Silva rules out 2014 UFC return

Rio de Janeiro, March 21 (IANS) Brazilian mixed martial artist Anderson Silva has ruled out a return to the ring in 2014.

The 38-year-old is still recovering from a horrific broken leg suffered against American Chris Weidman in December and says he is not yet thinking about a comeback, reports Xinhua.

“These rumours that I’ll fight at UFC 181 or any other event around that date aren’t true,” Silva told Brazil’s Sportv Thursday.

“This year is over for me. There’s a chance I’ll fight in the first half of 2015.”

Silva is the most successful competitor in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history, going undefeated from 2006 to 2013.

While stopping short of announcing his retirement, Silva admitted he was unlikely to reclaim his middleweight belt.

“(My) phase as the champion is over,” he said. “Fighting for (the title) is a little far away from me.”

“I don’t see myself stopping now but I don’t know if I will fulfill my 10-fight contract,” he said.

“My family has been asking me for years to stop fighting, and they need to understand that this is what I love to do and that I need to have my time. My goal in the sport was to become a reference in this sport, and I’m achieving this.”