Official MMA Thread

[NCRadioMan]

I hope Leban wins but there will be alot of home cooking for Bisping.

Diego Sanchez has torn rib cartlidge and is out of UFC 90 against Thiago Alves. Josh Koschek is now in. Even though I am a fan of Diego, I think this is a better fight.

Anderson Silva has virtually set a date for retirement!

by Marcelo Alonso (malonso@sherdog.com)

The talk started in late September.

That’s when Anderson Silva, the UFC middleweight champion regarded by many as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, said on a Brazilian TV show that he was going to retire in 2009.

Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, explained that his fighter would finish out the six remaining bouts on his UFC contract. Although Soares’ statement seemed to appease some fans, others understood that Silva’s retirement could still come soon even if he fights six more times.

“Everything has its time,” Silva told Sherdog.com in an exclusive video interview, “and I believe my time is already over.”

So what would be Silva’s next move if he does retire? Boxing maybe? Coaching?

“I’m going to be fat, with a big belly by the side of the Octagon, eating popcorn behind the scenes, making my imitations and screaming for the fighters: “Go there! Kick his face! Put him down!”

Silva, who is famous around the Brazilian fight scene for his uncanny impersonations of fighters and trainers, also discussed with Sherdog.com whether compensation has played a role in his decision as well as whether he has been motivated to train for his title defense against Patrick Cote on Oct. 25 at UFC 90.

UFC 89 card for this Saturday from the National Indoor Arena,
Birmingham, England:

Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben
Brandon Vera vs. Keith Jardine
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Luis Arthur Cane
Chris Lytle vs. Paul Taylor
Marcus Davis vs. Paul Kelly
Dan Hardy vs. Akihiro Gono
Jim Miller vs. David Baron
Shane Carwin vs. Neil Wain
Sam Stout vs. Terry Etim
Per Eklund vs. Samy Schiavo
Jess Liaudin vs. David Bielkheden

UFC 90 next Saturday from the Allstate Arean in Chicago:

Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Cote
Thiago Alves vs. Josh Koschek
Sean Sherk vs. Tyson Griffin
Fabricio Werdum vs. Junior dos Santos
Thales Leites vs. Goran Reljic
Spencer Fisher vs. Melvin Guillard
Gray Maynard vs. Rich Clementi
Hermes Franca vs. Gleison Tibau
Matt Horwich vs. Ricardo Almeida
Pete Sell vs. Josh Burkman