Wanderlei Silva released from contract after apologizing to UFC

Wanderlei Silva's working relationship with the UFC is officially over.

After he apologized publicly, Silva was granted his release from the company, according to MMAjunkie.com's Steven Marrocco.

On Thursday, Silva took to Facebook to recant statements he made last July accusing the UFC of fixing fights.

"In July of last year, I posted a number of comments on Facebook and Twitter, which included repeated claims that the UFC 'fixed fights' and that I could 'prove it,'" he wrote.

"I hereby retract any such statements in their entirety as I failed to understand that the term 'fight-fixing' specifically refers to the illegal action or practice of dishonestly determining the outcome of a contest before it occurs. I understand the UFC's reputation would be harmed if my fans and others actually believed the UFC engaged in fight fixing, and I have no evidence to support such a claim. I apologize for any misunderstanding my comments may have caused."

Shortly after the post went up, Silva's attorney updated his client's status.

"The UFC has released Wanderlei from any and all obligations or rights to Zuffa, which obviously now allows him to do whatever he wants," Ross Goodman said.

A defamation and business disparagement lawsuit filed against Silva in July is expected to be dropped.

Silva's mea culpa comes after his rehearing for his lifetime ban from competition was pushed back to February. Initially slapped with the ban by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for evading a drug test, Silva was given a reprieve last May when a Nevada circuit judge overturned the decision.

Silva hasn't competed since March 2013, when he defeated Brian Stann via KO. It remains to be seen how these events will affect the commission's upcoming revision of his punishment or whether Silva will fight again after declaring his retirement in 2014.