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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Anderson Silva was expected to retire following his Uriah Hall headliner on Oct. 31. That’s according to promotion president Dana White, who’s ready to say goodbye to the 45 year-old Brazilian.
But Silva’s longtime strength and conditioning coach Rogerio Camoes has other ideas, which include a “spectacular” rematch against reigning 185-pound kingpin Israel Adesanya after “The Last Stylebender” topped “The Spider” at UFC 234.
“At least one more – do this one and one more superfight,” Camoes told MMA Fighting. “I don’t know about his contract situation. But when we talk, he always says, ‘Master, I still have wood to burn, I still want to fight. I still have the desire to fight, I still feel well.’ I think what matters the most is what the guy feels rather than someone else determining if he will stop or not, you know?”
Silva (34-10, 1 NC) has just one victory since late 2012, a controversial decision nod over Derek Brunson at UFC 208. I know Camoes is his coach and he’s supposed to say these things to hype his athlete, but this is just silly.
“I think I’ve seen Anderson fight everybody,” Camoes said. “I think that, in his division, the only fight that I personally would love to see again is him and Israel Adesanya. That fight was fabulous. Three spectacular rounds. Israel had to fight hard. It was one of the most technical fights I’ve ever seen in MMA history. Two talents, they put on a show of martial arts and respect. A second fight would be something spectacular.”
Hall (15-9), winner of two straight, might have something to say about that.