Anderson Silva tells Dana White: 'I'm coming back'
Anderson Silva's secondhand comments about a return are not lip service. The former UFC middleweight champion conveyed the same sentiment to Dana White.
"He's looking at coming back," the UFC president told FOX Sports on Thursday.
White said he visited Silva in the hospital last week and Silva was adamant during their conversation.
"I'll be back," White said the greatest UFC champion of all time told him. "I'm coming back."
White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta will visit with Silva at his Los Angeles home Friday. The meeting won't necessarily be about Silva's potential comeback. White said there's plenty of time to talk about that.
"We'll talk in about six or seven months," White said.
Silva broke his leg in gruesome fashion in a title fight with Chris Weidman at UFC 168 on Dec. 28. The Brazilian legend went for a leg kick that Weidman checked, leading to Silva's leg tibia snapping and his leg nearly wrapping around Weidman's in an awful visual that has gone viral online.
Silva had surgery to put a rod into his leg and Dr. Steven Sanders, who performed the procedure, said he could return to training in about nine months. Sanders said Silva asked him repeatedly "when can I train?" after surgery.
Silva's manager Jorge Guimaraes also told TMZ that the former pound-for-pound king will be on the comeback trail.
"It was a clean break so the nerves are OK," Guimaraes said. "He's already started physical therapy and he's moving his toes."
Added Guimaraes: "He will be back."
And Silva is now saying the same thing to the boss.
