UFC's Cung Le expects to fight again, would welcome shot at Anderson Silva

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le (9-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) isn’t ready to hang up the gloves just yet. In fact, he wouldn’t mind a date with the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter.

“Recently, I didn’t throw my name in the hat, but Anderson Silva‘s camp said I would be a worthy opponent,” Le said during Friday’s UFC Fight Club Q&A Session in San Jose, Calif. “Of course, he’s pound-for-pound the greatest, and just to be inside the octagon with him would be an honor for me. And I think matchup-wise, my standup is pretty good, and his standup is really high-level. I think that would be a very fun fight not only for myself but for the fans.”

Earlier this year, Silva’s (33-4 MMA, 16-0 UFC) next assignment wasn’t clear. A number of key middleweight matchups that helped sort out the division had yet to take place, and Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, suggested Le could make sense as a potential opponent.

Le’s stock was soaring after a November knockout win over former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin, and while a matchup didn’t necessarily make complete sense in terms of rankings, there were some observers who welcomed the idea of two seasoned strikers going toe-to-toe.

Silva was ultimately booked with undefeated challenger Chris Weidman, and the two now headline July’s UFC 162 event. That ended up working out fine for Le, who is still recovering from surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow.

But as he nears full-health, Le says he wouldn’t mind if his name was still somewhere in Silva’s head.

“I’m sure afterwards, I’d probably go to the hospital, get some stitches,” Le said. “But for me, maybe he kicks my ass nine out of 10 times, but that one time, you never know because it’s MMA, and anything can happen.”

Le, who turns 41 years old in May, said he’s also seeking his next movie role after starring in feature films “Dragon Eyes” and ” The Man with the Iron Fists” in 2012. In the meantime, he wouldn’t mind an opportunity to coach on “The Ultimate Fighter,” especially if the UFC launches a version of the show in China.

But while the San Shou stylist is certainly considering what comes next when he does walk away from the sport, he’s also anxious for at least one more fight.

“For me, it’s about competing, and if I can still compete and do both things, then I’m going to try keep pursuing what I love, which is the fight and the movies,” Le said.

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