MMA News: Anderson Silva Still Scared To Throw Kicks
Anderson "The Spider" Silva is famous for many things. Among these is his patented taunt shake engaging an opponent to hit him and actually miss on the attempt. This supreme confidence is what placed him on the apex of mixed martial arts. Now after crashing back to earth with two back-to-back losses to reigning middleweight champion Chris Weidman, Anderson is pulling all the stops to regain his mojo.
The former undefeated champion has employed a psychologist to get him over the haunting leg injury which sidelined him for most of this year. While the Brazilian Muay Thai artist has already recovered physically, the problem is more mental.
"I feel no pain at all," Silva began, according to a translation from Guilherme Cruz in an interview with Fantastico. "My strength is back because I'm back to training. The hardest part is self-confidence, to kick again as I used to."
This is one apprehensive Spider who needs a shot to the heart to get back to the top. The top of the game begins with a ladder step against Nick Diaz, the "black sheep" returnee of the UFC who is vowing to retire Silva. He admittedly employed a head coach to place him in a better mental perspective.
His doctors revealed that Silva is actually regaining his strength but said that earlier in the summer he was hesitant to throw leg kicks. This is just a natural reaction of the body after his leg was cracked in half during the last Weidman bout. He admits he never wants to feel the pain that the injury dealt but it is all part of the sport, especially with Diaz looming.
The upcoming fight will be his first non-title match dating back to 2007, when contender Travis Lutter did not make weight and the 185-title was not on the line at UFC 67. He bared that even if he wins the next match, he will no longer chase title matches and admits that retirement is on the horizon.
"I'm over this thing of being champion, having the title," he said. "The truth is, there will only be one Ayrton Senna, there will only be one Pele, and there will only be one Anderson Silva, so whoever saw me (as champion), saw me. Who haven't seen me (as champion), won't see it.
In the meantime, he now goes back to his turf and safe place, Brazil, to train for his Feb. 2015 fight. While he has a home with his family in Los Angeles, he is choosing Brazil to assure that he will be at 100% when he gets back in the Octagon.
Watch how Anderson Silva broke his leg in half below:
(Video Courtesy of: Youtube/Rusty Shackleford)