Dana White: It's probably the end of the road for Wanderlei Silva
Posted on July 3, 2011, 01:16 PM by Joey SantosusAs far as Wanderlei (Silva) goes, I say this all the time, "You can sit and break down fights and say this fight should go like this, this fight should go like that." People knew that him and Leben were going to come out and they were going to throw until somebody fell down and it was Wanderlei tonight. People love him so much because of the way he fights and his style and the type of person he is, but yea probably the end of the road for Wanderlei. - Dana White speaking at the UFC 132 Post-Fight Press Conference
In one of the most anticipated bouts of the year, Wanderlei Silva and Chris Leben went head to head in the UFC 132 co-main event. As expected, the two fearless strikers met in the middle of the octagon and began slinging leather until one of them dropped. In the end, it was Leben who emerged victorious, picking up his fourth win in five outings, while "The Axe Murderer" lost his third over the same stretch of match-ups. According to UFC President Dana White, it now appears that last night's fight, which was the legendary Brazilian's first in nearly a year and a half, may have also been his last.
Largely in part to his aggressive "take no prisoners" fighting style, Silva rose to the pinnacle of his career while competing in the Japanese MMA organization Pride FC. Over the course of approximately five-years, he strung together an impressive 20-fight unbeaten streak, during which he defeated Kazushi Sakuraba for the second time to capture the promotion's inaugural Middleweight title.
Photo: Scott Hirano
Comments
Really hope he carries on fighting
I agree, but seeing him getting Ko'ed every fight sucks... Google: Pride Wandelei Silva. Its a LEGEND! If me and my son (1,2 years) are old enough to talk about MMA. I'm gonna say: Fedor, Wanderlei, Henderson, Rampage, Lidell, Couture, Ortiz.. Etc... Man, MMA = Awesome
KO'ed every fight? When? He has only been ko'ed a few times and over a number of years. The last guy to KO him was Rampage!
hope he retire dont wanna see him get ko again
I was really disappointed by Wandy last night. After seeing the way he fought Bisbing I truly believed that he was starting a new chapter in his career as an intelligent, technical fighter. If he had fought like that last night he might have won. Instead he tried to go blow for blow like he used to and got KTFO. If he is going to continue to fight like that he should retire. If he fights like he did against Bisbing then he could beat most of the guys in his division.
Agree. I was so mad when i saw him fight like that. That was so stupid ! Fighters like Chuck and Wand could have stayed in the game a lil longer if they decided to evolve with the sport and not expect to get away with a crazy brawl everytime.
people on here are really being dillusional about wand. The time has come, he is finished at this level. He wont be making a run for the title, starting a new chapter or whatever bull people are saying. Come on people, dont keep thinking about pride. The sport has moved on, and his style of being super aggressive going for the ko is exciting but not smart. People might not like my comment but its true.
aaa
That's brawl style is the reason why we really always watch fighters.Its not silva's fault if he wants to bring an exciting fight,.actually we should appreciate him for having the guts and not afraid of whatever happen.I'd rather watch silva fight getting KO'd trying to finish his opponent having the guts than fall to sleep watching boring fight for being afarid to loose,always on safety mode.
Are you listening GSP???your a good man but lately your always on safety mode,..
Watch the Bisbing fight and tell me Wand isn't capable of fighting a smart, technical fight and beating pretty much anyone aside from Anderson Silva.
@ichoke. so you will keep going back to the bisping fight? He has shown it once, its not his style ,never has been and never will be. and beating pretty much anyone aside from anderson? what about leben? and franklin? Have you seen his ufc record. He has been on a huge decline for some time. you are in the delusional bracket for sure. So after another loss he will soon be going for the title, seeing as the only person that he cant beat is anderson!
It shows what he is capable of and is his most recent fight.
@ichoke. let wand have belfort, that wil be another knock out loss. Then let him have stann, another loss. Yes these are only my opinions, but far more likely than yours!
if wand had stayed technical he would of won but the reason why he is such a awesome fighter is also the reason for his downfall
@lowkickdodger. thats exactly it, he hasnt evolved. He goes for the win now with all guns blazing just as he did when smashing people in pride.
at the same time when a fighter who normally has exciting brawls decides away from that the people who call themselves fans are quick to talk shit about them for not "brawling" and then calls them boring
He didn't in his last fight.
Wanderlie is DONE. Last night showed it. Simple as that. If he keeps fighting he will get serious brain damage.
No, last night showed that when two guys swing wildly someone gets KTFO. If Wandy had fought intelligently like he did in his last fight the outcome could have been very different.
Dude Wandy's done man. If he had fought a different fight he COULD have pulled out a win, but like ck1 said pair him up with guys like Belfort, Stann, or anyone else with good power in his hands and Wandy gets KO'd. Like most fighters from his Era, Wandy has absorbed an obscene amount of punishment and going on any longer would just be irresponsible and dangerous.
the guy was away for over a year. If Dana can give Tito another shot after going 0-5 he can give Wandy who has actually been winning and beating top guys like Jardine and Bisping another chance
i dont want to see wand retired, but he will do w/e he thinks its right for him and his fam
What is all of this talk about Wandy having no chin?!? Who has KOd him? Rampage who can KO ANYONE and Lieban who can also KO anyone. Look at the few KO losses that Wandy has had. They have been well spaced out and have come from the who's who of knock out artists. There is nothing wrong with Wandy's chin.
I am also a fan of Wandi of course, but you are incorrect here. He has been knocked out 4 times in his last 8 fights. Leben, Rampage, Hendo, and Cro Cop. All respectable opponents who have several knockout wins on their record tho. But that's not good for anyone.
In all fairness, the other two people you added to that list (Hendo and Cro Cop) fight in a weight class higher than Wand, and are capable of knocking out pretty much anyone there. Not that Cro Cop has done anything lately.
Look at how far apart those fights are.
Also, as I stated above, that is a who's who list of KO artists.
100% agree. I'm just saying that it's not a good trend for anyone, especially an aging veteran. In that same course of time, the knockout machine that once was "The Axe Murderer," only has one KO victory to name, which was Keith Jardine in 2008.
It doesn't matter who has KO'd you, getting KO'd PERIOD is bad for the chin and it's a real dangerous health hazard. Nobody wants to see guys like Chuck and Wandy become the poster children of brain damage in MMA especially when it can be avoided and they have other avenues open to them(becoming trainers, spokespeople for MMA, announcers, etc.).
He should retire. Those KO's against Cro Cop, Hendo and Rampage were complete-put-to-sleep KOs. His health is way too important for him not to.
Get real guys... nothing wrong with Wandy in my opinion. he definetly failed at light-heavyweights but had an impressive middleweight debute and then had to layoff for 1,5 years for surgery, He is now healthy and comes back to face an opponent in a 50-50 type of fight, where he countered and rocked him before he got blasted by some really heavy shots.
To me he is just 1-1 in the middleweight division and its very stupid to say he is done. The leben fight wasnt a smart move at this point of his career, and no matter how you see it they both did what they allways do and leben scored hardest, shit happens. He deserves a couple of more fights before his fate is decided....and yes i agree he has to evolve his game against this new breed of fighters
It is sad to see so many legends go down against these new age fighters,but the sport's got to evolve.This was prettyy much the best matchup for him at this time,for Leben is gonna bring it and we all know that.It would have been better to have a technical fight but those two fighters are in the UFC for the fans and always wanna finish the fights.That is there style,that's what makes them the great fighters they are.If i was Dana i would not let Wand go but find him another "veteran" to fight.This guy will never surrender and means everything to the sport.Loads of respect for these guys.Kida
Personally im glad ... the guy has won 2 fights in six freakin" years.
He must know how to blow Dana just right .. anybody else would have been out on their ass 3yrs ago.
He WAS a good fighter .. but he hasn't been that guy for about half a decade.
Let the weaks commence ...
we all love wanderlei for the way he fights. when he enters the octagon/ring its ON...no prisoners. imo he would still win fights if he would act more strategic. hope he doesn't retire yet.
These people are gonna weak the hell out of your comment
Probably the best showman in the ring, it will be a shame to see his career ended. I've been glued to MMA since I first saw it, and like any sport it has evolved so much, not that Silva hasn't, but he is no longer a 25 year old.
This isn't golf where guys can compete into the later years unless your one of those freak of natures such as Randy. Silva is a true ambassador to the sport of mixed martial arts, and will always be regarded as one of the most exciting fighters to put on gloves.
:(