Anderson Silva isn’t ready to walk away from the Octagon just yet.
While the former middleweight king is currently mired in controversy over failed drug tests leading up to and following his bout against Nick Diaz at UFC 183, it appears “The Spider” intends to press on.
The 39-year-old Brazilian striker is still yet to have his hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who will undoubtedly hand Silva a suspension and fine for his infractions. Silva’s team recently asked for an extension with the NSAC, and until the hearing takes place, there is no way to set a possible timeline for when Silva could return to action.
Yet sources close to the former long-reigning 185-pound champion remain optimistic.
As Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday’s installment of UFC Tonight, those close to Silva are saying he will not retire and believe he could back to competing inside the Octagon as early as New Year’s Eve. And while the fighter and his camp have posed several different approaches when news of his failed tests went public, it now appears the focus is being put on the pound-for-pound great’s eventual return.
Should Silva return after the inevitable layoff that is heading his way, it will mark another long stretch of absence from competing inside the Octagon. His bout against the former Strikeforce welterweight champion marked the end of a 13-month stint on the sidelines for Silva, who was recovering from a broken leg suffered in the second round of his rematch with champion Chris Weidman at UFC 168 in December of 2013.
Although Silva may ultimately return to compete under the UFC banner, just what impact the failed drug tests will have on his legacy remains to be seen.
While Silva himself has gone on public record multiple times since the results were issued to claim he’s never used performance-enhancing drugs, a series of test results say otherwise. This of course poses the question as to just how far back these transgression goes, and that doubt has the potential to mar what has otherwise been one of the most spectacular careers in the history of mixed martial arts.
Per Helwani‘s report Wednesday, it appears Silva is eager to press on with his career and continue to compete inside the Octagon, which is a subtle change from the uncertainty he showed toward his career following his victory over Diaz. Immediately following his bout at UFC 183, Silva addressed the media in the post-fight press conference and revealed his need to spend more time with his family.
While those sentiments likely remain intact, his current rough stretch of controversy seems to have motivated the former titleholder to keep his competitive fires burning.
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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