According to a Feb. 26 report from Yahoo! Sports, Wanderlei Silva's swan song from MMA may be his March 2 fight against Brian Stann at UFC on Fuel TV 8.
Silva has been violently knocked out more than a handful of times, and he's engaged in over 40 cage fights. At 36 years old, he's perhaps one loss away from hanging up the gloves for good.
"I would like to fight in Japan again, perhaps for my last fight," Silva said. "It's a dream to fight back there, where I made my whole career. I made my life there. I hope to fight again for the people of Japan, because I have many fans there and it's a country that I respect. It has a culture that I respect very much. It would be a privilege to fight back there."
Is it any coincidence that UFC on Fuel TV 8 takes place in Japan? Probably not.
If Silva's fight against Stann is in fact his final MMA appearance, he wants to go out with a bang.
"Let's fill up the Saitama Super Arena. A lot of people will be there. I am sure this event will sell out," Silva said. "Let's show the world the strength of the Japanese crowd. We'll get to feel what it's like to have the UFC in PRIDE's former home. At the Saitama Super Arena, where I earned the greatest achievements of my career, the place where I had my best performances. I'm coming off two 'fight of the night bonuses' against Cung Le and Rich Franklin and I want another bonus this time. This one I want for 'knockout of the night.' I will get this bonus, either knockout of the night or fight of the night or most motivated fighter of the night, I am going to win a bonus that fight."
It's comments like that which have helped Silva become a legend, as he always puts on exciting performances for the fans.
Silva fights Stann on March 2 in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 8, live from Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
Comments