10 Huge UFC Stars Who Could Return In 2017

10. Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva never really left. He fought just days ago, really, at UFC 208 in Brooklyn, NY.

However, it's still notable that he'll be back again in 2017. See, Anderson Silva is a legend. An all time great. He has never been the biggest draw in the company, but he was in the top five for quite some time. Being considered the greatest middleweight in history will do that.

Yet prior to UFC 208, he hadn't won a fight since 2012. And that was against an outclassed Stephan Bonnar. Since then, Silva had been defeated twice by Chris Weidman (suffering a horrific broken leg in the cage in the second of those two fights), come back to 'beat' Nick Diaz only to have the win overturned after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, lost a strange and controversial decision to Michael Bisping after nearly knocking The Count out, then dropped a decision to light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 after taking the fight on two day's notice.

That's an insane stretch for a fighter who was unbeatable for a decade or so. Had he lost to Derek Brunson at UFC 208, it's likely his career would have been done. Instead, he picked up a somewhat questionable decision win - but the good news is, the UFC can position him as a marquee star for a little longer.

He'll fight at least once more later this year. A bout against another legend, maybe fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort, would probably sell.