Anderson Silva explains why he is still fighting
Anderson Silva is 43-years-old and will return to the Octagon on Saturday after nearly two full years off. Many believed Silva was retired and wasn’t going to return. Then, it was announced Silva would take on rising superstar Israel Adesanya in the co-main event of UFC 234.
It was also announced that if Silva can get past Adesanya, he will be getting the next title shot. It seemed too good to pass up, and ultimately, that is why Silva accepted the fight. However, his family was hoping he would retire, but to him, it is his life and he wants to do this.
“When I talk to my kids and my wife and all my family, it’s all the same — ‘Why?! Don’t do that!’” Silva said (via MMA Fighting). “And I say, OK. Let me tell you something. This is my life, this is me. And I need to do something for me.
“Because when I stop, I never come back. And at this point, my family say, ‘OK, just do it. Do it. Do it the best you can and come back safe for home.’ It’s not easy. Everybody here has a family and everybody’s families try to stay close to you, doing something for your [safety]. Because it’s a war. Inside the cage, everybody is not joking.
“Sometimes big accidents happen. I broke my leg. Sometimes you cut your face and back to home and look at your family and look at your kids. Everybody looks at you and says, ‘Why do you do that?’ It’s a passion.
“You love your job, you keep doing it. My family respects my job and respect my dreams. That’s why I continue to fight.”
No matter what, Silva is back and ready to fight again. No one knows how many fights he has left, whether it be just this one or multiple. What is known is Silva wants to continue to fight and believes he can fight at a high-level.
