Wanderlei Silva’s Striking Coach Explains Why Silva Isn’t Ready to Retire; Says He’d KO Sonnen

There’s no question that the legendary career of Wanderlei Silva is nearing its end.  He’s gone 4-5 since returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2007, but he’s not ready to hang the gloves up just yet.

Rafael Cordeiro, Silva’s striking coach, explains why Silva isn’t ready to retire.

“He beat Brian Stann in a stand-up fight, a Muay Thai fight.  A lot of people say, ‘Wanderlei, he needs to retire,’ but it’s hard for the guy to retire if he fights and also he won bonus for best fight of the night and the best knockout of the night,” Cordeiro told MMA video journalist Rick Lee.

“Guys like Wanderlei, he can’t stop fighting because people say, ‘Wanderlei, you need to retire,’ but I fought last night and the guys give me the bonus for Fight of the Night.  Why would I retire?” he added.

Following his loss to Jon Jones at UFC 159, Chael Sonnen challenged Silva to a fight.  Silva responded on a recent episode of UFC Tonight.  Cordeiro believes that if the fight happens, Silva will knock Sonnen out in the first round.

“If he fights against Chael Sonnen, I think don’t go past the first round,” said Cordeiro. “He’s going to knock him out for sure.”