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Anderson Silva has been out of action since last August when he dominated Yushin Okami at UFC 134. The UFC middleweight champ has been dealing with a shoulder injury that has kept him on the sidelines and out of the Octagon. Earlier this month we heard from his physiotherapist who said that Silva was doing well, was 100% and would be returning to fight very soon.
Now, via SporTV, comes word from Anderson himself that he isn't quite healthy yet (translation by Tom Mendes):
I'm not sure when I'll be back, I got an injury in my shoulder and another injury that just happened in my lumbar, so I'm treating myself.
This is very Silva-like behavior. He likes to talk and it always seems like his status is fluctuating one direction or the other due to injury, management issues or whatever.
It is very difficult as an MMA fan to see Silva and Georges St. Pierre out for extended amounts of time as both men are likely at the end years of their peak as athletes.
0 recs | 87 comments
How is GSP at the end of his peak performance years?
NaciremaDream - January 13, 2012
ACL tears will do that to ya.
Bruz - January 13, 2012 via mobile
^This is what he meant. It’s WAY too soon to tell with GSP though. We just won’t know until we see him fight again. He might never be the same, but on the other hand he may comeback and not miss a step.
Machiel Van - January 13, 2012
I was gonna ask the same thing and this is coming from someone who can't stand GSP
775assassin - January 13, 2012 via mobile
No kidding. Wishful thinking, maybe?
Shnak - January 13, 2012
totoally agree
GSP is not at the end of his peak. Silva is like 6 years older than him and is still kicking ass and GSP is a much better pure athlete than silva. I see GSP bouncing back strong from the injury and being the same as he was before.
benten20 - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Plus in my opinion Silvas style is one that age hits harder. Where GSP uses a ton of strategy and technique in his fights Anderson is all about speed and reaction time. It seems like reaction time is one of the first things to go with age and that typically doesn’t work out well for athletes of his style. Its kind of like how Liddell went from counterfighting and KOing everybody to getting KOd all the time.
attgnp - January 13, 2012
It’s not anything like what happened to Liddell (he didn’t really become any slower as he was never that fast to begin with, just more vulnerable), but otherwise I agree.
Machiel Van - January 13, 2012
yeah not the greatest example I guess
attgnp - January 13, 2012
There are many athletes who have had ACL tears at a younger age.
Just because he suffered an injury doesn’t mean he is on the decline. What in Octagon evidence is there that proves GSP is on the decline?
NaciremaDream - January 13, 2012
Slowing improvement. And who has had an ACL tear at a younger age that isn’t affected by it in a negative way? Shogun is either inconsistent as hell, or he is a human being who is affected by terrible injuries
castleeb - January 13, 2012
Slowing improvement!? That fact that he can keep improving at all after years of fighting is amazing as it is. Most mma fighters don’t improve much after there first couple years.
Kefka - January 13, 2012
Don't do this to me Anderson
I need you to KO Sonnen and Bisping for me. It is very important
Stiff Jab - January 13, 2012
+99
wyldeman99 - January 13, 2012 via Android app
But first he needs to clown Sonnen for a few rounds
to make it very, very clear that Sonnen never has and never will pose a threat to a healthy Silva.
Damnatio Memoriae - January 13, 2012
Don't think there is any danger of that happening, unless he just runs from him, which he wouldn't
Anderson certainly could (and probably would) wreck Sonnen, maybe even in R1, but he no longer has the TDD to stay on his feet for extended periods against someone like Sonnen, and he hasn’t for a few years.
Unfortunately, and for whatever reasons, Anderson’s idea of humiliating someone he thinks unworthy of being in the cage with him (like Maia or Leites) looks to everyone watching like he is simply scared to engage with them.
Maybe just this once he could do it like everyone else who does that – through sheer domination and destruction…
The American Ronin - January 13, 2012
Nobody watching
thought Anderson was “scared to engage” with Maia or Leites.
Chris Barton - January 13, 2012
Maia and Leites were the ones scared to engage for the majority of those fights (Maia brought it to him a little towards the end, Leites was just terrified to stand with him). Silva CHOSE not to engage, but that certainly doesn’t mean he was scared. Cote wasn’t to eager to engage with Anderson either.
Machiel Van - January 13, 2012
If you read the translation out of context it sounds a lot worse than it comes off in the video. He’s really just responding to the question of when he’ll be back and that obviously does depend on his health. I know we all adore the canned response: “I am finally healthy after my surgery and this is the best training camp of my life with the best sparring partners on the planet,” but occasionally a guy is honest about how he’s doing and it’s somewhat refreshing.
Stanlee - January 13, 2012
Toss Hendo in their somewhere and then he should retire.
SentientAndroid - January 13, 2012
If he wasn't giving mixed signals
I’d think something was wrong.
TheFilt - January 13, 2012
you hear that?
QUACK QUACK!
Sonnenmeister - January 13, 2012
Very appropriate
for a guy named Sonnenmeister :/
SentientAndroid - January 13, 2012
All I hear is the sound of steroid needles hitting the floor.
MicahtheCynic - January 13, 2012
He needs to do more than just KO Sonnen for me. Knock that muthf**ka out than wake him up and knock his ass out again. And maybe even submit him again.
Meek Mill - January 13, 2012
Then bring in an alter
And use Sonnen as a human sacrifice, cut out his heart and eat it while dancing in a pool of Sonnens blood mwuahhahahah!
benten20 - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Then
he should ejaculate into the pool of blood, drink up a bit of the semen/blood concoction, digest it, shit it out and throw the digested semen/blood/poop mixture onto Sonnen’s grave.
SentientAndroid - January 13, 2012
Then Sonnen will match the intensity. Not later, but right then.
castleeb - January 13, 2012
By destroying Andy
along with his entire family along with the entirety of the Brazillian culture?
SentientAndroid - January 13, 2012
Yep. Sounds reasonable.
castleeb - January 13, 2012
hi
setting up the duck again
yogesh892 - January 13, 2012
Great.
Now we have to hear from Sonnen again.
BKdroid - January 13, 2012
Correction
We GET to hear from Sonnen again.
LenBarson - January 13, 2012
How to keep your name in the headlines
Continue to make statements, regardless of their accuracy
Hashmo - January 13, 2012
He doesn’t need to keep his name in the headlines. He is the headline. This is just hisneed to be babied by the public side exposing itself.
UncleMax - January 13, 2012
urg. great grammar
UncleMax - January 13, 2012
I’m not going to lie but you’d have to be crazy to think that he isn’t using this as a “just in case” he needs to duck somebody. Maybe this guy that out wrestled him.
attgnp - January 13, 2012
maybe he should just juice up like sonnen
Then he would get over his injuries quickly and all you sonnen lovers can STFU! Let the GOAT heal up. Sonnen is gonna get his ass whooping. Don’t worry.
goldmouth - January 13, 2012
Contrary to what many think, juicing doesn’t heal ligament/tendon injuries.
You’re a lock to win your sig bet though…
The American Ronin - January 13, 2012
Why no interim belt here Dana?
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…..
Hoochmma - January 13, 2012
..
Gangsters from Oregon don’t get “hurt” Andy. I bet that Karate guy can muster up some Mr.Miyagi juice if Bisping’s your next opponent. It’s okay because the true Champ is still defending his title.
DayGeaux - January 13, 2012
That guy in the bottom right corner is a Silva fan.
Sexytime - January 13, 2012
He looks like he’s just grossed out by Chael’s bacne lol
Hendar - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Yep
JonBon Joey - January 13, 2012
Funny. They’re familiar with tapping.
MicahtheCynic - January 13, 2012
That’s why they don’t get hurt…duh
DayGeaux - January 13, 2012
*eh
makes sense, tap before you snap and you don’t get hurt.
SentientAndroid - January 13, 2012
Uh huh
As sool as Sonnen has another fight scheduled, the mysterious injury will go away.
Silva is just ducking him.
Spiffy - January 13, 2012
ya ducking right
Cuz its completely unnatural for a 37 year old man with over 30 fights to have injuries right?
benten20 - January 13, 2012 via mobile
No, I’m sure he’ll have another injury in reserve, so his fans can say he won despite (undisclosed broken rib, severely stubbed toe, restless leg syndrome, allergy to cats, whatever) keeping him from performing at 100%.
( . Y . ) - January 13, 2012
silva won correct? ok ya champion is silva
Idc what anyone says about all the injuries he’s not ducking its bs all of it he’s a pro fighter who’s the GOAT. If he ducks fighters then the sport won’t survive if your most dominant champ ever won’t fight someone cuz he’s “scared”.
benten20 - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Every single time he has fought with an injury
it’s come out that it was a legit thing. Get off it.
Chris Barton - January 13, 2012
Legit? Who determines that? His doctor, who said he’s 100%? AS, who says he has a “lumbar” injury? You can pick and choose whatever diagnosis supports your view when it comes to AS.
( . Y . ) - January 13, 2012
Doctors have legit backed every injury
Do you have ANY sense of reading comprehension? He had a shoulder injury that the Doc said is good. This lumbar thing JUST happened since he’s been back to training. Why would anyone have heard anything else about it yet?
Better yet, what part of ANY of this has to do with him having “fought with an injury”? Seriously, it’s like talking to a 10 year old.
Chris Barton - January 13, 2012
Sonnen DOES have a fight lined up
and Silva is still hurt and not taking fights…. you people.
Chris Barton - January 13, 2012
Silva seems completely unclear when he'll return
Dana should just make the Sonnen/Munoz fight for the interim belt.
Chad Raynard - January 13, 2012
If Sonnen loses
He’ll be ready by Superbowl weekend
Hashmo - January 13, 2012
Yup, complete agreement with you. We all saw the pictures of GSP rehabbing in a bed with some horrific looking contraption hooked up to his leg. All we have is Silva’s word that he is hurt. He is afraid of Soennen, just look at at his face when dopey Chael fell into that submission. Odds are, if Soennen wins, he will stay hurt. But he best not sleep on Munoz, for dang sure. This fight should be for an interim belt. I don’t like the whole concept of these, but if its being done at WW, then it should be done at MW. QUACK-QUACK Silva!
Mr. Socko - January 13, 2012 via mobile
dude wth!
why is everyone just saying he is ducking??? its so pathetic how you eat up sonnen’s words! do you also think jones was ducking rashad with the hand injury? these are the best fighters in the world and if you think for one second that dana would tolerate any of his champions ducking a fight than you’re completely insane!
benten20 - January 13, 2012
How's it feel to have a man's hand up your backside
Mr. Socko…how appropriate
warren305 - January 13, 2012
GSP at the end of his peak?
I’d have to disagree with that. Given he’ll have ring rust, and he’s having acl surgery. He still has a chance at 100% recovery plenty of athletes recover some don’t. But GSP is such a physical speciment I def see him recovering he’s not at the end of his peak imo.
Bloodsport - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Translation: I’m still injured and I’ll wait to see if Sonnen wins or not. If he does, I’m still very injured. If he loses, I’ll be making a quick recovery to fight Munoz or Bis.
evenflow10 - January 13, 2012 via mobile
im just saying..
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/1/7/2689339/ufc-champ-anderson-silva-returns-to-training
when the doctor says hes doing really well, and then he comes out wtih this statement..
yogesh892 - January 13, 2012
Looks like bustapalooza to me! HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA! WAAAAR SOENNEN!
Mr. Socko - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Can you read?
WTF is wrong with you people?
Chris Barton - January 13, 2012
Come on, you know
Anderson is ducking Overeem, just admit it…sheesh…the shit some people take away when they read…you know WTF is wrong with them…
The American Ronin - January 13, 2012
Ugh
And then people wonder why Silva rarely talked before. He says one sentence and hyperbole all over the place. Old man can do whatever he wants. Gave us some of the greatest knockouts and finishes in MMA history and has the longest streak in UFC history.
Also he fought 4 months ago, if he isn’t ready by june or july, THEN let’s talks of an interim belt happening.
Silva isn’t ducking Sonnen. Bones isn’t ducking Rashad. But keep stirring away anway…
cager - January 13, 2012
Same for GSP…he fought Shields back on August, late August. So hey, all I’m saying is what’s good for the Canadian Goose is good for the Brazillian Duck…er…Gander. QUACKITY QUACK!
Mr. Socko - January 13, 2012 via mobile
GSP fought Shields in late April… It’ll be something like 20 months before GSP fights. I hate interim titles, but it makes sense in GSP’s case.
Shnak - January 13, 2012
Well there ya go
I knew i was right even though I thought i was wrong.
cager - January 13, 2012
Didn’t have my glasses on when I googled…feel free to bitchslap me for that one! I’ve seen so much MMA in the last year its becoming a blur!
Mr. Socko - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Yep math fail
I also don’t believe GSP to duck anyone either. Still think he loses in his next fight though.
cager - January 13, 2012
er
My math was wrong, 5 months ago.
They should have rules set in place:
If champ is newly crown or 1 defence must defend within 4 months
If champ has 2-3 defences then 7 months to defend
If champ has 4 or more then they take up to 10 to defend before interim belt.
cager - January 13, 2012
…. what.
Horselover Fat - January 13, 2012
. . . well it is Silva-like behavior
He’s talking about injuries.
A reporter puts a microphone to his physiotherapist face. The therapist made a statement that contradicts something Silva recently said. Some people get upset and questions his behavior. I guess it would help appease everybody if one reporter interviewed Silva, his two managers and his therapist for one definitive answer every week or something.
Yeah, I agree with you.
Silva is obviously ducking Jones and Henderson. ;-)
VeeisAnimated - January 13, 2012
Jones maybe
Henderson at middleweight? No way. Henderson at lightheavy? Un peu.
cager - January 13, 2012
I’m just joking. All the talk about Silva ducking two guys he defeated (Henderson, Sonnen) is ridiculous.
Henderson at 205? We never know.
Jones? Well I guess Silva is also ducking Frank Mir.
VeeisAnimated - January 13, 2012
So Disrespectful!!!! - Stephen A. Smith
Please people the G.O.A.T is not ducking anybody that’s just ridiculous. He put on some of the best and most memorable performances in the octagon the Spider does not fear anybody he will destroy Sonnen with his hands at his waist with a backwards jab a la Forest Griffin .
Mega_214 - January 13, 2012
sorry meant to say hitting him with a jab while going backwards
Mega_214 - January 13, 2012
Its like people just don't read, or understand words anymore
Sonnen is not the no. 1 contender. He has to beat Munoz in order to be the no. 1 contender. Who exactly is Anderson ducking?
warren305 - January 13, 2012
Chael Sonnen.
rockied - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Oh, ok
warren305 - January 13, 2012
Is it duck season already?
neo-samurai - January 13, 2012
I find it odd
that you can be considered ducking an opponent that you definitively stopped when you fought said opponent, the same goes for Hendo. Andy made both men tap out before they went to sleep and both men are now claiming that the man who became their personal Sandman is now ducking them, tha’ fuck?
SentientAndroid - January 13, 2012
Anderson Silva is 35, 36 years old.
But in the fight game, that is old as fuck. A lifetime of punching and kicking takes its toll. People will only whine b/c he happens to be the champ—and quite dominant, dare I say—but if he were anyone else, people would be calling for him to retire.
Now, add to all that that the UFC has people check in with their own doctors.
If Anderson can’t fight, Anderson can’t fight.
Unabomberman - January 13, 2012
Wait a minute, humans get injured?
bigstupidsmile - January 13, 2012
If Silva is out until late in the year.
They might as well have the winners of Sonnen/Munoz and Maia/Bisping fight for an interim title. Interesting dynamic there. Sonnen and Munoz would beat Bisping but I would still Maia over Sonnen again. That poor triangle awareness will get him again.
I’d predict Sonnen vs Bisping though, in England. They could probably fill Wembly stadium for that one, which is a decent substitute for a Brazilian soccer stadium.
Steve W - January 13, 2012 via mobile
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