Anderson Silva: Steven Seagal Didn’t Teach Me The Front Kick
Former longtime UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva has much to prove when he steps into the Octagon to rematch Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 168 from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas this December.
Since suffering his first UFC loss to Weidman, many have questioned Silva’s motivation to remain a fighter at the top of the game. He spoke up in a video interview with WHOA! TV to discuss his drive leading up to the Weidman bout:
“I have energy for fight. I’m tired because for long time, I stayed to get the belt. I go to UFC, I fight for long time, and sometime you need to stop, because it’s too much energy. The people talk too much. Sometimes it very important you take you time.”
That’s an interesting insight into Silva’s motivation earlier this summer, and it sounds like “The Spider” was a bit worn out. He’s since claimed that he’ll be back to form at UFC 168, but only time will tell.
The conversation switched to Silva’s friend Steven Seagal, who has claimed to have taught Silva the famed front kick that he used to fell Vitor Belfort in early 2011. Silva has a different side of the tale:
“I train the front kick for a long time. I start training martial arts for long time ago. Steven Seagal show me the movement, the little movement, but no teach me this kick, I working hard for this kick for long time. “
Many have thought Seagal to take a bit too much credit for Silva’s epic win at UFC 126. Now we hear Silva’s side of the tale. It sounds like while Seagal may have taught the champ a way to refine the kick, Silva already had the dangerous weapon within his repertoire.
It’s going to take a full arsenal to beat the young and hungry Weidman come December, and Silva’s patented clowning around most likely won’t earn him any new fans or keep his current ones should he lose again. On the other hand, he could right nearly all of the wrongs should he return with a patented knockout performance. Who’s your early pick to emerge with the Middleweight championship at UFC 168?
