After passing the baton, matchmaking will be key in Anderson Silva’s career
5:02 am | February 10, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:
9:51 AM ET
MELBOURNE, Australia — The cageside microphones picked them up, clear as day. Six words from Anderson Silva to Israel Adesanya that were enough to make a fight fan cry.
“I pass the baton to you.”
UFC 234 did not mark the end of Silva’s career, but there was a sense of finality to it all the same. A 43-year-old legend fought a 29-year-old version of himself on Sunday, and after losing via unanimous decision, he gave him his blessing, in the end, to chase greatness.
It was beautiful, honestly. It was an honor for Adesanya, and he treated it as such. His path moving forward is set. He immediately turned his sights to a UFC title shot, and the defending champ Robert Whittaker. He has accepted the baton, and he’s running with it.