Should Wanderlei Silva Retire If He Loses to Brian Stann at UFC on Fuel TV 8?

Wanderlei Silva hasn’t strung together a two fight win-streak inside the same calender year since 2005. In his last 10 bouts he’s secured just three victories, and while victories over Michael Bisping and Cung Le make for two of those three wins, one must call into question Silva’s place in today’s mixed martial arts picture.

“The Axe Murderer” was once considered the greatest 205-pound fighter in the world, steamrolling foes in Pride from 1999 to 2005. In fact, in that stretch Silva dropped only three fights, the same amount he’s won since September of 2006.

Talk about stark career contrast.

Silva went from a man to fear to a man to boost the stock of rising competitors in the span of roughly half a decade. The heavy handed Brazilian was once praised for his vicious punching power, but it’s now Silva who often finds himself waking in the cage, his corner and cage-side physicians huddled in concern.

It is in truth a sad career turn for a man who deserved to exit the sport on a high note. The likelihood of that happening now seems like little more than a pipe dream. Wanderlei Silva simply cannot compete with the truly diverse combatants cluttering the sport today.

When a fighter has been knocked out in four of his last 10 fights, it’s time to begin placing health and safety at the forefront of all priorities. No one wants to see Wanderlei Silva walk away from MMA challenged in the simplest tasks, such as speaking.

Silva will collide with another blossoming talent in Brain Stann come March 3 at UFC on Fuel TV 8. Should he secure victory, and avoid an abundance of damage, it may well prove that Silva’s best days haven’t completely dissipated. However, if Stann—who possesses some frightening finishing capabilities himself—disposes of Silva, particularly in violent fashion, it may finally be time for Dana White to intervene and save Silva from himself.

The man is a living legend, and I like the idea of him living a healthy cognizant lifestyle post-fighting career. The image of Silva drooling over a plate of food he’s struggling to understand, let alone eat, just doesn’t sit well.

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