Silva seeing psychologist to get over broken leg
Anderson Silva: “My strength is back because I’m back to training. The hardest part is self-confidence, to kick again as I used to.”
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva recently spoke with Brazilian OGlobo site Fantastico about the psychological effects of the broken leg he suffered fighting Chris Weidman at UFC 168.
Silva will have a comeback fight vs. Nick Diaz at UFC 183 on Jan. 31, but “The Spider” is not 100% yet. Silva described his leg as 91% healed physically, but the mind is trickier.
“I feel no pain at all,” said Silva as translated by Guilherme Cruz for MMAFighting. “My strength is back because I’m back to training. The hardest part is self-confidence, to kick again as I used to.”
“I’ve worked with a psychologist so I can get rid of the ghosts of those horrible moments of that fight, when I had that accident. I’m a little apprehensive in training. I know I can execute the movement, but I end up not doing it for fear.”
“Yeah, I won’t get hurt. I know I won’t get hurt, but fear is natural. I don’t want to feel that pain ever again. No way.”
“I feel better training in Brazil. And, so I can be at my 100 percent to return to fighting, I’d rather train in Brazil.”
And Silva says he is no longer going after a title.
“I’m over this thing of being champion, having the title,” said Silva. “The truth is, there will only be one Ayrton Senna, there will only be one Pele, and there will only be one Anderson Silva, so whoever saw me, saw me. Who haven’t seen me, won’t see it.
“In a way you’ll see me, but not for the belt, that thing of being champion again. I don’t have patience for this. I think I’m closer to retirement every day.”