According to a March 3 report from Yahoo! Sports, Wanderlei Silva delivered nine minutes of violence in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 8.
Silva walked away with his hand raised after battering Brian Stann with a flurry of strikes, as he earned a ref stoppage in the second frame.
"I'm so happy," said an emotional Silva, who wrapped himself in the Brazilian flag and jumped into the stands to embrace several fans at Saitama Arena in Tokyo, before heading back to the locker room following his UFC on Fuel TV 8 victory over Stann. "Thanks to [UFC president] Dana White; thanks to the UFC for the wonderful opportunity to fight here."
It was one of the most exciting performances of Silva's long and storied career, as he lived up to the hype by delivering a crowd-pleasing standup slugfest.
"I knew what I had at risk when I signed on the dotted line to face Wanderlei, fighting here in Japan," Stann said following the UFC on Fuel TV 8 fight. "Wanderlei is one of my favorite fighters ever. He inspired me to start in this sport. I'm proud to be a part of his career, as much as this hurts. My heart is broken, but I'm proud I fought him."
Silva's win will keep him active in the UFC for at least one more fight, butperhaps it's time for him to move into 2013 by opting for a new walkout song.
Silva has been walking out to DJ Darude's "Sandstorm" for most of his career, as the song was originally released in 1999. It was pretty majestic at first when Silva opted to walk out to "Sandstorm," but the selection seems old and dated as we head deeper into the new year.
Silva's use of "Sandstorm" was originally intimidating. However, it now seems quite silly and cheesy to use the tune.
Perhaps it would be more fitting if Silva followed in the style of Dan Hardy by walking out to a tune inspired by his homeland. Hardy walks out to Cock Sparrer's "England Belongs to Me," much to the delight of MMA fans in the U.K.
There are plenty of wonderful songs about Brazil that Silva could consider walking out to, namely Gal Costa's "Aquarela do Brasil," and Wilson Simonal's "País Tropical."
A new walkout song would bring a new spring to Silva's step, and prove he can hang with the newer breed of fighters who walk out to more modern music.
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