According to Anderson Silva, losing your middleweight title after a seven-year reign is "normal."
"Sometimes you win, sometimes you no win," Silva recently said in a very candid and matter-of-fact interview with Sirius XM "Fight Club."
The former 185-pound kingpin is, of course, set to take on new division champion, Chris Weidman, in their second clash at UFC 168 on Dec. 28, 2013 from MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Silva said he is "ready for the rematch," which will most likely end up being one of the most-watched pay-per-view (PPV) cards in UFC history.
"The new Anderson is coming," he boasted.
Many mixed martial arts (MMA) pundits and fans felt Silva disrespected Weidman with his in-fight histrionics, dropping his hands, among other things, during his UFC 162 loss.
The former champion disagrees.
"I don't disrespect my opponents," Silva said. "This is my strategy, my style of fight. People say ‘Anderson no respect the opponent, no respect Chris Weidman.' This is not real. I respect Chris Weidman. I respect my opponent."
Immediately after the knockout loss to Weidman (replay here), Silva told Joe Rogan inside the Octagon that he didn't want the "All American" rematch. That, of course, changed less than a week later when the second bout was announced.
Silva explained he received some coaxing from UFC President Dana White.
"The first time in my life and my career I get knocked out and I'm not happy," Silva explained. "The time I finished the fight, I'm no happy, but I go back to the hotel and three days Dana talked to me: 'This is very important for your legacy. We need you back. We need you to go for a rematch.' I talk to my coach, and my family. My coach say, ‘Yeah this is very important for you. They need you back. They need you to give for the fans one more fight. One more chance for the fans watching for the belt."
Regardless of the loss to Weidman and whatever outcome occurs in the rematch, the fighter who is often referred to as the greatest of all time feels his "legacy is complete."
"In UFC, I break all the old records," he said. "I stay the belt for seven years."
The 38-year-old Brazilian is "excited" about finishing the remaining fights on his 10-fight deal.
"I have one more fight for Chris Weidman," he said. "It's part of my contract. I win, no win. I straight my focus for the next and the new fights."
The rumored superfights against Jon Jones and Georges St. Pierre are still "possible," Silva said. "But my focus now is Chris Weidman, and next is my dream is the fight with Roy Jones Jr. in boxing."
Silva has no plans about hanging up the gloves anytime soon, either, and spoke of the fighters who have pushed the envelope in regards to age.
"My inspiration is Randy Couture, Dan Henderson... these guys... forties," he stated.
The former middleweight champion showed his sense of humor when he was asked what he would be doing if he wasn't a mixed martial artist. After R.J. Clifford asked Silva this question, the quick-witted Rickey Bones chimed in with, "A Michael Jackson impersonator?" A reference of course, to the famous PRIDE 21 walkout to Jackson's Don't stop til you get enough.
"Hee Hee," Silva said in his best Michael Jackson voice, before he, Clifford and Bones all starting laughing. "I love Michael Jackson. He's a part of my life."
After joking, Silva gave a possibility: "In my family is my dad and my brothers club in Brazil," he said. "So, I no fight maybe same career, the club in Brazil."
What about Steven Seagal? His name is always mentioned with regards to Silva and his training, although it has trailed off since the front-kick to the face knockout over Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.
Silva began to laugh as if he acknowledged how comical the 7th-dan Aikido black belt's presence has become in MMA.
"I have the new strategy for my next fight," he confessed. "I talk to Chuck Norris and Bolo Yeung for help for my next fight," he joked. "I try to talk to Jean-Claude Van Damme, but he no answer the phone," he continued. "I say, ‘Please call me, I need your help.'"
For a man that just lost the title he held for over seven years, he sounded in great spirits and was relaxed throughout his appearance on the show. He seems content in where he stands in the pantheon of MMA. Anything he accomplishes from here on out will only add to his legacy, but there isn't much that can take away from his accomplishments thus far in his career.
In preparation for his "Sin City" rematch, Silva said he won't "change much," as he is concentrating on straightening out his "focus."
"I go to my grandmaster in Thailand," he explained. "I go for training. I pick up back my energy, the marital arts and the new Anderson is coming. You'll see."
We will, we just have to wait another four months.