After latest loss, Anderson Silva asks: ‘stop or continue?’

Former UFC middleweight champion and irrefutable MMA legend Anderson Silva came up short again over the weekend, losing by first-round TKO to Jared Cannonier in the co-main event of UFC 237.

Immediately after the fight, Silva was adamant that he plans to continue to compete despite this setback. Speaking on his Instagram account on Thursday, however, he changed his tune slightly, asking his fans if she should stop or continue fighting.

See what Anderson Silva had to say below (translated by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting):

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxgGOgzgCeq/

“Stop or continue?” Anderson Silva began.

”Over the last four days, after another mission that wasn’t successful, I’m questioning if I should or shouldn’t continue training, dedicating, overcoming injuries, pain, etc. I ask myself, ‘Is the love that I feel for the sport consuming my mind and my body to the point that I can no longer continue?’

”Everything I’ve always done was be a good soldier in the battle field, the most well-trained, the most disciplined, and ready to die for my mission because my love for the job has always spoken louder. I’m sure that I can still do that 1,000 times more, but the last four days with pain and uncertainty, things that aren’t new in my routine, are consuming me more than before.”

”My heart and mind of a warrior get confused to a point that creates doubts. On one side I realize I’m not and don’t have to be perfect, and how much this search (for perfection) has brought me good and bad things over the years.

”Always remember that your failures are always the best teachers, and it’s during hard moments that people need to find a reason to continue moving forward. Our actions, especially when we have to overcome ourselves, makes us better people. Our capacity to resist and continue going is what makes us special people.”

Do you think Anderson Silva should retire or keep fighting?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 5/16/2019.