Wanderlei Silva is not going any where: “I can’t retire, I love to fight”

Given the recent climate of consistent retirement talk that Chuck Liddell, Quinton Rampage Jackson and Mirko Cro Cop have all faced over the past few months, you would think that former PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva would be contemplating the end of his career as well. But that is not the case according to “The Axe Murderer” who says he is enjoying fighting too much to quit now.

In a recent interview with Fighters Only Magazine Wanderlei spoke about the fighters he broke into the sport with that are beginning to call it a career, including his nemesis Quinton Rampage Jackson whom he believes will return to the Octagon.

Its tough no? All fighters my age are starting to stop! Its hard, its bad news!”

“I think he will come back. He is a great fighter and I think he will be back at some time in the future.” As for CroCop, “He was a great fighter too and he doesn’t need to stop, he just needs to train more for the next fight.”

Wanderlei also said that former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Randy Couture is a constant reminder that he is not done in the sport at only 33 years old.

“We have the great example of [Randy] Couture. He is 46 years old and he keeps going and he fights. I think he is a great example for all and so its down to him that I cannot stop, I need to go on.

“I don’t know, I love to fight. But Couture is one of a kind, you are not going to see another guy like him with his age giving his performance,” he said.”

While Silva has lost 5 of his last 6 fights he says that he has still remained entertaining, which UFC president Dana White loves.



“I lost a couple of fights but in my last four fights I have two of the best fights in history. My fight with Chuck Liddell was the best fight of 2008 and my fight with Rich Franklin is in the top three or top five of 2009,” he said, referring to his winning the ’Best Fight’ Award in last years World Mixed Martial Arts Awards.

“I love to fight and I know [Dana White] is happy with me and he gives me great opponents for me to give great shows for my fans around the world,” he explained.”

While Silva has maintained entertaining in the Octagon the truth is that the UFC is a “Win or go home”company and he will need to get a win in his next fight. Wanderlei is rumored to be facing off against another former icon in Japan in Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 108.

Hopefully in his next fight Wanderlei can show that he is not ready to retire and get a much needed win