Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen Results: Is the Time Right for Silva to Retire?

Greatness is not an easy thing to harness. That’s particularly true in a sport as demanding as MMA, where athletes go through the rigors of training just to have a chance to go get punched in the face for 15 minutes a few times a year.

Grueling doesn’t even begin to describe it, really.

Which makes what Anderson Silva has done all the more impressive. He’s 15-0 in the UFC, has defended the middleweight title 10 times, won a couple of fights at light heavyweight and only been to decision on nights he decided he didn’t want to finish the man across the cage from him.

After defeating Chael Sonnen, his greatest nemesis and toughest challenge, for a second time at UFC 148, he is undeniably the greatest fighter the sport has ever seen.

So, what better time than now to walk away?

He’s a man with nothing left to prove. He’s the biggest athlete in Brazil, and he's rich beyond his wildest dreams after smashing men in the octagon since 2006 and securing massive sponsorship deals with companies like Nike and Burger King.

He’s beaten everyone—everyone—who matters at 185lbs, and while people will say there will always be another challenge, this time there isn’t. Is Mark Munoz more of a threat than Sonnen? Chris Weidman? Michael Bisping?

No, no and no.

The only things left to even consider are fantasy matchups like Silva taking on Georges St-Pierre or Jon Jones, and even those aren’t foregone conclusions.

St-Pierre is an intriguing stylistic matchup, but he’s a natural welterweight who would give up incredible size to fight Silva.

Jones could pose problems due to his size, athleticism and excellent wrestling base, but we’ve seen those guys come along in the past and be left staring at the lights after a highlight-reel strike from Silva.

If that’s all that’s left for the man, fantasy matchmaking or wailing on guys who don’t have a hope of besting him, it’s time for Anderson Silva to pack it in. More than any man in the history of the sport before him, he has nothing left to prove. The longer he stays, the more he risks a decline in skill and a loss to a man who doesn’t deserve to be the one to beat the streak.

As it stands, if he left mixed martial arts tomorrow, he’d be remembered with the same revere that the Fedor Emelianenkos and Randy Coutures of the world are: as great champions who transcended the game itself.

It’s time to hang up those trademark yellow shorts and go out as so many before only wish they could have: on top.