Manager Says Anderson Silva Is Motivated To Be Champion Again; Expects To Finish Nick Diaz

News

While there have been questions about the Spider’s motivation to return to the UFC, his trainer says he is ready to make one of the greatest comebacks in the sport’s history.

Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, says that the fighter’s return fight against Nick Diaz at UFC 183 couldn’t be a better match for his client.

“Well I just think it’s just a fight that makes sense,” Soares told Submission Radio. “I mean, arguable these guys are two of the best boxers in Mixed Martial arts, they both wanted to fight Roy Jones Jr, you know they’re both coming off two loses, they both have been out of the ring for over a year, so it’s just a fight that makes sense.”

Soares also doesn’t think Diaz will trash talk Silva the way that he normally does before matches.

“I think he’s prepared to deal with that, but I honestly believe that Nick Diaz is going to take a different approach. I don’t think Nick Diaz has anything personal against Anderson Silva. I think Nick Diaz looks at Anderson Silva as a true, real martial art challenge and he believes he’s got what it takes to be able to fight him.”

Interestingly, Silva’s manager almost seemed to defend Diaz’s abrasive nature.

“Most of the time Nick Diaz doesn’t start off with the trash talking. It’s normally somebody else that starts off with the trash talking and he kinda finishes it off. But Nick Diaz overall, I don’t see him much as a guy that starts off talking trash.”

For most UFC insiders, the question has never been about whether Anderson Silva can beat Nick Diaz, it is whether or not he actually wants to continue in MMA. In that regard, Ed Soares attempted to silence critics by addressing Silva’s motivation.

“I think that’s going to be the biggest motivation, just seeing Anderson back to what he once was. I believe that there got a point in Anderson’s career where maybe subconsciously he forgot what it was like not to be champ, and I think now he’s kinda looking up at that hill realizing that he’s got some more challenges to conquer.”