This is it. Time to retire Wanderlei. It won’t get any better than Sunday for anyone in the sport of MMA.
Wanderlei Silva defeated a very good opponent, Brian Stann, in a good fight, by his preferred method, in a place where he is considered a legend and near the end of a fifteen year plus fight career.
Brian Stann is no joke. A little under a year ago he fought Chael Sonnen for what could have been a shot at the UFC middle weight title.
He held a WEC title at one time and after yesterday has a record of 12 – 6. Three of those losses are against very good fighters – Chael, Bisping and now W. Silva – and are from the last four fights.
The last time Stann lost via KO (and it’s only happened once before) was in ‘08 so being able to say you KO’d Stann is something to brag about.
The fight between Silva and Stann was pretty good. Even better on a night with so many results going to a decision.
Both fighters received post fight bonuses, which means Dana White or someone at the UFC was happy. There were plenty of heavy exchanges and at times both fought at a frantic pace.
Silva even fought through some adversity (low blow) and put the fight beyond doubt when he followed Stann to the ground. This was no Pride ‘gimme’ fight. Silva fought and won that victory on his own.
After six and a half years, Silva got his KO victory in Japan. Sure it wasn’t knees or a soccer kick but it was where he is loved the most: Japan.
With fading memories of his Pride Championships days, the Japanese fans still appreciated his hard swinging, stand in the pocket fighting style. True, they would turn up to watch Silva fight a random drunk wearing a chick outfit on a Monday night but Silva made his MMA bones destroying good opponents. The loyalty between Japanese fans and Silva is immeasurable.
But we’ve seen these circumstances before. The lure to continue for just one more run at the title – look at Chuck Liddell and BJ Penn, will be too much after such a definitive win for an ageing fighter.
Silva is a top class fighter that needs to complete because of a drive to win most of us would deem illogical – where we see pain arriving to our heads via a punch or a kick he sees victory via the same to his foe.
Wanderlei doesn’t see the downside to fighting. Only upside. The chance for Silva to compete against the best, to bask in the glory of an adoring crowd after a championship victory will be too much to resist.
That, and any promoter watching, or listening, to the reaction of the Japanese crowd will mean they send money by the truckload to his doorstep to keep him fighting and the crowds coming back (but I don’t think Silva is interested in the money).
The MMA gods have shone their light upon Silva one last time and he should ascend into the heavens while the going is good. But unfortunately I get the feeling Wanderlei ’The Axe Murderer’ Silva will be tempted to stay for one more run.
At the age of 36 he shouldn’t. Hang them up, Wanderlei, and show the MMA world that you are not only a legendary MMA fighter but one of the very smart ones too.
MMADoggzofwar
Roar Rookie
+1 He's a legend and will live on for what he has done for the sport of MMA PRIDE FC 4 LIFE! bring back the soccer kicks and knees to the head! hahaha! NO ELBOWS on the ground!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Nice article. same here, its because i like Silva that i want him to retire now. It's hard seeing him hurt each time he gets hit. You can feel the guy has endured some of the heaviest KOs in MMA in the last decade and it has taken its toll. I fear for his future tbh. Would like Dana to step in if needed.
MMADoggzofwar
Roar Rookie
Wanderlei - Love to see him retire but he's a fighter, doesnt know anything other than fighting so to take that away is literally his life..for his safety and wellbeing now is the time.. Mark Hunt - NOOB fans with no idea will have already written him off even before he fought in the UFC and his loss to McCorkle didnt help his cause (notice McCorkle's stock rose thru the roof after that win and he ended up just like the rest of the HW's that blew up around that time Duffie,Moorhead etc no longer with the company albeit Duffie I think who has re-signed) Alot of people based his likely performance on his record but like Lesnar, MH didnt have any really soft opponents, I mean who in there right mind fights Fedor in his prime knowing that you have about zero ground game?? and his losses (Barnett,Emelianenko,The Reem, Mousasi,Manhoef) all legends in there own right.. MH unless taken down will be the next HW champion, why because once he gets inside he will throw bombs and no one can take that punishment for too long. EVERYBODY knows his ground game is compared to the majority of HW beginner at best, but the Struve fight showed he has improved immensely (not world class, but better than the effort he showed back in the day and the effort aganist McCorkle) IMO only the upper echelon of HW fighters have a chance (CV,JDS,The Reem, Bigfoot everyone else is cannon fodder!) but lets be real peeps, Travis Browne? Levar Johnson? Big Country? NONE of them is going to bang with MH and you know they are all going to try to take him down however the UFC brass doesnt want to see the lay and pray and wants action so those guys may not want to take that avenue..Big Country if that fight happens will be the gauge.. Palelei in the UFC, given he is on a "win" streak, I am sorry but do not rate this guy at all. beating the bunch of hacks he has and the competition in the UFC is light years in difference, unless the fight ends quickly he will gas and get sub'd thnk for coming.
JazzyJase
Roar Pro
Wow - Soa will shake it up
RebelRanger
Guest
I'm hoping Mark Hunt gets a top 5 fighter as well. Getting sick of everyone calling him an overachiever and not giving credit where its due. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1553512-soa-the-hulk-palelei-signs-multi-fight-deal-to-return-to-ufc
Ronnie Liddle
Roar Rookie
thanks mate. just hope the article did justice to Wad. Yeah no arguement about Mark Hunt. everybody keeps writing him off... but he just keeps coming. i read somewhere he is currently on the longest winning streak in the heavyweight diviision (4 fights). not sure who he should fight next but he deserves someone in the top five now. i hope the winner of JDS or Reem but i think he'll get the loser instead. Breaking news: Pro MMA is reporting that Soa ‘The Hulk’ Palelei signed with the UFC. haven't verified because it's not on the UFC website and i can't see anything on Soa's Facebook about it (my mobile is hard to read) but fingers, crossed for Soa.
JazzyJase
Roar Pro
Top class article mate. Was a great bout, hats off to both fighters as that first round was arguably round of the year. Stann is a credible fighter as you mentioned but i didn't think he was capable of slugging with Silva in that fashion. It could have a been different result had that first round remained on the feet and not ending up on the floor I like Silva, have always been a massive fan. I think you hit nail on head that he should go one fight early than stay one fight too long. What a great return for Mark Hunt too. Whether he can continue his comeback against the big guns remains to be seen, but i sure hope he does