Anderson Silva is widely considered the greatest mixed martial artist in the history of the sport. The former longtime UFC middleweight champion reigned over the division for six years before losing to current champion, Chris Weidman in back-to-back fights.
As you have more than likely heard by now, Silva broke his fibula and tibia during the rematch with Weidman in December of 2013, and subsequently has not fought at all in 2014.
Although Silva is 100 percent healthy and is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 183 in January against Nick Diaz, he admits that he is still struggling with the mental aspect of breaking his leg and continuing on with his MMA career.
“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,” Silva recently told Fox Sports. “I’m a little apprehensive in training. I know I can execute the movement, but I end up not doing it for fear.”
“I feel no pain at all,” Silva continued. “My strength is back because I’m back to training. The hardest part is self-confidence, to kick again as I used to.”
It is interesting to hear Silva speak candidly about the injury and his struggles with the mental aspect of it. Hopefully with time Silva will once again find his confidence that helped him become the most dominant champion in the history of the sport.
