Wanderlei coach calls for tune-up fight

Wanderlei Silva’s coach Rafael Cordeiro believes Silva should ‘have a fight with someone else’ before a rematch with rival Vitor Belfort.

Silva has been struggling with injuries since his unanimous decision win over Michael Bisping in Australia in February 2010.

“I think Wanderlei is coming off multiple injuries, but, at the same time, he has a desire to make this fight. There is a desire as an athlete and a fighter to make this rematch with Vitor. I think, at this point, in my opinion as a friend and coach, he should have a fight with someone else before Vitor,” Cordeiro told Sherdog.

“When I say someone, I mean anyone who gets him back to being active. This fight with Vitor will become very important in his life, and he really wants it. For Wanderlei to be 100 percent for the fight with Vitor, it’s important that he get another fight before it.”