Robert Whittaker breaks down Anderson Silva decline

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker appeared recently on What the Heck, and discussed middleweight GOAT Anderson Silva, and more.

We never crossed paths [in the Octagon] because we’re like a decade difference in age, said Whittaker. I’m young and going up, he’s getting old and heading down. I don’t know how to say that in a non-insulting way, because I have the utmost respect for him, but age gets everybody. It gets everybody. It doesn’t matter how good you look, it gets everybody. And you can see that in him.

You can see that his timing is half a second off, he can’t take the shots like he could when he was younger, he doesn’t hit quite as hard. Anderson Silva back in his prime, he couldn’t get touched, and when he got touched he shrugged off everything. He was unstoppable, he was uncanny, but it required the perfect balance of youth and physical attributes and talent. Whereas now he’s experienced and the talent is obviously there, that’s why he’s still competitive, that’s why he’s still doing so well, but his youth and his physical attributes have declined a little bit. When you’re fighting top-caliber dudes, top-tier guys, like young, hungry, physical guys – look at the specimen of Uriah Hall. You’re fighting a dude that’s in the prime of his physical abilities and with the talent to go with it, it’s just scary.

Silva’s last fight in the UFC was a loss to Uriah Hall at UFC on ESPN+ 39 on October 31, and “The Spider” has indicated he wants to continue competing in combat sports in some fashion. Whittaker, who turns 30 next month, was asked if he sees himself fighting in his 40s?

Hell no, he replied. This game is stressful. That’s another thing, these guys that fight throughout their late 30s, early 40s, this game never gets easier. Every fight, never gets easier. The stresses and the nerves are always there. Like, always. I don’t know why they just keep throwing themselves into this game. It is crazy, in my opinion.

I have a soft cap [idea when I want to retire], and I’m obviously going to go on how my body feels, but if I start getting knocked out and start losing, my health comes first – I’m gonna just bow out. … Let’s say, touch wood, I’m not performing as well as I want to at 35, then I’m gonna be in the prime physique to still run circles around my kids, which sounds like a pretty good gig.”