Anderson Silva laments decline of Brazilian MMA

There was a time when being a top fighter coming out of Brazil immediately pegged you as a major threat in the UFC.

However, middleweight legend Anderson Silva thinks those days are gone, and he doesn't see them coming back anytime soon.

At a press conference in Rio de Janeiro for the upcoming UFC 198, Silva was asked about previous comments he had made concerning the dearth of MMA prospects in Brazil. His response was grim.

"I believe that we lost a lot," Silva said through a translator, according to MMAjunkie. "This thing about having this force, and this ability to go in there and renew - I had the opportunity to come from a time when I had great idols in the sport, and looking up to them I was able to get to where I'm at today. We can't see that today in the new talents we have."

For most of the past decade, multiple Brazilian fighters held or challenged for world titles. That includes Silva, as well as Jose Aldo, Renan Barao, Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

Currently, the only Brazilians to have UFC gold are heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum and lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos.

Silva did find time to praise middleweight contender Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, who was in attendance at the presser.

"I bet all my chips on Jacare," Silva said. "I think he can fight for the belt; it should have already happened. Unfortunately, after Jose Aldo and Jacare, I don't see anyone that could really represent Brazil."

If there's any truth to Silva's words, then UFC 198 in Curitiba, Brazil could end up being part-celebration and part-farewell. The May 14 card is headlined by a heavyweight title defense between Werdum and Stipe Miocic, and also features a parade of local stars including Souza, Belfort, Silva, Rua, Demian Maia, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino.