UFC's Anderson Silva: 'I'll Retire Next Year'

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts, reportedly says he plans to retire in less than a year.

InTheGuard.tv reports that Silva was interviewed by Brazilian cable channel SporTV for a show that will air next weekend, and he said this:

"I'll retire next year, I already gave my all. I don't need to prove anything for anyone and within one year I'll put my gloves aside."

According to the report, there was no mistaking Silva's meaning, and he mentioned retirement several times.

I suppose I can see where Silva might feel that way: He has completely cleared out the middleweight division in MMA, to the point where there really aren't any good fights left for him at that weight, and he has suggested that he'd like do new things, including fight Roy Jones in a boxing match. Maybe, at age 33, he's just ready to move on.

But I don't think he's really close to retirement. Athletes, especially fighters, talk about retiring and then change their minds all the time. I think Silva has a lot more years of fighting left in him. As a fan, I hope he does.