Anderson Silva exclusive interview: UFC legend talks superheroes, fighting and retiring in Japan
'I want my last fight to be in Japan'
Anderson Silva isn’t quite finished just yet.
In an exclusive interview, the Brazilian explained that he wants to bow out on his terms after devoting his entire life to mixed martial arts.
Silva, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, hasn’t fought since losing to Jake Paul in a boxing match last year.
Now, he says he wants to go back to where it all started — before calling it a day.
“I want my last fight to be in Japan,” he tells MMA Insider on a Zoom call from the corner of his gym.
“Japan has a special place in my heart. The fans always treated me so nice there. It is important to me.
“Maybe there will be an announcement. I don’t know. There’s a lot to do [first] but I would like to go back.”
In the meantime, Silva is keeping himself busy training his two sons. His eldest son Gabriel will compete on a Misfits show in Newcastle on 23 September.
“My sons are fighting, they are carrying on [my legacy],” he adds.
“I’m having fun training them. They are both very skilled. I love fighting.
“It’s a part of me. I think it always will be. I can’t imagine being without it.”
Aside from fighting, Silva also has his sights set on entering the world of Hollywood.
A self-confessed comics geek, he admits he would love to have a cameo role in a Marvel film.
“That would be crazy,” he says. “Everyone knows I love superheroes.
“I collect models. I have a lot of them. It would be cool.
“I’m a big fan of Spider-Man [Tom Holland]. He’s my idol. I hope I can do something with him.”