Anderson Silva Appears on Video for the 1st Time Post UFC 168 Leg Break

Anderson Silva's recovery from the leg break he suffered at UFC 168 is going to be a lengthy process, but it seems the former champion's spirit and smile are still in order.

Earlier this week, Dr. Steven Sanders, who performed the surgery, said a pre-operation Silva was asking when he could get back to train and then set a loose timeline of six to nine months before the pound-for-pound great could get back into the gym. Where that news provided some insight into what the road ahead will look like for the former middleweight king, there was not much detail the surgeon could provide into the fighter's demeanor.

On Thursday, a video posted by Zombie Prophet on YouTube showed the Brazilian Muay Thai machine not only up on crutches less than a week from surgery but smiling in the company of his friends and family. That's a great sign for an athlete that suffered a devastating injury six days prior, and it shows the 38-year-old appears to be keeping things in a positive realm.

While there is no way to tell at this point if Silva will ever compete inside the Octagon again, Dr. Sanders did tell the media that a person's attitude is a huge element to their recovery. In addition to being one of the most prolific finishers in UFC history, the fighter regarded as the "greatest of all time" is also known for his light-hearted sense of humor. 

Those elements will certainly factor into his recovery from the violent leg break he suffered in his rematch against Chris Weidman at UFC 168—where in the second round a checked leg kick from the champion resulted in Silva snapping his tibia and fibula bones. He was operated on a short time later, and the surgery consisted of a titanium rod being inserted in his left leg.