As UFC 99 looms, Wanderlei Silva wonders if the win is finally more important than the show
by John Morgan on Jun 11, 2009 at 10:15 am ET
For all of the ferocious attacks Wanderlei Silva (32-9-1 MMA, 2-4 UFC) has implemented with his hands, elbows, feet and knees in his 23 career wins by knockout or TKO, it is perhaps his eyes that are most intimidating.
The animal-like stare, full of evil intentions, has won "The Axe Murderer" countless fights before the opening bell ever sounded.
But on this day, Silva's threatening stare has softened, and his eyes betray him. The intimidation is replaced with reflection, and those eyes are staring at his own hands as they rest on a table in the office of his Las Vegas gym.
"My life is on the line," Silva tells MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com). "I stand with the rope around my neck."
Silva was completing the final days of an intense training regimen in preparation for his UFC 99 main-event bout with Rich Franklin (24-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC) on Saturday in Cologne, Germany. And while Silva's rightful place in MMA history as a legend of the sport was firmly cemented years ago, the 33-year-old is now struggling to remain relevant among the world's elite competitors.
Known for his brawling, go-for-broke style, Silva has earned just one victory in his past five outings. Knowing that MMA's sometimes-fickle fanbase can turn on its athletes after just a single defeat, Silva has been forced to consider redefining his approach.
"This is a hard decision for me," Silva said. "You saw the last UFC with Matt Serra and Matt Hughes. Serra had knocked Hughes down at the start of the match. Hughes fought back, but he fought just to win. He just held Serra down, but he won.
"Maybe I could just take Franklin down and hold him on the ground. Second round, same. Third round, same. Then I win the fight."
After earning an astounding 22-4-1 record in the now-defunct PRIDE organization, compiling a list of vanquished foes that could easily substitute for an MMA Hall of Fame roster, Silva has been unable to replicate that success in recent years.
Now he must determine whether the unquestionable need to return to winning ways is more important than remaining true to the style of reckless brawling that earned him a legion of adoring fans.
"People just want to have their arm raised up at the end of the fight," Silva said. "They forget about the show. But for me, it's different. I talked to my wife about it last week. I don't have depression if I win or lose because I fight every week. I fight every day in the gym. But I need to win.
"I don't know what everybody's motivation is, but for me, I feel like I'm an artist. This is my presentation. People come to watch my show. For that, I have to open up my game. I'm going in there to hit, and the guy is trying to hit me. This is the emotion of the fight. I put my life on the line. This is the emotion you have to feel and why I think my fans support me win or lose. But I don't think everyone understands this."
Silva said the balance between guaranteeing a win and putting on a good show has weighed heavily on his mind throughout the training process. It's a decision he'll have to once again consider on Saturday night.
"It's hard because if you win, you're good, and if you lose, you're bad," Silva said. "But I think I'm starting to have a different mind about this. It's not always a show. It is a sport, and the results are important. The fans just like the winners. That's the reality of it.
"It's hard. In my heart, I know I really, really need to win this fight. But in the fight, it's hard to control my emotions. We're artists, but to be a professional artist, we have to control our emotions."
With Silva and Franklin scheduled to compete at a catchweight of 195 pounds, the Brazilian's body is lighter than it has been in years of competing as a light heavyweight. The former Chute Boxe fighter is quicker in training, his cardio has improved. Silva believes he's in better condition, more motivated and more focused than he has been in recent contests.
He will have his chance to prove it on Saturday night.
"I'm going to fight [Franklin], but I don't need to say anything bad about him," Silva said. "He's my next opponent, and there's just a few options: Either I beat him, or he beats me. We're going to have a war, and there's going to be a lot of blood. I don't see it going to a decision.
"I'm prepared to put on an impressive show. The fans are going to see from me a much different Wanderlei. I'm going to be much more aggressive. I'm prepared for everything, and I really, really want him to hit me first. After that, I'm going to kill him."
It seems that even in a short conversation, Silva can't completely control the emotion, the heartfelt desire to fight toe-to-toe that has driven him since the bareknuckle days of his early career.
And should the 20,000-seat Lanxess Arena offer a warm welcome to Silva, "The Axe Murderer" is certainly bound to answer the opening bell.
"For now, I need the result," Silva said. "I'm going to need to fight for the win, not the show. But I'm saying this now: After the start of the fight, it's incredible the power the crowd has inside me. The crowd shakes my heart.
"I have a big heart. I work with my emotion, and I don't like to hear the boos. I want the crowd to cheer – with his blood or my blood. But I like the blood."
And for those unable to witness Silva's first main event as a UFC fighter, the Brazilian has a message.
"I want to say thanks to my fans for giving me their energy," Silva said. "I'm going to need that energy, and I'm going to need the support of my fans. Everyone knows this fight is so important for me.
"I know a lot of people in the world are going to have a barbecue or a party at home to watch my fight. I thank them so much for that. On June 13, I'm going to give my best. And make sure you finish your barbecue first because this fight might be over very fast. Don't close your eyes for a second."
John Morgan is the lead staff reporter for MMAjunkie.com.
