Anderson Silva has Five UFC Fights Left

By now, most of us should be familiar with Anderson’s retirement talk. Silva, now 33, would likely be 35 when he fulfills his current UFC contract. While devastating to his fans, it might be the smartest thing Silva has done. But is he serious? Time will only give us that answer.

We have all watched what has happened to UFC veterans like Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes. While they are not dead and buried yet, many would argue that they are holding on longer than necessary. Then there is a whole different class of fighter, like Ken Shamrock or Mark Kerr, but we won’t go there.

Instead, let’s focus on what the current champ might be doing right. Could he be the Seinfeld of MMA? If you are familiar with the popular television show, then you realize that they went out on top. If Seinfeld isn’t your show, perhaps Friends is a more appropriate comparison.

Like TV shows, fighters often don’t know when to let go. But a few get the timing right. And when it's one of the greats, it’s always bittersweet.

If Silva does retire when he's said, he could potentially leave the octagon with a 13-0 record.

With that being said: What would you like the last five seasons of The Anderson Silva Show to look like? I use seasons instead of episodes, but whatever metaphor works for you, so be it.

We are familiar with the last season. It wasn’t one of his more popular. Sometimes fighters, like artists, take chances and sometimes we afford them creative license. However, this time, he left his audience scratching their head and far from entertained.

People get used to routines. Why should it be any different then with a fighter’s performance?

While we may never know what Silva was attempting to show us, we can rest assured it will not happen again. Instead of focusing on the past, let’s look forward to the first of five fights.

It could be the beginning of the end for the “Anderson Silva Era” and one of the most critically acclaimed shows the UFC has ever aired.

Let’s begin by looking at some possibilities for his next fight.

1. Anderson Silva vs. Chuck Liddell: UFC 93, 94, or 95 (in England)

With his last fight flopping with the critics and fans alike, Anderson needs to reassert himself as the most dominant striker in MMA. His billing as a fighter who “finishes” was tarnished. Enter the old-guard’s best striker: Chuck Liddell.

While many feel that Liddell’s show should be canceled, he still generates high ratings. Higher then Anderson Silva in fact; Silva hasn’t proven he can carry a fight card on his own. The pay-per-view numbers for UFC 90, still pending, could show his first breakthrough.

Some will say that Liddell would be destroyed and perhaps they are right. But everyone would watch. There is a lot of symbolism in combat. This would be a fight between the best P4P in the world taking on a UFC legend and one of the best strikers of all time.

Sure, the Liddell brand is tarnished forever; Jardine and Evans made sure of that. But remember Wanderlei Silva? Chuck can still strike with the best of them and is capable of epic fights. He is capable of knocking someone out as quickly as Rashad knocked him out.

So what’s the symbolism here: passing of the torch? New breed striker vs. old. While the torch has already been passed, in terms of Silva being the best, a knock out of Liddell, delivered by Silva, would shatter it once and for all.

And if Chuck can catch Anderson with one of his devastating KO punches, then it’s a whole new ballgame in the UFC. Are you sure you don’t want to see this fight happen?

One note: I was unable to pinpoint the location a UFC event because there are rumors that Anderson might fight as early as UFC 91 or on the free “fight for the troops” card on Spike TV. While that might be great for fans, I hope he doesn’t rush his next season.

I personally don’t want him to see him beat up another tomato can in 60 seconds, no disrespect to James Irvin intended. With that being said...

2. Anderson Silva vs. Tomato Can: UFC 91 or “Fight for the Troops” card

I will be brief, as brief as a fight with Tomato Can would be. Tomato cans don’t seem to have a good record in the UFC. Unless, of course, they are fighting another Tomato Can. Think: Houston Alexander vs. James Irvin. It only took Irvin eight seconds to spill Alexander’s tomato paste all over the octagon.

As much as we would like to see Anderson back in the cage, sooner rather then later, don’t you want him fighting someone that will at least make it to the second half of the first round? Then again, some people just want to see a devastating knockout.

You can use your imagination on which fighter the UFC would put in the octagon as a sacrificial lamb. Think someone who has nothing to lose and/or someone who is filling to fight on a moments notice without regard to the consequences.

Both middleweight and light heavyweight would be fair game. My guess is he will want to fight someone in the heavier division although but cant be too picky when asking for a fight on a few weeks notice.

3. Anderson Silva vs. Keith Jardine

There has been a lot of recent fanfare on this website for a possible Silva/Jardine fight. One reason this fight might not happen is there is less upside for Silva and the UFC. Keith Jardine would be the big winner, minus suffering a devastating knockout.

A Silva fight with Liddell would do much bigger numbers, have much more symbolism, and be more relevant to both fighters’ careers. The only downside for the UFC is they are diminishing the star power of one of these fighters. And Dana White is probably sacrificing one of his good friends in Chuck Liddell.

So maybe the Jardine fight could happen after all.

But Jardine has already taken out two of the UFC’s more marketable fighters, in Liddell and Vera, with his awkward yet effective style. Jardine would either frustrate the current champion or he would be left lying unconscious, a la his fight with the other Silva.

Would the UFC want to risk a third fighter in Anderson Silva?

And, on top of that, why make Silva climb that ladder everyone else has to? We all know how great he is, so why waste time. If Brock can get a title shot in only his third UFC fight, then why not let Silva get a crack at as soon as possible? With that said...

4. Anderson Silva vs. The Loser of Forrest/Rashad or Rampage/Wanderlei at UFC 96 (rumored to be in Ohio) or UFC 97 (location/date yet to be determined).

I have a feeling of a lot of you may be much more drawn to one of these potential matchups. All of the fighters, specifically the two that lose, could potentially be available for UFC 96, which is rumored to be on Mar. 7. That would give them 10 weeks to be ready to fight.

On second thought, UFC 97 in April, might be more appropriate timing for Silva vs. Silva or Silva vs. Jackson. Sounds cool just writing it. If that is what the UFC would like to give us, then Silva can fight anytime between UFC 91 and UFC 94 and be ready for a real superfight at light heavyweight.

But what about the Middleweight division?

5. Anderson Silva vs. the No. 1  Middleweight contender? : At UFC (whenever someone is available).

Who is the No. 1 contender anyway: Michael Bisping, Dan Henderson, Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt, or Thales Leites? None of these men have beat Rich Franklin. What happens if “Ace”  beats Dan Henderson. Is it irrelevant to the middleweight division since they are fighting at 205?

Regardless, I am not sure if Silva fighting at 185 is good for anyone. At least not until we have a clear cut No. 1 contender, a la Thiago Alves at welterweight. You can argue about who you would like to see Silva fight at middleweight, but I think most of us have moved on after UFC 90.

In Conclusion

If he makes the move to light heavyweight, it should be permanent. He should fight Liddell, or Jardine, or fight a light-heavyweight tomato and then fight one of the losers in Scenario Four. If he wins those two fights, at light heavyweight, then he gets a title shot; maybe at UFC 100.

That uses up three of his five fights. The last two you can figure out on your own!