By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Josh Hedges

There are few fights left on Anderson Silva’s contract on UFC and, according to him, the retirement is closer. Talking to TATAME Magazine, the UFC middleweight champion revealed his bet to the next champion of the category.

“I think that the next champion of this category will be Nate Marquardt”, Anderson said, complementing the American, who comes from victory over Demian Maia. “If I don’t have the belt anymore, I think that Nate will be the next champion, the next guy to win it for a long, long time this title”.

With eight victories on UFC, Nate Marquardt lost only two times on the event, to the Brazilians Thales Leites and Anderson Silva. Although, Silva thinks Marquardt’s evolution was big since the defeat to him, in 2007.

“I’ve been following all of his fights and he’s better since the last time that we fought. He’s tough, has a good characteristic for a fighter, develop a lot while the fight. I believe that he will be the next champion of this category”, finished Anderson.