Despite not having the best run inside the Octagon as of late, Anderson Silva will forever be remembered as one of the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters in the history of the sport.
Depending on who you ask, of course.
But you can’t fight forever, and the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion of the world knows his combat sports career will soon come to an end.
“I have three more and then it’s done,” Silva said during a recent media day (via MMA Fighting). “It’s over.”
At age 43, Silva doesn’t want to waste his final three fights by facing just any random opponent willing to step into the cage with him. On the contrary, “Spider” wants to ride off into the sunset having taken part in meaningful fights.
And they don’t come any bigger than Conor McGregor.
“At this point in my career, I believe that the good challenge is the superfight. I talk to [UFC president] Dana [White] about Georges St-Pierre, about McGregor, about McGregor especially because McGregor is a challenge, this fight. I just talk to Dana a lot about the fight that’s very interesting, fight to this guy. Because he’s an amazing fighter and a legend in this sports and let’s go see. That’s a good game, superfights, and it’s very interesting for my fans.”
Sure, Silva is a big 185-pounder who has competed at Light Heavyweight, but he says a catchweight between the two former champions is doable.
“I believe 180 is good for me and McGregor. So I just wait because I don’t control this. This is the question for Dana but maybe that this is an amazing fight for the fans.”
As far as fighting Georges St-Pierre, that likely won’t ever happen, as Silva says “Rush” simply isn’t about taking risks.
While a fight between McGregor and Silva sounds great on paper, it’s one that will be hard to get the green light for, given the obvious size disadvantage “Notorious” will be facing. And no amount of steak will make it a level playing field.
Then again, money talks.
Up next for Silva will be a 185-pound showdown against Israel Adesanya at UFC 234 on Feb. 19, 2019. And despite comparisons, the up-and-coming kickboxer is nothing like the former middleweight champion.
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