• UFC 126

I've nothing to prove against Belfort - Anderson Silva

ESPN staff
January 28, 2011

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Anderson Silva is adamant he has nothing to prove when he returns to the Octagon at UFC 126, despite his two most recent performances.

Silva fights Vitor Belfort on February 5 knowing he is the UFC's figurehead. President Dana White labels the Brazilian the best pound-for-pounder in the world, a tag he will soon be able to prove against Georges St-Pierre if both men win their next fights.

However, Silva has not lived up to the billing in recent times, first angering his bosses with a half-hearted effort against Demian Maia, which saw the bout go to a decision after Silva more-or-less refused to engage for two rounds.

His latest encounter, against Chael Sonnen, was a more testing affair that saw the UFC middleweight champion dominated for four rounds. His dramatic late submission victory was one of the moments of the year and deservedly earned Silva praise, but the overall performance left question marks over his previously accepted invincibility.

"I don't think I need to prove anything," Silva told ESPN. "I have been the UFC middleweight champion for a very long time now, and I have always thought that historians judge you once you retire on everything you did in your career.

"That's the only real way to judge someone's career, once you have seen their career from beginning to end.

"I am happy with what I have done so far in my career and am still having fun. I am happy with that and let other people talk about 'legacy' and 'pound for pound'. I just care about martial arts and competition."

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