An Axe To Grind…

Posted by Neil Rooke on Sep 2, 2011 in Editors' Picks, MMA, UFC

UFC 132. “Sandstorm” by “Darude” hits the sound system and to one hell of an ovation out steps Wanderlei Silva for the first time in over a year. The bell rings and Leben and Silva engage, and then..
 
That one punch broke my heart.
 
Watching my all time favourite fighter hit the floor, knocked out cold wasn’t something I could say I thoroughly enjoyed. When I think back to that moment I kind of think that at the time it may have hurt me more than him.
 
Wanderlei Silva’s return to the octagon, as we all know did not go down as he anticipated. Lots of talk subsequently followed the fight, as numerous people urged the former PRIDE Middleweight champion to step out of the cage once and for all. Sure, he is getting on in this game but I think Wandy still has a fight or two in him.
 
It’s tough to say that after seeing what Leben did to him, it’s tough to convince myself that he is going to be able to get inside the cage and throw ’em like nobodies business again but we can all have hopes and dreams right?
 
Those hopes and those dreams could only really involve a handful of fighters. As I got thinking as to who Wandy would square off against next, not many fights made sense from both Wanderlei’s standing point and also the prospective opponent. To me only two fights really seemed realistic and also made sense for both fighters.
 
The first name I came up with was Michael Bisping. Yes Wanderlei beat him in Australia in front of some huge fan support but some people still seem to think that Bisping should have won the fight. Wanderlei doesn’t have a whole lot to prove in beating the Brit again but I am sure it’s a fight that he could win on his way out and something that Michael may want to look at should he find himself unsuccessful against Miller after the TUF coaches square off. Wanderlei in his element against Bisping could see the vicious fan favourite ride off into the sunset on a high.
 
The second? This was not such an easy choice. When it was announced that Wanderlei was taking on Akiyama it was a fight that many thought would steal a show. I still think that it would. Both men are coming off defeats so this match-up would also make sense and it’s a fight that Wandy has the best chance in winning. Stylistically I think that Wanderlei could make a comeback here and it certainly would be nice to see him in a “fight of the night” performance once again.
 
I still think that “The Axe Murderer” has an axe to grind in the UFC; I for one hope that the axe is sharp enough next time around because I don’t think I care bare to watch a repeat of UFC 132. One thing is certain though, no matter who he steps into the cage with next I will be cheering him on hoping that one day in the near future this legend of the sport can ‘Chris Lytle” himself out of Mixed Martial Arts.
 
War Wand!