For at least the last few years, MMA fans and critics have been speculating, and in some instances, calling for the retirement of Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva. A legend of the sport, Silva turns 37 later this year and has lost several tough fights over the last 3 to 4 years which has signaled to some MMA critics that his days in the Octagon are over. However, Silva proved his detractors wrong with his incredible performance on Saturday. According to a March 2nd report by UFC.com, Silva knocked out the tough Brian Stann at the 4:08 mark of the 2nd round in the main event of UFC on FUEL TV 8. Not only did he KO the former U.S. Marine, but Silva also KO'd talks of retirement for now.
UFC FUEL TV 8 took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. Silva's return to Japan seemed to rejuvenate him and brought out a glimpse of the fighter that people feared and revered during his prime. Wanderlei fought 28 times in Japan and was a living legend in the country. Additionally, he became one of the top fighters in all of MMA.
According to MMAJunkie.com, Silva made the following comments about his victory over Stann and his plans for the future:
"Brian Stann is a tough opponent. He's not running away or running around. He's there to do the job. I like to fight with guys like that. I'm so proud to fight with him."
In regards to his future, Silva made the following comments: "I'm fighting one fight at a time right now."
Silva would also talk about how happy he was to return to Japan and how he would love to fight there again:
"I don't know what happens in Japan, but it makes me feel young. I'm happy to fight in Japan again. I have the best moments in my life here, and today is one more. I feel the energy here, the energy of the Brazilian fans, the Japanese fans. I feel really happy to fight over here."
Count me as one of the many who would love to see Silva have one more headliner in Japan.
Here are the results for UFC on FUEL TV 8 from Japan:
- Wanderlei Silva defeated Brian Stann via KO (punches) at 4:08 of Round 2
- Mark Hunt defeated Stefan Struve via TKO (punch) at 1:44 of Round 3
- Diego Sanchez defeated Takanori Gomi via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Yushin Okami defeated Hector Lombard via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Rani Yahya defeated Mizuto Hirota via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Dong Hyun Kim defeated Siyar Bahadurzada via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Brad Tavares defeated Riki Fukuda via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Takeya Mizugaki defeated Bryan Caraway via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Kazuki Tokudome defeated Cristiano Marcello via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Alex Caceres defeated Kyung Ho Kang via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Hyun Gyu Lim defeated Marcelo Guimaraes via KO (knee) at 4:00 of Round 2
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