Anderson Silva, considered by many to be the best mixed martial arts fighter ever, is planning to take an extended break from the sport until at least late 2013.
Silva talked with a Brazil-based web site and spoke about his plans.
"I'm on vacation from fighting," Silva told Brazil-based web site Tatame, according to ESPN.com. "I (will) just come back at the end of next year."
According to the report, Silva is hoping to use the time to work on business interests and also to star in a film. The move by Silva will affect the UFC and professional MMA.
The UFC had been planning a "super-fight" between Silva and welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre for sometime in 2013, but that option will have to change now. League president Dana White previously said that the bout could take place at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas," according to ESPN.com.
St-Pierre will fight for the first time in over year at UFC 154, which is being held in Montreal on Saturday. He will face off against interim titleholder Carlos Condit in the main fight and it's reported that Silva will attend.
"I don't care about Anderson Silva," St-Pierre said last week during a media call to promote UFC 154. "I'm focused on Carlos Condit right now."
According to ESPN.com, "Silva will be in attendance at Bell Centre for UFC 154, but he will not enter the Octagon to challenge St-Pierre should the champion retain his belt."
Silva said in response, "It is not my character to challenge anyone," Silva said. "It will not happen. I'm sure."
The move is a different tune than the Silva camp was singing a few weeks ago. In late October, Silva's manager Ed Soares said in an interview that he was looking for the superfight with St-Pierre,
At the end of the day, GSP is the greatest welterweight of all time," Soares said, according to USA Today. "People argue back and forth who the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world is. Some people say it's Anderson, some people say it's Georges St-Pierre. So I think the way to settle it is to do a catch weight at 177 1/2, right down the middle, and see what happens. I think it'll be a fight that the fans want to see and it'll be a great fight."
At 37-years-old it could be risky to take a break at this time. But if there is any fighter that can take and break and come back, it's Silva. Soares had plans for his fighter, but all those are up in the air now that he will take a break.
"Who knows what's next. Maybe after (a possible fight with St-Pierre), who knows. A possibility it could be (Jon Jones), or maybe even Bisping," Soares said. "There are so many different fighters out there that could potentially be big fights."
The last time Silva entered the octagon was on Oct. 13 against Stephan Bonnar in a light heavyweight matchup. Silva defeated him by a knockout in the first round to improve his record to 33-4 in his career.
Over the summer in July, Silva proved his dominance to the sport once again while taking on Chael Sonnen in a rematch for the UFC middleweight title with a knockout in the second round.
"It's amazing what he's been able to accomplish, and what he continues to accomplish, at his age," UFC president Dana White said to Yahoo Sports at the time. "That's the thing nobody ever thinks about. Nobody ever talks about it, but this guy is pushing 40. He's an amazing fighter and an amazing athlete."
Silva is the current UFC middleweight titleholder and is ranked as the number one pound-for-pound fighter by ESPN.com. Light heavyweight Jon Jones and St-Pierre follow him in the rankings.
