There’s no question that the stage lights are dimming on former middleweight champion Anderson Silva’s fighting career, but the 40-year-old Brazilian has no plans for retirement anytime soon.
Silva held the 185-pound title from October 2006 until July 2013, when Chris Weidman knocked him out in the UFC 162 main event. An immediate rematch was booked for UFC 168 in December of the same year. Weidman was in control of the fight when Silva suffered a gruesome broken leg early in the second frame.
Many thought that “The Spider” would never return, but he did. After 13 months of rehabilitation, Silva entered the Octagon at UFC 183 to face Nick Diaz. He originally won the fight via unanimous decision, but the outcome was later changed to a no contest after it was revealed that Silva tested positive to the banned substances drostanolone and androsterone.
Silva received a 12-month suspension along with a hefty fine. His suspension ends on Jan. 31 and he has a fight booked against Michael Bisping set for Feb. 27.
Despite calls for him to hang up the gloves, Silva isn’t ready to walk away from fighting.
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“I feel that fighting is something that I’ve done very well and still do very well. I’m well-trained and motivated and motivation comes from the inside and as long as I’m motivated and excited to keep fighting, I’m going to keep doing it as long as my body will let me do that. I feel great. I’m motivated,” he said during a media conference call.
“After my last fight, I had a discussion with my family, explained to my kids what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, and my kids are completely supporting me and that, with my family’s support and my motivation, I’m here and I’m going to fight for as long as my body and my motivation last,” he added.
It’s the challenge and proving the naysayers wrong that motivates Silva to continue.
“I’m prepared to fight whoever the UFC puts in front of me, but my big motivation is that a lot of people have counted me out and I believe, and have always believed, that I can do things that people think are impossible,” he said.
“A lot of people think it’s crazy. A lot of people think that it’s impossible. So with all those people thinking that, that’s what is motivating me to prove them wrong and follow my dream.”
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