Silva to retire "within a year"

Eurosport - Tue, 23 Sep 15:40:00 2008

Anderson Silva's dominance of the UFC middleweight division may soon come to an end - the Brazilian is talking about retirement "next year".

BOXING; UFC; Anderson Silva, Dec 2007 - 0

Silva, 22-4 and undefeated in his last eight fights, recently told the Brazilian sports program "Sensei SporTV" for an episode airing September 27 that his plan is to retire within a year.

"I'll retire next year, I already gave my all," Silva said in an exert released by the program editors. "I don't need to prove anything for anyone and within one year I'll put my gloves aside."

Silva, 33 and considered the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, has previously stated that he wants to fight six times a year as opposed to the three fights the UFC currently offer him.

If he sticks to his plan to hang up his gloves in the fall of 2009, he can look forward to the organisation throwing him into some huge match-ups, with talk of a 205lb clash against Chuck Liddell already being mentioned.

Silva will retire as the greatest middleweight in UFC history. He won the middleweight title just four months after joining the organisation with a first-round knock-out of Rich Franklin in October 2006, going on to defend the belt four times, against Travis Lutter, Nate Marquardt, Franklin again and Dan Henderson.

Seeking further challenges after cleaning out the 185-division, Silva moved up to light-heavyweight to challenge heavy-handed striker James Irwin in July 2008, scoring a knockout just 61 seconds into the first round.

The Curitiba-born fighter will again start a heavy favourite when he defends his belt against Patrick Cote on October 25.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport

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  1. problem for Silva is that he has a 6 Fight deal with the UFC over the next 2 years so he is going nowhere fast. his only option is to have superfights with either upper/lower weight classes or buy out his contract with the UFC. Only chance he might buy out is because he has stated his wish to move into boxing. The Affliction/Goldenboy partnership might work in his favour so he can stop making Mickey-Mouse money with the UFC and get paydays like Mayweather/Dela Hoya with his crossover appeal in both genres of MMA and Boxing

    From ste_costello, on Thu 25 Sep 8:15PM

  2. I would prefer to see GSP come up a division to take Silva on. I believe GSP will be in a similar position in two years with the welterweight div. He has already beaten the 2 next best fighters in the div (kosh and fitch). Therefore only two fights left (sanchez and thiago alves). Silva v chuck. Sack that, chuck is washed up.

    From rfarrlley, on Tue 23 Sep 6:54PM

  3. Silva's already cleaned up the MW division. He should move up to LHW and take on Wanderlei Silva in what would be an absolute classic. Then, if he's successful, he should move on to a title shot at Forrest Griffin. That would then set up a genuine superfight against Rampage Jackson, who by then should be right back in the title picture.

    From yakaboo365, on Tue 23 Sep 4:19PM
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