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Silva to retire \"within a year\"
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Anderson Silva's dominance of the UFC middleweight division may soon come to an end - the Brazilian is talking about retirement "next year".
More StoriesUFC Fight Buzz: Chuck v Ace?
Silva, 22-4 and undefeated in his last eight fights, recently told the Brazilian sports program "Sensei SporTV" for an episode airing September 27 that his plan is to retire within a year.
"I'll retire next year, I already gave my all," Silva said in an exert released by the program editors. "I don't need to prove anything for anyone and within one year I'll put my gloves aside."
Silva, 33 and considered the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, has previously stated that he wants to fight six times a year as opposed to the three fights the UFC currently offer him.
If he sticks to his plan to hang up his gloves in the fall of 2009, he can look forward to the organisation throwing him into some huge match-ups, with talk of a 205lb clash against Chuck Liddell already being mentioned.
Silva will retire as the greatest middleweight in UFC history. He won the middleweight title just four months after joining the organisation with a first-round knock-out of Rich Franklin in October 2006, going on to defend the belt four times, against Travis Lutter, Nate Marquardt, Franklin again and Dan Henderson.
Seeking further challenges after cleaning out the 185-division, Silva moved up to light-heavyweight to challenge heavy-handed striker James Irwin in July 2008, scoring a knockout just 61 seconds into the first round.
The Curitiba-born fighter will again start a heavy favourite when he defends his belt against Patrick Cote on October 25.
Alex Sharratt / Eurosport
More StoriesUFC Fight Buzz: Chuck v Ace?
Silva, 22-4 and undefeated in his last eight fights, recently told the Brazilian sports program "Sensei SporTV" for an episode airing September 27 that his plan is to retire within a year.
"I'll retire next year, I already gave my all," Silva said in an exert released by the program editors. "I don't need to prove anything for anyone and within one year I'll put my gloves aside."
Silva, 33 and considered the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, has previously stated that he wants to fight six times a year as opposed to the three fights the UFC currently offer him.
If he sticks to his plan to hang up his gloves in the fall of 2009, he can look forward to the organisation throwing him into some huge match-ups, with talk of a 205lb clash against Chuck Liddell already being mentioned.
Silva will retire as the greatest middleweight in UFC history. He won the middleweight title just four months after joining the organisation with a first-round knock-out of Rich Franklin in October 2006, going on to defend the belt four times, against Travis Lutter, Nate Marquardt, Franklin again and Dan Henderson.
Seeking further challenges after cleaning out the 185-division, Silva moved up to light-heavyweight to challenge heavy-handed striker James Irwin in July 2008, scoring a knockout just 61 seconds into the first round.
The Curitiba-born fighter will again start a heavy favourite when he defends his belt against Patrick Cote on October 25.
Alex Sharratt / Eurosport