Wanderlei Silva: “I think you should be able to kick in the head, it’s a fun thing to do”

Published on: 25th March, 2009

Wandy stomps Saku  | read this item

Wandy stomps Saku

When coming back to the UFC Wanderlei Silva had to abandon two of his best offensive weapons, kicks and knees to a downed opponent. Silva used both while fighting in Japan for Pride FC to a science and in this latest interview he talks about how he hopes the rules will eventually change to suit his style and why he knows his fight against Rich Franklin is a must win for both fighters.

Kalin’s MMA Blog got the chance to interview the former Pride Middleweight champion and ask him which set of rules he liked more.

“I think you should be able to kick in the head, it’s a fun thing to do. I think in the future, they need to change it where you can knee in the head. You don’t have a lot of problems. A bunch has changed. But the kick on the ground is so aggressive, but knee in the ground you have no problems.”

Wanderlei Silva is probably one of the most beloved fighters in all of MMA,

WTF? Another Silva who throws knees?

but he has now lost two of his first three since his return to the Octagon. He is also facing another popular former champion in Rich Franklin at UFC 99 and he knows this is a “must win” for both himself and the former UFC Middleweight title holder.

“Rich Franklin is one of the guys I wanted to fight. He’s a tough guy. He’s an ex champion. He’s one of the guys I have never fight who I want to fight. It is a good fight for me, it is a good fight for him. I and him now have the same situation. He lose the last fight, I lose my last fight. It is a very important fight for us. It’s a good situation. I’m going to give my best, he going to give his best. I’m going to see my best time again. It is a very, very good fight.”

It is hard to pick a favorite in this fight since both fighters are class acts and have shown they are proven warriors. On the other hand they are in Germany it would be cool to see the UFC use knees and kicks to the ground while overseas as a test to see how it would change fighter’s strategies in MMA now, but that is only wishful thinking.

I for one would enjoy seeing if the Wrestling heavy promotion would be balanced by knees to the head on the ground, but I know there is no real chance that the Athletic commissions would ever legalize them.

 Alberto Martinez "The Narcisist" is the founding owner of URDirt.com. If you would like to post on the front page or in our New "Fan Jab" section all you need to do is register. Read more from this author

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