Anderson Silva Leg Break Recovery News Update: Champ's Next Fight Could be in 2015
Who can forget that appalling, perfectly-timed photo of Anderson Silva's left leg breaking as UFC's current champ Chris Weidman was checking his kick? Well, the future UFC hall of famer Silva is well over that.
A UFC report shows evidence that the athlete is moving on from the setback that many feared would end his career: He had begun sparring and training, and continues to be on target to return to the Octagon in early 2015. The footage was initially posted by "The Spider" to YouTube on Sunday.
"Hi guys, I'm here in Team Nogueira training boxing with my coach Edelson," Silva said in the video, "I'm coming soon." He can also be seen talking to a young fan, explaining that he is in better shape now. He can't kick or jump, but he still expects to be back next year, the UFC website said.
And there seems to be no stopping him, an MMA Junkie report suggests. He had previously been cleared by his doctors in the United States to begin training for combat and had taken a step forward on Friday with a seal of approval from his country Brazil.
Dr. Marcio Tannure, head of the medical portion of the Comissao Atletica Brasileira de MMA (CABMMA), Brazil's regulatory MMA body, allowed Silva's sparring, with the athlete tweeting in native Portuguese: "Good news today, guys: Dr. Marcio Tannure released me for my first sparring after my leg fracture."
Silva (33-6 MMA, 16-2 UFC) has been sidelined since late December after he sustained an injury to his left leg, which shook the mixed martial arts world. It occured as Weidman (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was responding to a Silva kick in their UFC 168 middleweight title fight.
Weidman won the fight via technical knockout when Silva's leg snapped, defending the title he took from Silva nearly a year ago at UFC 162 when he knocked him out in the second round.
Silva is among the most decorated champions in UFC history, the UFC report said, defending his belt 10 times. He went a perfect 16-0 in the UFC before the two losses to Weidman in 2013.
The athlete's progress has been fairly phenomenal and ahead of expectations, said MMA Junkie. He walked down the stairs in February; eight weeks after the injury, he was already hitting pads. Opinions also vary on when Silva might be ready to come back, added the MMA Junkie report. Most estimates place the comeback at late 2014 or early 2015.
No matter the uncertainty--or doubt--however, UFC is ready to take him back. News had recently broken out that UFC President Dana White was anticipating his returrn, with the UFC big man expressing interest in putting together a fight between Silva and Nick Diaz.
At the end of the video, Silva had a message for his fans: "Quitting is taking an eternal defeat... In Team Nogueira, we never give up--strength, honor and determination are fundamental."
He added: "Here at Team Nogueira, we are family. Ready and determined to do that, we have to do. Never give up and never surrender. Believe that we can and like you too--believe that you can, exceed your limits, overcome problems, and believe."