Wanderlei Silva Reflective of Career, Ready for Fight of His Dreams

[No More Sorrow]

"This is the fight of my life," Silva proclaimed on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I've waited all my career for this fight. I've waited for (14) years for this fight. He is one of the guys I really, really want to fight before I (retire). This fight is the fight of my dreams."

These days retirement seems to come up more often than not for Silva. Luckily, by now he seems to have acknowledged that fact, or at least grow accustomed to it, and so he has very few reservations about taking a trip down memory lane.

"I'm so happy for my career," Silva reflectively said.

"I've been fighting since I was 13 years old. I've fought for 21 years of my life. But I still feel really good. I feel really motivated.
Over that time, Silva has witnessed an explosion of Brazilian culture into the modern MMA landscape that no one could have foreseen. Now South America's largest country has seemingly become the center of the fighting world. With Brazilian contenders shooting through each of the UFC's division, a landmark stadium show already on the books, and TUF: Brazil shattering the rating standards set by its American counterpart, MMA has evolved from a niche sport into a Brazilian national pastime.

In Silva's eyes, UFC President Dana White is the biggest cause of the growth.

"He's a really good businessman. He brings really good jobs with the UFC," Silva explained. "A lot of guys were thinking bad things about MMA before, but now they have a different vision. The fighters have more respect in society. They make it to more events. We go to the good programs, we have more fun."

When the subject of Brazil arises, it's easy to see how dramatically Silva's role has shifted. He's no longer just a fighter, but also a national ambassador to the sport, with an entire generation raised on the violent exploits of "The Ax Murderer."

With that in mind, the idea of retirement no longer seems as daunting as it once may have. In fact, Silva says he finally has a plan for life after fighting. He hopes to work inside the UFC, focusing on bringing charitable events to gyms throughout the world, helping young fighters get the opportunities he never had.

While that time may not be here yet, he's confident he'll know when to call it quits.

"You need to respect the body. We're not 22, 23 years old. I'm 35. I'm not looking 35, but I'm 35," Silva laughed. "But I'm not too old, I'm not too young."

In the interim, it's not like Silva's plate is particularly empty. First there's the national publicity parade that is TUF: Brazil, and then of course, an extraordinarily formidable challenge in Belfort. Silva is understandably the heavy underdog heading into the fight, but it almost seems criminal to count him out after the facial reconstruction he sent Cung Le's way.

Even more intriguing, if Silva can stun the world and emerge victorious, claiming wins over Belfort, Le, and Michael Bisping over his last four fights, "The Ax Murderer" could potentially put together one of the most improbable contender runs in UFC history. With his immense marketing muscle, the notion isn't as far-fetched as it may seem.

But again, that's a lot of "what ifs," and Silva has never been one for skepticism. All he knows is regardless of how this final chapter plays out, when it's all said and done, he'll still have one final box left on the checklist. An ultimate farewell for a legend of the sport; back to the place where it all began.

"Maybe I can make my last fight in Japan," Silva concluded. "Maybe, I don't know. But we're going to check with the boss when they're going to have their next show there. I want to make my last fight in Japan."

I'm not the guys biggest fan, but if he can pull of an upset against Belfort that'd be amazing. If that does happen, i definitely see him calling it a career after the fight.

 

[Slim]

That is my all time favorite fighter. His fight with Belfort is going to be immense. I doubt seriously it'll end like their first fight. Its like now everyone wants to count Silva out. They did against Cung Le and Silva beat him with knees. Now everyone wants to count him out against Belfort. I think Silva has what it takes to win it.

 

[The Cork]

I dont know why but I thought his recent record was poor, yet there it says hes beat Cung Le & Bisping in between the Leben KO....

Still see him getting knocked out real bad tho, Belfort is always dangerous and way too fast and powerful. One of my fave fighters, the first fight I saw was a Belfort one so always gonna like him. Not that I dont like Wandy, because I do.

 

[No More Sorrow]

I dont know why but I thought his recent record was poor, yet there it says hes beat Cung Le & Bisping in between the Leben KO....

Still see him getting knocked out real bad tho, Belfort is always dangerous and way too fast and powerful. One of my fave fighters, the first fight I saw was a Belfort one so always gonna like him. Not that I dont like Wandy, because I do.

Basically how i feel about the fight also, I think it'd be awesome if Wandy did get the win but it's hard for me to say he's going to. Although, i said the same thing about Cung Le and Wandy looked pretty good in picking up a win in that fight. Once the fight gets closer, I'll make up my mind. On a side note From what I've seen of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil, i think Wandy's team is going to win that though.

 

[Deezy]

Wandy is the man, and anyone who disagrees should get kicked in the face.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Here's a little interview with Vitor, speaking on his upcoming fight with Wandy

“Wanderlei is a high profile adversary, one of the great names of Brasil, an exponent abroad. Yeah, I have got a rivalry with him but its only sporting, I don’t feel angry at him or have anything against him. I will fight to win and the best will win,” he said.

Belfort remarked on comments that Silva made on Twitter this week, and on the opening episode of The Ultimate Fighter Brasil. Silva said he was “boring” and that he “makes lectures and seminars when he talks… thank god I am not on his team.”

“I won’t come into his game,” says Belfort. “The thing with Wanderlei is that he wants to destabilize me mentally. He cannot judge me, he doesn’t know me! He was always talkative and then he gave interviews saying he was revolted with me.

“The important thing is to wait and see the result - when we fight, I will run over him and show what a true competitor is.”

This week, Silva told The MMA Hour that the upcoming fight against Belfort is “the fight of my life”. He has waited a long time to try and avenge the 44-second loss that Belfort inflicted on him at UFC Brasil in Sao Paolo back in 1998.

“I’ve waited all my career for this fight. I’ve waited for fourteen years for this fight. He is one of the guys I really, really want to fight before I retire… This fight is the fight of my dreams,” he said