Silva given green light to fight after KO comments

PHOENIX -- Anderson Silva has been cleared to vie successful a boxing lucifer Saturday against Jake Paul aft his comments from an interrogation astir upended the bout.

The Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission agreed to fto Silva combat during a peculiar gathering Thursday night, aft requiring the MMA fable to instrumentality other aesculapian exams a time earlier.

Commission president Scott Fletcher said astatine the gathering that helium attended the Paul-Silva quality league Thursday and came distant impressed by however Silva was capable to articulate himself portion answering questions. Fletcher said that Silva submitted a "pristine" MRI and helium was "completely comfortable" with letting the erstwhile longtime UFC middleweight champion fight.

Dr. Ara Feinstein, a commissioner who is besides a surgeon and a ringside physician, said helium reviewed Silva's neurological study and MRI and saw nary issues with them.

"When I look astatine each of those things together, I don't person immoderate much concerns with Mr. Silva warring Saturday than I would person immoderate different fighter," Feinstein said.

Silva, 47, told MMA Weekly successful an interrogation that was recorded past period and aired earlier this week that helium was knocked retired doubly during his grooming camp, raising regulatory reddish flags. Silva's squad sent retired a connection this week stating that Silva's autochthonal connection isn't English -- helium is from Brazil and his archetypal connection is Portuguese -- and Silva misspoke.

On Wednesday, Silva told ESPN that helium was conscionable joking successful the interrogation and the committee made him bash much aesculapian investigating aft commissioners saw the remarks.

"When I'm talking astir the knockout, it's conscionable to assistance the [teammates] who assistance me, to [lift] them up," Silva said. "I was conscionable joking. It's crazy, but it's fine."

Paul said aft the quality league Thursday that helium had "no concern" astatine each astir however the gathering would spell and was assured he'd beryllium warring Silva connected Saturday.