Anderson Silva is rightly known as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, and there's absolutely no denying his impact on the sport. After years of breaking records and making history, there was a point in time when it seemed like nobody would be able to stop the Brazilian and he'd go on to never lose the championship until the day he gave it up.
Unfortunately that's not how this game works, and as is the case with so many fighters, Anderson got caught. And since losing the title to Chris Weidman things have been alot different. His approach has changed and his fights have changed but most importantly to some, he's still around, which is considered to be a huge positive.
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But as we move into a new era of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it does beg the question as to whether or not Anderson should still be in the sport. Whilst he still has some phenomenal abilities at his disposal, utilising them may not be the most vital thing in the world anymore.
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But then again, there's only one person who can truly decide that.
So with that said, let's take a closer look at five reasons why Anderson Silva should retire.
#5 Health/Age
At the ripe old age of 41, it's understandable to open your eyes and realise the possibility that Anderson is getting that little bit older with each passing year. After all, there comes a certain point where you need to think less about victory and more about your health and future with your family. There are more important things than MMA, and the same can be said for any other kind of sport.
We've already seen that Anderson is a different kind of animal as demonstrated by ability to return from the leg injury suffered against Weidman, but enough is enough. There's no shame in bowing out and after every great thing Anderson has given to the sport of MMA, nobody can deny him the right to end his legendary career.
Speaking of legendary, let's talk about why he's earned his position in the first place.
#4 Nothing to prove
When you hold the record for being the longest reigning champion in UFC history, you can afford to be a little cocky. Anderson's consecutive victories in addition to his numerous title defences turned him from the average MMA champion into a one of a kind talent.
Nobody could even dream of replicating the kind of things he did and because of that, the guy really doesn't have anything left to prove anymore.
As an audience we know how good he is, we know how many fights he won and we know what a great career he had. In all honesty, what's left? The talent in the division is just getting stronger and with that in mind, the most logical move for Anderson is to put his feet up and bask in the glory of what he has accomplished since first starting this journey.
With that in mind, next up is something that nobody will want Anderson to tarnish.
#3 Legacy
When you're known as the man who could never be beaten and saw off the challenge of others with ease, there's alot of pressure to maintain that persona. Unfortunately for Anderson, with every passing fight that adds another loss onto his record his legacy slowly becomes that little bit more upsetting.
This isn't to say that he's not still better than half of the guys that have ever walked through the doors of the company because he is, but he's suffering the same fate that alot of guys do. Whilst it can be considered hard to walk away from the game, things like failed drugs tests and consistent losses are going to do much more damage than a nice and painless retirement.
Speaking of which, let's focus on the main factor behind the argument that he should give it up.
#2 Diminishing skills
Anderson Silva used to be the fastest, he used to be the strongest and he used to be the baddest. Nobody could even come close to touching him, and we mean that in the most literal of senses. Whenever someone threw a punch it was like their hands were going in slow motion, meanwhile Anderson could dodge, duck, dip and dive like he was playing a game of Dodgeball.
But not anymore. The second he got clipped by Chris Weidman that illusion was shattered, and his follow up leg injury in the rematch didn't help matters either. You can pull out all the terminology you want about the fight game but at the end of the day, nothing matters if you can't consistently perform at the level you expect of yourself.
Anderson has some phenomenal talents, but perhaps moving into a coaching role is the best thing for him.
The final selection is a much more business-related matter.
#5 Drawing ability
If you're going to be a top level talent in the UFC, you need to be able to draw big numbers and make lots of money for the company. That isn't a harsh statement, either, because it's just the truth. Whilst he didn't exactly bring in the kind of revenue that GSP and Brock Lesnar did, Anderson has still been a valuable pay-per-view asset for the UFC to have over the years.
It's not like he was outstanding in this field because it was only really after the Sonnen fight that his stock grew, but you could always count on him to solid enough numbers. However when you lose four out of five fights and the other one is declared a no contest, things naturally start to go downhill.
So don't let things fall into the abyss, Anderson - walk out on your own accord, with your head held high.
