Issue 112

March 2014

The morning after Anderson Silva wrapped his shin around Chris Weidman’s leg like he had a rubber limb left me feeling numb. Silva has created some spectacles in his time, but witnessing the Brazilian being carried out of the MGM Grand Garden Arena a few feet away on a stretcher, after his screams of agony, was a sad sight at UFC 168. The next morning, I couldn’t help feeling, and I know many others did too, that I wished Silva had retired already.

Gareth A Davies

MMA and Boxing Correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, London, on why the MMA’s GOAT should now walk away

Silva’s biographer Eduardo Ohata, with whom I spent considerable time at UFC 168, told me Anderson wanted it known after the fight that he did his best and wanted to represent Brazil in the best light. I thought from my position, just behind the former champ’s corner, that he was clearly wincing with pain after the first round. It wasn’t shown on the TV broadcast.  

But there was another thing. He looked more fragile. He was hurt in the opening round. All sorts of theories can be thrown out there. But one thing is certain: all fighters age. And the champion of yore had aged. It is no longer his time. Weidman, like Cain Velasquez, like Travis Browne, like many others, are part of a new breed in mixed martial arts.

Two days on from the shock denouement, I took part in a media conference call with Dr Steven Sanders, who operated on ‘The Spider.’ He revealed that it was a “severe injury” but could have been worse, was atypical, and that Anderson had fractured the tibia and fibula one third of the way up the bone. A titanium rod was inserted down his tibia, meaning three to six months for the bone to heal, and six to nine months for the soft tissue to heal.

 As a footnote to this, another orthopedic specialist, Dr Steve Mora, who deals with MMA athletes, believes that in his experience “combat athletes benefit from having the rod removed.” If it is removed, there’s a longer rehabilitation, as the screw holes and tunnels have to fill in and heal. It would take Silva a further four to five months. That would put him at March/April 2015.

Sanders insisted it could have been far worse. “This was extremely close to being much worse… in the fracture you can see a dramatic abnormal bend. If skin had broken an artery could have broken… and it could have resulted in an amputation.”

Silva’s first question to Dr Sanders, both before and after the operation was, ‘When can I train?’

That champion’s heart will never change. But his body will and has. Silva’s manager Jorge Guimaraes insists he “will be back,” that “the nerves are OK,” that he “has already started physical therapy” and “he’s moving his toes.” 

That’s great to hear. But there is a gravy train as long as the queue for weigh-in days at the MGM Grand Garden Arena around great champions. Hopefully, eventually, Silva will decide. But he needs no pressure from outside. 

Personally, I hope he hangs ‘em up and teaches millions to become martial artists. In his image.

DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES

We are in for a real treat this year with the women’s divisions in the UFC. While the addition of the strawweight category is an exciting proposition, the already action-packed bantamweight division offers so much in 2014.

Cat Zingano made a statement in 2013, before injury blighted her momentum, which at least allowed the Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate rivalry to play out. Zingano has a real presence about her, and will be one of the standouts this year. Likewise, Holly Holm has been tearing it up in the USA.

Few other women have the same KO power as the former 18-time world boxing champion. Boxing’s former pound-for-pound female number one has a contract with Legacy Fights that features an ‘open door clause’ to the UFC. 

With Sara McMann slated for Rousey next, the year is stacking up. But where the women are not competing with the men yet – as in so many other sports – is in the payment department. All but Rousey, that is. 

I’ll wager that changes in 2014.

Zingano, who told me that “adversity really fuels my fire,” concurs. She said: “We are still working our way up, we’re definitely not the same as the guys as far as the monetary value of our skills goes. But I think if we keep putting on good shows like we are, we will be.” Amen to that.