Anderson Silva will fight Nick Diaz early next year but that isn’t the the former UFC Middleweight champion’s biggest concern. The broken leg that has shelved the Spider for almost 2 years still mentally effects him and he’s been seeing a therapist to overcome the fear of it happening again.
“I’ve worked with a psychologist so I can get rid of the ghosts of those horrible moments of that fight, when I had that accident,” Silva said. “I’m a little apprehensive in training. I know I can execute the movement, but I end up not doing it for fear.”
Silva went on to further explain his mentality and the status of his leg currently.
“I feel no pain at all,” Silva said. “My strength is back because I’m back to training. The hardest part is self-confidence, to kick again as I used to.”
To regain some level of comfort Silva will leave LA and train in his native Brazil for the Diaz fight.
“I feel better training in Brazil,” Silva said. “And, so I can be at my 100 percent to return to fighting, I’d rather train in Brazil.”
It’s time for MMA fans to realise that the dominant Anderson Silva we saw up until 2 years ago is gone. He will never be that guy again and he’s comfortable with that.
“I’m over this thing of being champion, having the title,” Silva said. “The truth is, there will only be one Ayrton Senna, there will only be one Pele, and there will only be one Anderson Silva, so whoever saw me (as champion), saw me. Who haven’t seen me (as champion), won’t see it. In a way you’ll see me (fight again), but not for the belt, that thing of being champion again. I don’t have patience for this. I think I’m closer to retirement every day.”
Anderson seems like the athlete that doesn’t want to retire because he’s not sure what else he can do. He’s fighting because that’s all he’s ever done and it may lead to an ugly UFC exit for the man once considered the best MMA fighter of all time.