UFC 132 – Dana White: “It’s probably the end of the road for Wanderlei Silva”

UFC President, Dana White has revealed he’s ready to bring down the curtain on the storied career of former PRIDE champion, Wanderlei Silva after he was knocked out brutally last night by Chris Leben at UFC 132 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Dana said:

“People love him so much because of the way he fights and his style and the type of person he is, But yeah, (it’s) probably the end of the road for Wanderlei. People knew that [Silva] and Leben were going to come out and they were going to throw until somebody fell down, and it was Wanderlei tonight.”

“I think it’s one of those ones where I’d like to sit down and talk to him and kind of Chuck Liddell him into it. I think the guy has nothing left to prove. He’s a warrior. People love him all over the world, and I just don’t want to see that happen to him anymore.”

Leben was also in attendance at the press conference and you could tell it was a bitter sweet moment for him as well.

“Wanderlei Silva is my favorite fighter; he always has been. To tell you the truth, I never visualized the fight going the way it went. I only visualized a three-round war. I’ve never been as scared to go into the ring as to fight Wanderlei Silva. The man is a legend. What he’s done for the sport is absolutely amazing.”

Wanderlei had hoped a move down to the middleweight division would breathe new life into his career and a win on his 185 pound debut against Michael Bisping seemed to do just that. After a series of injuries and sixteen months away from the octagon it seemed time took its toll on the Brazilian legend last night as he slumped to yet another knockout loss.

By Michael Pepper.