Anderson Silva not close to retirement

[tn94z]

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Speculation ran wild just over a year ago when UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva talked about his possible retirement from the sport. It looks like that talk has subsided and the Brazilian is focused on the biggest fights out there for him.

He's not planning on going anywhere, any time soon.

With a fight against Vitor Belfort on the horizon, Silva is committed to defending his middleweight title in April. Afterwards the future is bright for the champ, but undetermined as to what weight class he'll be competing in.

Silva's manager, Ed Soares, spoke to MMAWeekly Radio this week and commented about his client's future in the UFC.

"I think the important thing is to really create the biggest fights possible," Soares said. "I think Anderson's got a good two, three years probably. He's got a good eight or nine fights probably left in him for sure, maybe more. He doesn't take too much damage, and the fact that he doesn't take damage in the fights, it's really more or less the training."

Soares opened up the possibility of more fights for Silva at light heavyweight or even heavyweight if the match-ups are there. Silva's last trip to 205 pounds resulted in an absolute drubbing of former champion Forrest Griffin in August 2009.

"I believe the last fights of his career will definitely be big fights. That's what he wants, to have the big fights, regardless of what the weight is," Soares commented. "Whether it's at light heavyweight, whether it's at heavyweight, whether it's at a catchweight, doesn't make a different. He just wants to challenge himself and be involved in some of the biggest fights that the UFC can put together."

The possibilities are endless as to who Silva could face in the future, and Soares believes that the UFC is the place his fighter needs to be to get those mega-fights.

"The fans are going to dictate who they want to see," said Soares. "Of course the UFC makes those decisions, but with the talent pool the UFC has, there's not going to be a lack of big fights for Anderson or for any of our fighters."

First, Anderson Silva defends his UFC middleweight title in April against current top contender Vitor Belfort at UFC 112, currently expected to take place in Abu Dhabi."

This is great news. I love watching Anderson fight.

[FUZO]

TweetWho knows belfort might win. Dan henderson won that first round with him then made a mistake. Its to bad that dan and silva couldnt of fought again

[tn94z]

TweetI agree. Paulo Fihlo says that Vitor will beat Anderson. Yeah, I wanted to see Dan and Anderson II

[diablo]

TweetI dont know man, you really think that Vitor will win? I mean I have seen Vitor get beat down pretty bad, I mean he has some skill dont get me wrong but Silva has mad precision and skill that Vitor, I dont believe, will be able to match.

[jipped genes]

Tweeti think andersons reach and footwork will keep any of vitors shots from landing flush and he will wear him down.

starting with lindland vitor hasnt fought more than 1 round in any of his late fights and as we know he has shown a ferocious start and then tapers off

[tn94z]

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I dont know man, you really think that Vitor will win? I mean I have seen Vitor get beat down pretty bad, I mean he has some skill dont get me wrong but Silva has mad precision and skill that Vitor, I dont believe, will be able to match.

Oh no. That is just what Paulo said. I don't think there is anyone that will beat Anderson right now.

[diablo]

TweetYea, he is really on his game man. Its because I dont think he looks at fighting as fighting such as Ortiz and Chuck, he breaks it down into a science (like GSP, BJ Penn) and he is very successful at it!