Hints are being scattered that Anderson Silva is looking to return to fighting after his leg heals. Silva’s manager, Jorge Guimaraes, and his coach, Pedro Rizzo, are both saying he will be back.
While that is by no means certain, it is still worth considering what, and who, could be waiting for him when he comes back. There are many moving parts when it comes to choosing an opponent, though. The biggest and most important, naturally, is the timetable for Silva’s recovery.
It is important to remember it will take at least a year for Silva to get back in fighting shape. When Corey Hill broke his leg in a similar fashion at UFC: Fight for the Troops 1, he was out for about 13 months. Initial recovery from the break and surgery ranges from four to nine months, and other surgeries that may be required after would push things back further.
That doesn’t even address the fact that setting up a fight with Silva takes longer than most fighters.
As such, if Silva is to return, it would likely not come until deep into 2015, which means he will be 40 years old by that time. That means he will be looking for “big” fights against an established name rather than fights that push him toward the belt. Who fits that bill?
Find out right here!