UFC Quick Quote: Anderson Silva may not retire after all

by Jesse Holland on Feb 7, 2009 11:36 AM EST

"When he came out and we started representing him, I asked him what his long term goal was. He always said he imagined himself retiring at 35. That's his goal. And my goal as his manager is to set him up financially so that he has a choice. Do I think he's going to retire at 35? No, I don't."

Ed Soares — the manager for UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva — casts a shadow of doubt via MMA Fanhouse on the September 2008 retirement statements made by "The Spider," who's been adamant about hanging up his gloves when he fulfills his contractual obligations and hits the ripe old age of 35. Silva turns 34 in April and has five fights remaining on his contract, meaning he could very well retire around the time he initially mentioned — assuming his manager hasn't done us all a favor and talked him out of it before then.

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i love to see this guy fight.. that why i hope gsp and the spider GET IT ON!

by Mikeybear2009 on Feb 7, 2009 11:39 AM EST reply actions

I do to, but I don’t understand one thing! What is so bad about wanting to retire at 35? I love my job, and make a great living, but if I could set myself up to be able to support my family and not work (retire) in 3 years, I would love to. The advantage Silva has, is he can put his name on a few gyms and still be making money even in retirement.
I want to see him fight the best, make a bunch of money, and have the options that he wants!

by kevin on Feb 7, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

I never believed that crap about him retiring anyway. I wont fault the man if he does, but I dont believe it for 1 second! Too many big challenges await him at LHW. He is going to get bored with the silly mis matches that await him at 185 lbs, and he will be refreshed once he starts being challenged at 205!

by john on Feb 7, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

I say dana give him a title shot at 205 if Machida doesn’t get it and let him retire after he wins.

by NameNotRequired on Feb 7, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

never believed it. no news here.

by Crowls on Feb 7, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

i absolutely agree, the guy is a nice dude(other than when he’s fighting) and i would be more than happy to see him retire and live life the way he wants. and besides, in all likelyhood he’ll still train and maybe hae a few fights every couple years. not necessarily in mma, but hey im not picky

by connor on Feb 7, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

If he retires it means from fighting. He will still be in the corner of other fighters when they fight. He will still be training. And a trainer at my gym was hanging out with him and Almeida at a tourney a month ago. He was there to help some of the younger guys from his gym. Believe me he’s not that nice a guy when the cameras aren’t around. Just saying.

by jay on Feb 7, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

Please no, do not put him against GSP, what a waste that would be! Silva is WAY too big for him and would destroy GSP. Silva makes to make a permanent move to 205. Thats the only place he can find competition at this point.

by ---Caesar--- on Feb 7, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

You just dont know what your talking about… GSP would give him a great fight.. And who at 205 would really test him? He wont fight machida, so rampage, rashad, forrest, cane?? I think he beats all those guys just as easily as he’s been beating the guys at 185..

I think silva vs GSP would be a great fight.. Id still take silva but you cant count GSP out.

by mike22 on Feb 7, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

GIve me a break! Didnt the last mega fight show us that there are weight classes for a reason?

BJ was a lightweight trying to move up 1 weight class and got dominated! Silva is really a light heavyweight, and easily one of the best fighters on earth. U think a welterweight is going to move up to beat a LHW? dReam on! This match up is a waste of time in my opinion, and I dont even think gSP really wants it anyway! I am not knocking GSP…I wouldnt blame him if he doesnt accept this fight! I just see it as a waste of time that will be about as competitive as this past saturday’s “Mega fight”!

no one jumps 2 weight classes….Thinking of Silva as a middleweight is foolish!

by john on Feb 7, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions

I think that we need to look at the size of the challenge. I think that GSP moving up to middleweight would be a far larger and much more unreasonable challenge than it would be for Anderson Silva to move up to light heavyweight. I’m a huge GSP fan, but I don’t want to see this fight. Anderson Silva is such a strong and precise striker that GSP’s only hope would be to take Silva down. I’m not saying that it’s impossible for GSP to win, I just think that it’s unlikely.

by Shadyone33 on Feb 7, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions

dont forget, tub-a-lard lutter did manage to mount AS, and i would bet my left nut that if GSP managed that position on him he wouldnt have wasted it like that. not saying GSP wins, but his superb wrestling and speed makes it more competative then most would think.

by Egads on Feb 7, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions

I would love to see a GSP Silva fight. GSP is a great fighter & Silva is a great fighter but I think Silva would have too much of an advantage with the weight. Henderson is a great wrestler and the weight was not a issue, GSP is better all round fighter than Henderson and would give Silva a better fight I don’t think he would be able to do the things he’s use too in the 170 class? But I would love to see him prove me wrong. If not GSP I would like to see him fight one of the top 205ers Rampage, Evan’s or Evan a Jardine or Griffin. Silva walks around 215 pounds and would not give up much weight but like I said vs GSP he wouldn’t be able to the things he’s use too either. I know he did vs Henderson but I think hendo’s cardio was not what it normally was from cutting weight? That’s why he’s back up and staying at 205. W.Silva is dropping down to 185 and might make a run for the belt? I just hope we see him fight top rated opponents for his possible last fights.

by Beaver on Feb 8, 2009 12:59 AM EST up reply actions

If they meet at 185, I agree. However if they met at a catch weight I would be more up for this fight. I still think Silva wins though.

by Jrandolph on Feb 7, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

Silva may well be bigger than GSP, but Rogan did say that GSP could take down any of the guys in his training camp at will, but they could not do the same to him. That includes Rashad, Jardine and other light heavyweights. That about tells you what the size difference will mean as far as takedowns are concerned.

by Ade on Feb 8, 2009 4:16 AM EST up reply actions

honestly im not really a fan of the spider, probably because he beat hendo so fast lol

by Jared on Feb 7, 2009 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

you know the ufc is getting pretty boring people getting title shots that dont deserve them gsp is probably the best fighter in mma and for dana to let bj penn who iswashed up keep running his mouth and trying to ruin gsp just because he is jealous of him is pretty goddamn stupid. It seems like all of the little bullies like matt hughes bj sean sherk even dana all stick up for each other sherk got caught using steroids but dana was right there to defend him But he was so quick to pass judgement on georges that night saying georges is in so much fucking trouble. I think georges needs to leave them to play amongst them selves there are plenty of other places that will respect him for the true athlete that he has worked hard to be.

by yo mamma on Feb 7, 2009 11:52 AM EST reply actions

He never said Georges is in trouble, he said his cornermen fucked up. None of this is going to come down on GSP, if anything happens it will be to Phil Nurse and Greg Jackson. And maybe whomever else was in his corner.

by jay on Feb 7, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

the quote he is talking about was in Dana’s video blog .He told Rashad GSP is in trouble,but he has odviously backed off of that since then

by scott on Feb 7, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

Bj is washed up lol he has been killing everyone at lightweight and is the champ but ya he is washed up. Think before you post if you can manage that.

by LG on Feb 7, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

BJ is washed up at 30, while he holds a belt in the UFC? Maybe you should think before your verbal diarrhea makes you look retarded. OOPS too late.

by jay on Feb 7, 2009 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

Since when does a loss to GSP mean you are washed up??? You are ridiculous!!!

by ---Caesar--- on Feb 7, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

He may have looked washed up against GSP but i don’t believe BJ is anywhere near washed up. He is in his prime right now, 30 years old, and still is a champ at 155. Get a clue McFly

by SpiderStyle on Feb 7, 2009 9:04 PM EST up reply actions

he actually said georges was the vitim of a stupid cornerman

by connor on Feb 7, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

Dana said GSP is in F’n trouble to Rashad directly after the fight in his video blog.He has changed his opinion since then.He was very quick to assume the worst of GSP,but he sticks up for everybody when they get caught for steroids.You guys can hate on yo mamma’s comment but he actually has a point

by scott on Feb 7, 2009 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with what you say about DANA.

I’ll be interested to see what DANA says the next time he’s interviewed about a possible GSP/Penn 3. He should dismiss it and give BJ a little “come back to earth” talk.

by ftg314 on Feb 7, 2009 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

It is definitely annoying just watching the UFC feed the Spider weak opponent after weak opponent. All he wants is superfights, and the UFC seems to be doing everything in their power to give him the opposite.

Silva wants a challenge, he has said he will fight in any weightclass from MW to HW, so I ask you UFC, what in the hell is the problem?

by Razzel on Feb 7, 2009 11:56 AM EST reply actions

he and lyoto dont want to fight eachother. and i was wondering if maybe dana was giving him weak oponents so that he would exceed joyce’s record of wins in the octagon? maybe solidify him as a hall of famer?

by connor on Feb 7, 2009 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

ya that joyce guy was a hell of a fighter.

by GSP4Prez on Feb 7, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions

darn right. That Severnson cat was a beast as well.

by SpiderStyle on Feb 7, 2009 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

maybe if you know anything about leites you’d know hes a badass grappler from brazil, silva has a lot of respect for the guy and isnt a total mismatch maybe standing but i think silva will wanna out grapple him, it might just be to help solidify him as the top all around fighter in MMA he already beat rich franklin one of the best strikers in a standup destruction, now leites is one of the best in bjj at 185 why not let him destroy him too? leites is just relatively unknown maybe undeserving but not a 100% mismatch

by randy murders on Feb 7, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I know he got his a## whooped by Nate Marquardt,and then he said he did not think that Nate deserved a rematch because he knew he would get beat worse the second time around ,do not even act like this guy deserves a match with Anderson.

by scott on Feb 7, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

yeh man Silva is the shit dunno why a lot of people think that bisping would beat him though.if he stays on after his contract he should move up and fight evans or forest griffin it’d be a money maker easily

by trikone on Feb 7, 2009 11:59 AM EST reply actions

I say put him against Rampage!! Talk about a money maker!!

by ---Caesar--- on Feb 7, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions

But you dont think GSP vs Silva would be a money maker?
GSP is a bigger star and better fighter than rampage.

by mike22 on Feb 7, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

I’m pretty sure Soares said this months ago now.

by Dredg XI on Feb 7, 2009 12:13 PM EST reply actions

LOL, Bisping would get destroyed by Silva. I would LOVE to see that. He gets on my nerves…he dropped to MW and hasn’t fought any tough competition…maybe the crippler, but he was on roids! I think the UFC gives him tailor made fights, they don’t want him getting beat because they like having him as the most recognizable fighter in the UK. If he loses a few fights his popularity would decline a lot. Let the count fight Silva, I would just love to see him get his big mouth shut.

by Savage on Feb 7, 2009 12:15 PM EST reply actions

fighting someone juiced up is gonna be tougher and people have forgot that he gave the current lhw champ his toughest fight to date.

by scott on Feb 7, 2009 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

UHH?Last time I checked Tito would have gotten the win if they would not have taken a point away from him.So odviously that would make Tito his toughest match up to date

by scott on Feb 7, 2009 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

I dont know why everyone wants to see GSP fight Anderson, if GSP has to move up a weight class he will be a differant fighter. His body, weight and how athletic he is at his size are what makes him great. I would not like to see that, GSP is the best in his weight class and Anderson is the best in his weight class, if they were to fight anytime in the near future I think Anderson would kill him. There is know need to have guys jumping weight classes BJ has proven that to us. Maybe the UFC needs to explore and OPEN WEIGHT DIVISION for guys that want to fight someone out of there class, grudge matches etc.

by Spyder on Feb 7, 2009 12:26 PM EST reply actions

thers a decent chance in a few years he will have to move up naturally

by Egads on Feb 7, 2009 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

I tend to agree, Especially now with fighters so dialed into their bodys. I think as the sport progreses further, superfights like this will be less attractive. I’m not saying a guy can’t jump up (obviuosly Silva did it) and win, but to send a top tier guy up to fight another top tier guy will happen less, IMO.

by Jrandolph on Feb 7, 2009 10:41 PM EST up reply actions

at 1st i didnt like the spider cuz im a franklin fan. but now i think this guy is the best, one of my favorite fighters that would be crazy if he fought anyone at heavy wieght

by R.e.s on Feb 7, 2009 12:33 PM EST reply actions

It would be crazy for him to fight Brock, he’s not big enough and would never get out from under him until the ref stopped the fight. Brock would just bull rush him to get him down and that concrete block for a head of his could take a few shots on the way in.

by Gord on Feb 7, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

…There’s so many great match ups for Silva at 205..Griffin,Liddel..how about Rashad/Silva… great challenges for him.

by rawbert on Feb 7, 2009 12:53 PM EST reply actions

see, greedy s.o.b.’s can be benificial

by Joe Da Man on Feb 7, 2009 1:13 PM EST reply actions

thank fuck for that..best news ive heard all week!

by Randy for Couture on Feb 7, 2009 1:25 PM EST reply actions

I would love to see someone ko this guy and would love to see gsp pound his face into the mat. It would have to be a dry humping/ground and pound fest but gsp has just as good a chance as any 185 lber. Gsp isn’t stupid and wouldn’t kick box the whole night with him, I think gsp would do WAY better than everyone thinks, its not all about size, gsp is just a better fighter than penn. And is more of a complete and well rounded fighter than silva, silvas only advantage is reach and better mauy tia skills.

keith jardine says gsp is STRONGER than most lightheavy weights so I think the strength thing isn’t an issue and he takes rashad evans the lightheavy weight champ down almost at will, I for one would like to see this fight if gsp dismantles alves. Gsp has amazing take down skills, can pass anyones guard, and he has no chance with silva? I think he does. What did strength have to do with gsp out striking penn, the mans improving and in time IMO would be a real threat to silva. It would make my year to see gsp embarrass silva and take his belt from him, and retire with two belts :P

by nathan on Feb 7, 2009 1:29 PM EST reply actions

Silva should give up the belt, and then fight his way through the division again, so we can see him destroy everyone in the division. I’d really like to see a rematch with Marquardt since he’s looked amazing the past few fights. I would also like to see match ups like Silva-Kang, Silva-Leben 2 (the first was sooo funny given Leben’s pre-fight speech), Silva-Almeida, Silva-Palhares, Silva-Gumby (only too see Gumby get mashed), etc.

by Belisarius on Feb 7, 2009 2:05 PM EST reply actions

This guy will think again when Bisping breaks him to pieces.

by Tony on Feb 7, 2009 2:08 PM EST reply actions

ya?

by SoCalStunNa on Feb 7, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

:O!!!! Quick we someone get the paramedics cuz we have a crazy on this site!!!!

by TheEder on Feb 7, 2009 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

I have said from the f*cking beginning, HE IS NOT going to retire.

No one in MMA has done it when they peaked or at the top. NOT going to happen

by Nicky on Feb 7, 2009 2:18 PM EST reply actions

until Fedor decides to retire

by SoCalStunNa on Feb 7, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

I think WANDY (who is being rumored to cut down to 185 for his next fight) would be a fun fight to watch!

i think WANDY could be very successfull at 185.

A. Silva should definately kepp testing waters at 205, but it’s too damn bad he won’t fight Machida.

Anderson Silva (at 205) vs. Forrest, QJax, Rashad, Liddell, Jardine, Tito (yes lol), Mousassi (sp),

ALSO, WTF is with Dana giving Thales Leites a shot, passing up Okami AGAIN…

by SoCalStunNa on Feb 7, 2009 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Okami is boring as fuck and impossible to market.

by jay on Feb 7, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

He deserves his shot tho, he ahs been passed multiple times. His only loss in the UFC is to Rich Franklin (who i still think won the Hendo fight).

by SoCalStunNa on Feb 7, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

why you gotta put lol by Tito,but he beat Forrest and Rashad(yes I know it was a BS draw)

by scott on Feb 7, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

because i was waiting for the negative comments about Tito( he’s one of my all time favorites).

The Draw was NOT BS, he continually grabbed the ncage to avoid the takedown/slam. His own dumb fault, because he CLEARLY had the win.

by SoCalStunNa on Feb 7, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions

5 more fights is about right. First this jabroni in the spring then a mega fight with GSP. Then the Hendo Bisping winner then damian miai if he continues to win then okami if he continues to win.

What I’d rather see is this jabroni get hurt and be replaced by Cung Le or Victor Belfor. Then a mega fight with GSP then wanderlei should he sring together a few wins first then hendo or bisping

by hatteras on Feb 7, 2009 2:27 PM EST reply actions

Silva needs to take on Chuck after Chuck kicks Shogun’s useless ass.

by Jeremyjackson on Feb 7, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions

I knew it… Very good to hear. I love to see Anderson fight.

by belfort_fan on Feb 7, 2009 5:27 PM EST reply actions

Ed Soares is the man.

Dude manages like 8 fighters and I’ve never heard him say 1 douchey thing about anyone and he is a translator.

Juanito take notes.

by DirtyML on Feb 7, 2009 6:25 PM EST reply actions

So how does blow job Penn get an immediate title shot at the WW belt, but Anderson Silva can’t get one at LHW belt. I personally think he can de throne Rashad Evans and many more top 205’ers. I dont care much to see him at MW anymore. I don’t care for a rematch against Marquardt or Henderson Either. Dana White stop being stupid and give the spider a title shot at LHW already? Why are you wasteing the mans valuable time? What the Fawk was Cote doing fighting for the belt? Thiago Leites??? whats up with that? Let Bisping, Hendo, Marquardt, Leites, Cote and Okami all fight each other for top contender.

by danny_c on Feb 7, 2009 7:51 PM EST reply actions

GSP would take him to teh ground and control him for however long it takes until the ref would call a stop to it

by GSP on Feb 8, 2009 2:45 AM EST reply actions

I hope that Silva does not retire. He is one of the best fighters there has ever been. Silva vs. St. Pierre would be the greatest fight that the UFC could ever make.

by E. Fairway on Feb 8, 2009 12:16 PM EST reply actions

I think it’s been mentioned by the Black House camp before that they decided Not to pursue the LHW belt. I don’t think Dana had anything to do with that. The reasoning was that Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida are good friends and training partners. So, for right now, they’ve decided to Lyoto Machida have his run and hopefully get a title shot at the LHW.

Let’s now forget that Paulo Filho never came to the UFC because the Black House didn’t want to pit two of their fighters against each other.

by aman on Feb 9, 2009 12:13 AM EST reply actions

Silva; G.O.A.T. Many wanna be right fight after fight but doubting him is a mistake. The most strong, skilled, technical, intelligent and hungry fighter in MMA. Hard to bet against him. He dismantles everyone. Guy has the heart and hunger of a Michael Jordan. Makes top contenders look like amateurs and constantly outthinks them. He is the only reason I watch MMA.

by E-Dub on Feb 10, 2009 1:26 AM EST reply actions