Famous Jiu-Jitsu coach Antonio Nogueira believes that his good friend Anderson Silva will be more than ready than expected when he makes his return to the Octagon on January 31 next year.
Silva has not fought since December last year after sustaining a horrific broken leg injury during his rematch with Chris Weidman, but Nogueira said that the former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion is already in good spirits in training camp.
"Anderson is finishing his healing process," Nogueira said in an interview with R7 via Bloody Elbow. "He already started his camp and will be ready on January."
Based from what he is seeing from Silva over the past several weeks, Nogueira believes that the former middleweight kingpin will have a triumphant return to the Octagon.
Nogueira knows that Diaz will be tough nut to crack, but Silva will be more than ready to engage for the entire five-round showdown. He quickly added, though, that he doesn't believe the fight will go the distance, predicting that Silva will score a knockout win.
"Diaz is a good fighter, he once was world champion at Strikeforce and a top contender in his division," Nogueira said. "Nick is ready for a five round fight and Anderson has to knock him out. Anderson will do it, I'm sure."
Silva, who underwent surgery to repair a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg, recently admitted that he is still haunted by the ghost of the gruesome injury, saying that he is still hesitating to kick using his surgically-repaired leg.
Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission medical director Marcio Tannure said in a recent interview, though, that they are confident that Silva will eventually regain his confidence in his leg before his showdown against Diaz at UFC 183.
"Anderson is in good condition. Actually, Anderson is a personal friend of mine. I was with him when he got hurt in the fight against Weidman, and I followed him through his impressive recovery," Tannure said. "Obviously, a fracture like that brings a psychological problem, and only a training routine will make him comfortable again. But he is an amazing athlete and by the way he is training, I believe soon he will be 100 percent again."
