Silva on not wearing belt: ‘Is normal’

Former UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva spoke with MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani following today’s UFC 168 pre-fight press conference. As has become standard, some of The Spider’s answers were a little hard to follow.

Helwani asked if it felt a little weird to not be sitting behind the belt at the fighters table. For many onlookers, it certainly felt weird.

“No, ees normal,” replied Silva, doubtless delighting untold UGers. “The UFC have the new champion. For Saturday, I change.”

Do you miss being champion he was asked.

“No,” he replied, adding “not too much.”

Besides the belt, Silva was noticably absent any Nike marks or apparel. Helwani asked him where the Nike logo was?

“This is a good question… for Dana,” said Silva, wrapping an arm around his interviewer.

Then the questions turned to possible retirement. Helwani asked how close to retiring Silva was in the locker room after the last fight.

“We’re always close to stopping,” said SIlva via a translator. “We’re always close to calling it quits.”

When asked directly about rumors that Silva would retire after the fight, The Spider fueled the flames.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I have a great, great chance for stop the fight.”

Lastly, he gave his prediction for how the fight would go.

“Fast,” Silva replied. “And Anderson wins.”

And then retire maybe?…