Wanderlei Silva - Fight of the Year 2 Years Running? 

 

Many fighters will tell you that they do it for the fans but with Wanderlei Silva his passion for pleasing the crowds is apparent.  It’s hard to pick a fight in which the Brazilian veteran has fought conservatively or tried to do anything less than taking his opponents head clean off!

 

It was this attitude and passion that helped contribute to him winning Fight of the Year at the 2008 Awards for his match with Chuck Liddell.  In the new issue of Fighters Only Chuck comments on the fight “it almost happened so many times.  I was real excited when I finally got to fight him.”  Wanderlei, who dropped the decision after a battle that can suitably be described as a war, comments in the feature “it was great...I’d rank my fight with Chuck in my top three.”

 

This year it appears that ‘The Axe Murderer’ could be in with another chance of taking home the Fight of the Year trophy for his UFC 99 battle with Rich Franklin.  For three rounds the battle went back and forth as both fighters fought tooth and nail to gain the advantage over the other.  Both landed heavy shots rocking the other,  gaining a standing ovation from the crowd in attendance.  During the fight Wanderlei encouraged the crowds support waving on cheers with his hands whilst still hunting down Franklin.  For his part Franklin took everything Silva gave and fired right back earning the nod from the judges and walking away with a win.  Both fighters showed the class of former champions after the fight with Franklin modest in victory and Silva gracious in defeat.  In reality the fans were the real winners and many are showing their appreciation nominating this as their Fight of the Year.

 

Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva, along with Randy  Couture, feature in the Champions Forever exclusive in the new issue of Fighters Only out now.  For more information about the issue and to see more behind the scenes images visit www.fightersonlymag.com

 

Champions Forever behind the scenes images copyright Fighters Only ltd.

 

Fans have until September 30 to nominate for their favourites before the finalist lists are drawn up.