Former UFC champ Anderson Silva on why fights with Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping are good idea

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva bobbed and weaved on questions about his future, referring several of them to his boss, UFC President Dana White.

Officially winless since 2012, Silva’s nose turned up at an inquiry of his viability at age 41.

“It’s a good question,” he told MMAjunkie, then moved to answer another reporter at a media day in support of his fight Saturday against Derek Brunson (16-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) at UFC 208.

Cheered on by a pack of vocal fans who showed up to the boxing gym where the event was held, Silva (33-8 MMA, 16-4 UFC) was in good spirits, if uninterested in getting too deep about what lies ahead.

Pressed further, Silva said his pay-per-view fight Saturday against Brunson at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., will be about demonstrating his passion for fighting – not about getting back in the win column, or winning a title shot.

“For a long time, I had the belt, and I lost time with my family, and now I just keep my focus on fighting, (then) go home and stay with my family,” Silva said.

But, of course, if there’s a title opportunity to be had, there’s no way the Brazilian MMA star is going to turn it down. A decision loss to current champ Michael Bisping (30-7 MMA, 20-7 UFC) this past year stung, and a rematch would bring a chance for redemption.

A redemption many might say would be the perfect segue to calling it a career.

“I think I’m waiting for this fight on Saturday, and I’ll go back home with my family and wait for the next challenge,” Silva said.

Asked whether Saturday’s fight carried any assurances that his next challenge would be a title shot, “The Spider” again weaved.

“One more good question, but this is for Dana,” he said. “In my opinion, I proved for a long time how much I give my heart in my time with the UFC. Why not give me the opportunity to fight for the belt again? I don’t know. But this is a good question for Dana, not for me.”

So, too, is the question of whether Silva’s recent fantasy to take on UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor in the welterweight division, a class with which he’s previously flirted without committal.

McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) is talking about a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather as an inevitability, one that could bring a battle in court with the UFC if White is to be believed. Silva maintains that a fight with him is a viable detour.

“I think it’s a challenge for my technique in standup,” he said. “I think McGregor has a good striking technique, and in my mind, I think it’s a good fight for fans, and it’s a challenge for me. I respect Conor. He’s a great champion. That’s it.”

In other words, he’s just talking. The guy with all the answers is the one putting up the cage on Saturday. He’s the guy who gets in there and fights.

To hear more from Silva, check out the video above.

For more on UFC 208, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.