I would call this an April Fool's joke, but it came out last Sunday night.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Anderson Silva continues to pad his resume as he rehabilitates from the devastating leg injury that sidelined him back in December.
"The Spider" is now studying law enforcement at the Los Angeles Police School, according to Folha de Sao Paulo, in order to honor his family members who took up crime fighting, while the Brazilian was busy kicking butt inside the cage.
MMA Fighting has the translation:
"I train every morning, take my kids to school and go to the police school. I'm studying at the Los Angeles School Police Department. I'm studying to become a police officer. It's a personal wish, something that will make my uncle happy. He thought it was a little weird that I'm not doing this here (in Brazil), but it wasn't the right time. My brothers are police officers, my nephews are police officers. It's a family thing."
Is normal.
At 38 years old, Silva (33-6) has no intention of becoming a full-time cop, or part-time television lawman like his chicken-hating battle buddy Steven Seagal, but getting schooled in police tactics will help get his uncle off his back, who has been hounding the ex-champ about his civic duty.
The Brazilian is not expected to return to mixed martial arts (MMA) until 2015, despite the remarkable progress he's made following leg surgery. Until then, he will continue teaching at his Muay Thai college while pulling double duty as Johnny Law.
For more on Silva's UFC future click here.