The former UFC middleweight champion is looking forward to fighting Michael Bisping at UFC Fight Night 84 and says he has no plans to retire after the event.
Anderson Silva will step into the Octagon for the first time in over a year at UFC Fight Night 84 in London on Saturday. The UFC icon and former middleweight champion was suspended for one year following a failed drug test for steroids at UFC 183.
Silva has kept a low profile since the suspension but will look to recapture the media’s attention against Michael Bisping on Feb. 27.
The Brazilian made his MMA debut in 1997 and ruled as the UFC’s middleweight champion for 7 years before being dethroned by Chris Weidman in 2013. Yet, despite Silva’s historic accomplishments and recent struggles with the sport, the 40-year-old has no plans to retire.
“First of all, I’ll never go out of this sport,” Silva told MMA Junkie at the UFC Fight Night 84 open workouts. “I love my sport. I love my job, and I’m very happy, and I’m very excited for everything. I’m very happy to be back to London because I love it here. I have good energy when I come to here, when I see my friends in here, so I’m very, very happy.”
Bisping, a veteran of 34 MMA fights, is currently riding a two-fight win streak and will look to earn a reputation as one of the UFC’s all-time greats with a win over “The Spider” in his native country.
Silva, however, plans to dominate “The Count” after a year’s worth of intense training.
“I’m very confident,” Silva concluded. “I trained hard for one year. I’ve trained hard for a long time in my life, but Saturday, I’m going to win because I came here to win, definitely.”
Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping will headline UFC Fight Night 84 at the O2 Arena in London, England on February 27th.