valuable to the brand.
Take former welterweight No. 1 contender Jon Fitch for example, who was unceremoniously expelled back in 2013.
Video brought my wife to tears because she heard me say the same things for so long RT @wandfc: a new beginning. http://t.co/jYEZIJr7Ws
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) September 21, 2014
Fitch isn't the only one who is feeling Silva's pain.
When "The Axe Murderer" said goodbye last week (more on that here), he did so with fiery venom, accusing the world's largest combat sports promotion of trying to turn his fans against him, following a run-in with Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
"Today is a very sad day for me. Unfortunately the UFC took away my desire to fight. I can't do this anymore. I can't keep being treated this way. They are wearing down the athletes. They make them fight under any circumstances and any conditions, as if; either they accept any fight or they're worthless. Fighters have to fight injured, cut weight fast; who will protect them in the future? They tried to turn my fans against me. My fans, who have followed me for 20 years. Much before this event existed I was already fighting bare knuckle in Brazil. I fought bare knuckle and I helped to build this sport. Everything you see today, I helped build with my sweat and my blood. And now these guys come around and try to tell us what we are and what we are not."
Silva (35-12-1, 1 NC) finishes with a 4-5 record inside the Octagon and will likely have the remainder of his contract frozen to prevent him from resurfacing in competing promotions.