Three Reasons Why Wandy Should Retire
Published by Dave Sholler on January 5th, 2009 in Current Events

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Another UFC pay-per-view came and went and yet another former superstar proved to the world that his best days are behind him.

When Wanderlei Silva (32-9-1) was knocked senseless by Quinton Jackson at 3:21 of the first round of their bout at UFC 92, the former PRIDE sensation showed that years of legendary fights had finally taken their toll.

While Jackson looked outstanding in avenging two losses to Silva, the contest at UFC 92 was the final nail in the career coffin for the 32-year-old Silva. Having lost four out of his last five bouts, three of which came via brutal knockout, the man dubbed “The Axe Murderer” needs to stick a knife into any thoughts of continuing his MMA career.

If Silva needs any help understanding why his career needs to come to a close, MMAmemories.com is here to help. Let’s take a look at three reasons why Silva should retire.

3. Your Brain is a Terrible Thing to Waste…

One of the harshest realities of the sport revolves around how your body deals with the years of punishment it’s received once you call it quits. After suffering severe stoppage losses to Mirko Cro Cop, Dan Henderson, and Jackson in the span of two years, the fading Silva must realize that he is putting his health in extreme jeopardy.

Considering the way he’s be knocked out, Silva has likely experienced numerous concussions. These types of injuries are the ones that can haunt you long after you’ve exited the Octagon. Head trauma is something Silva cannot simply ignore. If he does, slurred speech, memory loss, and other unfortunate symptoms surely await. He’s had a wonderful career. We want the same success for him post-MMA.

2. You’re No Longer a Contender…

Given the UFC’s stacked light heavyweight division, Silva is a fringe contender at best. What’s worse, as we predicted on this website in early December, he is now the dreaded “stepping stone” opponent.

While Dana White recently speculated that a Silva-Chuck Liddell rematch would be considered, we have to wonder whether the outcome would be any different. Silva is just not on the same level as the Evans, Griffins, Jacksons, Liddells, and Machidas anymore. It’s a tough pill for swallow for Silva, but one that is probably the most realistic.

1. You Don’t Instill the Same Fear…

One of Silva’s biggest advantages has always been his ability to instill fear and hesitation in opponents. When foes signed on to face the Brazilian, they were agreeing to face a free-swinging, clinch-happy psycho who boasted a sturdy chin and never-tap attitude. Since 2006, Silva has hardly looked like the same fighter. His win over Keith Jardine aside, the Brazilian has looked slower, less dangerous, and mortal. It’s a far cry from the days when Silva was the most feared striker on the planet.

In the end, we will remember Wanderlei Silva for his tremendous accomplishments in PRIDE and not his failure inside the Octagon. However, should he continue to fight on well past his prime, our recollection of Silva could become cloudy. Quite frankly, Silva needs to say goodbye to active competition while he still can.

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