Anderson Silva, the esteemed former UFC middleweight champion and seasoned MMA veteran, is raring for more and wants to show that his fighting journey is far from over. At the pinnacle of his abilities, Silva reigned supreme as the UFC middleweight champion. Widely regarded by combat sports pundits as one of the greatest MMA fighters, Silva’s exceptional skills and accomplishments have earned him a well-deserved spot in the prestigious UFC Hall of Fame, a testament to his enduring legacy.

As one of the early fighters in the MMA industry, starting in 1997, ‘The Spider’ set many exemplary records, such as winning 17 consecutive fights. These included 17 consecutive fights against fighters such as Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson. From 2017 until his departure from the UFC in 2020, he struggled to match his former glory, and it was widely believed that he was past his prime. However, contrary to popular belief, it seems Silva believes he still has one more fight in him and wants to retire from MMA with one last hurrah!

Anderson Silva wants to end where it all began

The Spider spoke to the media while promoting two movie projects that he is part of. In a conversation with the portal ‘MMAfighting.com’, Silva said that while his attention is on his cinematic projects for the time being, they are in talks with Japan for what would be his last MMA fight. He said that it made sense since he started his international career in Japan so it would be fitting to end it there too.

For those who have followed Silva’s career, the choice of Japan should not come as a surprise considering that he participated in many PRIDE (Japanese mixed martial promotion company) fights in Japan and feels at home there.

Will this be a homecoming against an old foe?

However, the legendary fighter didn’t just stop by naming his preferred destination for a final fight. During a recent interview with ‘Fight Hub TV’, Anderson Silva expressed his strong desire to square off against Hayato Sakurai, a fighter with whom he shares history.

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The Spider expressed his desire to face Sakurai and said, “My last MMA fight in Japan, I’m just waiting. Maybe Hayato Sakurai, because Sakurai fight with me in Shooto, you know. I think this is a good fight for us; we will see.”

Both Silva and Sakurai share a past that dates back to 2001. ‘The Spider’ had an upset win over the previously undefeated Sakurai at Shooto 7 in August 2001, claiming the middleweight belt of the promotion. Will Sakurai heed this challenge from his former nemesis?

It is interesting to note that Silva hasn’t competed in MMA since October 2020, after a loss to Uriah Hall. He also lost five of his last six fights in the UFC before departing. So, it remains to be seen whether a final fight will happen or not.

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