Wanderlei Silva Interested in Boxing Matches Against ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Ricardo Arona

Recently inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame, Wanderlei Silva participated this week on the Combate Podcast, Mundo da Luta, and spoke of his desire to do a “real” boxing challenge.

Silva expressed disappointment with the recent duel between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen , an exhibition that ended in a draw.

“It is a new range of entertainment that is opening up,” Silva said. “What I can say is this: when Wanderlei Silva has an exhibition fight, you will see what a real exhibition is. It has to be real. If I had the opportunity to beat up Chael Sonnen, what do you think I would do? I was going to beat Sonnen up, the guys had to give me that opportunity (laughs). I'm not his friend, I'm just an acquaintance.”

While the Pride Fighting Championships veteran had some intense moments with Sonnen on the third season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” in 2014, he makes it clear that he now has a good relationship with the American.

"He's a nice guy. I like him, the rivalry is over,” Silva said.

Still considering the idea of returning from MMA retirement to fight under boxing rules, Silva suggested two former rivals he would like to fight.

“I would like to get an athlete that I have already faced, a rematch,” Silva said. “ Quinton Jackson , for example, would be cool. It's 2-2 and we could do a rubber match in boxing. Ricardo Arona , too. He hasn't fought in a while. I've already fought Arona in jiu-jitsu (meaning he fought Arona on the ground during their two Pride confrontations), but he hasn't fought me in boxing yet. Why not? I'm training, but I'm in no rush. Let's promote first. It would be cool to do it in Brazil. I haven't fought here in a while. It would be nice to fight for my audience.”

“The Ax Murderer” also spoke of the emotion of receiving the Hall of Fame trophy from his son alongside his friend and Chute Boxe training partner, Mauricio Rua .

"Everything happens at the right time. If I had received this award sooner, it wouldn't have been presented by my son,” he said. “It was a unique emotion to be presented by him and alongside ‘Shogun,’ who is a guy I admire so much and have followed since the beginning. He says that at some point he was inspired by me, but I was also inspired by him. Before that fight against ‘Rampage’ Jackson at Pride, I said that he just needed a great fight to show his power. He overcame ‘Rampage’ and after that, he won Pride 2005 and had great victories that made him reach the Hall of Fame.”