Anderson Silva is less than 48 hours away from what many believe will be the toughest fight of his UFC career, and as custom, he has turned to Aikido master and Hollywood movie star Steven Seagal for guidance.
While Seagal isn’t listed as one of Silva’s official coaches, he typically serves as the UFC middleweight champ’s mentor and will occasionally throw in his two cents regarding strategy and game-planning for upcoming fights.
Against Weidman, Silva faces his most dangerous opponent on paper since winning the UFC title nearly seven years ago. Many in the MMA community are picking against Silva despite all of his historic accomplishments.
Silva is arguably the greatest fighter in MMA history, and there is certainly nothing left for him to prove. Most would expect a fighter of Silva’s caliber to be rattled by the mere mention of his peers and fans picking against him. The world is always looking for the next best thing, and Weidman‘s prodigy-like upstart has undoubtedly sent some of Silva’s most devoted supporters scurrying for greener pastures.
During an interview with MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani, Silva appeared at ease with all of the skepticism going on around him:
It’s normal, it’s normal. I finish my legacy. I working hard for this fight, but it’s normal, Chris Weidman has a chance for the belt now. For a long time, I start my working here. I have the chance for the belt, Weidman has the chance now for the belt. It’s normal.
With doubters lurking around every corner, Silva also opened up about a conversation he had with Sensei Seagal that put everything back into perspective before his showdown with Weidman on Saturday night:
Sensei [Steven Seagal] talked to me, ‘Anderson, kick your ass. Kick his ass.’ Yeah, sorry, my English is no good. Sensei told me, ‘Take your focus, go for the fight, relax and go back home.’
Broken English or not, this lighthearted exchange between Silva and Helwani should quell any worries or uncertainties from fans heading into this fight. The middleweight champ is completely aware and at ease with everything going on around him.
When that cage door closes on Saturday night, all of the opinions acquired over the months will be irrelevant, and the outcome will ultimately be decided by Silva and Weidman.
After UFC 162, the world may finally realize that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
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