Tim Sylvia Looks for UFC Return to Finish Career

Former UFC heavyweight champion, Tim Sylvia (31-8, 1 NC) has fought in various MMA organizations since his voluntary release from the UFC back in 2008 after losing an interim title bout against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira back in 2008.

In his stint outside the UFC, Sylvia has gone 8-4, 1 NC with his last fight ending in a unanimous decision victory for his opponent Satoshi Ishii. Now, with a heavyweight fight against former King of the Cage champion, Tony Lopez looming on the horizon, Sylvia vies for one last shot in the UFC to end his career in the organization that gave him his name.

In an interview with Knockout Radio, Sylvia stated that if he was to return to the UFC, a fight with Frank Mir would be first on his list:

“Frank Mir, first and foremost,” Sylvia said, “You know, unfinished business man.  He broke my arm and I wanted to keep fighting and they wouldn’t let me, so I’m irritated.”

Sylvia lost to Mir by a technical submission after his arm was broken by Mir with an armbar. This marked the first loss in Sylvia’s career as he failed reclaim the heavyweight title.

Sylvia also stated that a bout with his friend, Pat Barry, would also be a great matchup as the two have trained together. Sylvia states that a bonus check from Dana White would be a safe bet if the fight ever materialized:

“I’d like to fight a striker so that we could put on a good show.  I have a good friend, Pat Barry, who is in the UFC.  I think if him and I fought it would be Fight of the Night or Knockout of the Night.  Someone would go to sleep and it would be Fight of the Night,” said Sylvia.  “We might be able to score both of them.  One of us gets Knockout of the Night and Fight of the Night.  We’d put on a good show. We’ve had some good sparring sessions so it would be a good fight for the fans. I know he brings it and so do I, so something bad is going to happen to one of us,”

Sylvia must first get past Tony Lopez on May 31st and will likely campaign for a shot in the UFC if he is victorious in that fight.

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