UFC 139 Fight Card: What a Loss Would Mean to Wanderlei Silva

It could be do or die for legendary MMA superstar Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139.

The former Pride middleweight champion is set to face Cung Le in a bout that could symbolize a rebirth or a swan song of one of the most storied careers in MMA history.

Silva is 2-6 in last eight bouts, with four of those losses ending by devastating knockout.

While Silva's skills are still intact, his ability to absorb punishment has obviously declined over the years. This wouldn't be as big of an issue if he demonstrated more finesse in the standup exchanges.

Unfortunately for "The Axe Murderer," he has maintained a berserker-like style his entire career, but after numerous wars, he no longer has the chin to keep up with such an aggressive style of fighting.

A loss could mean the end of Silva's UFC run.

UFC President Dana White could offer Silva one more fight depending on the outcome of the Le bout, but if Silva is stopped again in violent fashion, it would put the UFC in a tough spot.

Silva is a legend, but there are a plethora of other fighters waiting in the wings for an opportunity on the big stage. With limited spots on the UFC roster, it's a tough break for younger fighters watching Silva get chance after chance when they also have families to feed.

As a former world champion, there really is nothing left for Silva to prove. He has eclipsed Hall of Fame status ten times over and achieved feats that millions could only dream of.

Can Silva rebound against Le, or will the UFC finally be forced to bring the axe down on the legendary Pride star's career?

Be sure to stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all things UFC 139. B/R is your home for complete coverage of the November 19 fight card , from pre-fight predictions to in-fight coverage, results and post-fight analysis.