via Getty
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Anderson Silva of Brazil kicks Israel Adesanya of New Zealand in their middleweight bout during the UFC 234 at Rod Laver Arena on February 10, 2019 in the Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
via Getty
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Anderson Silva of Brazil kicks Israel Adesanya of New Zealand in their middleweight bout during the UFC 234 at Rod Laver Arena on February 10, 2019 in the Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC legend Anderson Silva seems to be done with his MMA career. At least, ‘The Spider’ himself thinks so. Recently, the legendary Brazilian appeared in an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. Among many things discussed was the MMA career of ‘The Spider’.
“I think MMA for me is done, Because it’s hard to train MMA. It’s hard to stay training in a good level because you hurt yourself a lot. Now I just try to enjoy. I don’t need to prove nothing for anybody. I just try to enjoy every single moment I fight in different sports. And that’s it,” said Silva.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“Maybe my next challenge is jiu-jitsu — gi or no gi, Just enjoy the moment. The whole martial arts,” he further added. “I’m lucky because every time I fight MMA, I’m training hard and I put my heart and my real affection inside the cage,” he added. (h/t ESPN)
Also Read: Conor McGregor Makes History by Topping Forbes’ List for World’s Highest-Paid Athlete
‘The Spider’, who last fought Uriah Hall in October, was finished in the fourth round of the contest. And at 46, Silva isn’t getting any younger and faster. So, one can imagine it was a wise decision on his behalf.
via Imago
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 31: Anderson Silva of Brazil reacts after his loss to Uriah Hall in a middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 31, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The former middleweight kingpin will fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a boxing match on June 19 in Guadalajara. However, he has closed the chapter of his incredible MMA career.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Where does Anderson Silva rank among the greatest fighters of all time?
Since joining the UFC in 2006, Silva went on a 12-fight winning streak, slaying legends of the sport one by one. His highlight reel comprises spectacular finishes against some of the biggest names the UFC has ever had. ‘The Spider‘ changed the sport of MMA forever with his incredible charisma inside the Octagon.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
However, he has won only one fight since dropping the middleweight belt to Chris Weidman at UFC 162. A horrific leg-break in his rematch against ‘The All-American’ didn’t help his cause either. Nevertheless, it is probably in the best interest of everyone involved that the Brazilian has decided to call it a day as an MMA fighter.
