Anderson Silva back in UFC training after knee surgery as he pleads Dana White for Conor McGregor super-fight
ANDERSON SILVA is training again following knee surgery.
The Brazilian legend went under the knife in May and vowed to complete the remaining two fights on his UFC contract.
Silva has now been cleared to train and his long time manager Jorge Guimaraes posted a video of the 45-year-old throwing gentle kicks and strikes.
He has not fought since losing to Jared Cannonier in Rio de Janeiro last May.
A year later the middleweight icon then completed his knee operation.
Soon after he called out former featherweight and lightweight champion McGregor to a 176lb catchweight fight.
The Irishman, who has never weighed over the 170lb welterweight limit, accepted the challenge.
Silva, who has fought three times at light-heavyweight, told former rival Chael Sonnen that he was already trimming down in weight as he pleaded with UFC president Dana White to agree the fight.
He said: "I talked about my super fight with Conor, and I start to cut my weight.
"And for no excuse and for everybody talking about, 'Oh but Anderson don’t take the weight and blah blah blah.'
"Okay, I start training and I’m ready for that. Conor ready too. And it’s one thing, just Dana White, I need to make this fight real. Let’s go see."
Before White could even deny Silva the bout, McGregor announced his third retirement in four years.
The southpaw was left frustrated at not being in the centre of the lightweight title picture, with interim champ Justin Gaethje set to unify against Khabib Nurmagomedov.
McGregor, who said he was willing to face Silva at middleweight, was also annoyed his request to fight Silva was not considered.
He told ESPN in May: "When the Anderson one came along, I was like, yeah, s***, that's a mad fight. And then everyone said he's old and over the hill.
"I was, like, 'What? Fighting a former light heavyweight and the middleweight GOAT, and the actual GOAT in my eyes, that's not a rewardable fight?'
"And you know, you're actually right. It wouldn't be rewarded. I would go in there and put him away, Ariel, and then what would happen?
"They'd say he's old and he's over the hill and he's past his prime and all."
McGregor then revealed after he was denied a fight at lightweight his body would have been in the right shape to face Silva at 176lb.
He explained: "I was cutting to 155, and then because I asked for 155, they wanted to show power and stomp all over me.
"I don't know why they do this. But it was taken from me and then pushed back.
"So then I'm thinking I don't want to be cutting if I'm fighting at 170. I have to be careful here.
"My body has to be correct to the weight. And then the 176 [Silva] talk. I'm just over it, man."
Source: Read Full Article