(George Galanis is a freelance writer, MMA fan and BPL contributor.)

One of MMA's most storied careers began in Brazil nearly 15 years ago, but it may have ended in one furious burst at the MGM Grand.

For a decade and a half, Wanderlei Silva (33-11-1 1 NC) thrilled fight fans the world over with his hyper-aggressive style, but against Chris Leben at UFC 132 he ended up on the receiving end of the type of brutal finish Silva has been accused to inflicting on his opponent.

"People knew that he and Leben were going to come out and they were going to throw until somebody fell down, and it was Wanderlei tonight," UFC president Dana White said at the post-fight press conference. "People love him so much because of the way he fights and his style and the kind of person he is, but [it's] probably the end of the road for Wanderlei."

The fight began as expected for Silva, as both fighters met in the center of the cage and traded power punches right off the bat.

Silva unloaded on the season one Ultimate Fighter competitor with his characteristic wide, looping hooks, but after Leben knocked him off- balance with a straight left, he then dropped Silva to the mat with an uppercut and then finished him off at the 0:27 mark with several more punishing left hands on the ground.

With the loss, the 35-year-old Silva fell to 2-4 in his last six UFC bouts. Alarmingly, the knockout was the fourth in eight fights for Silva, who suffered only one TKO loss over the first decade of his illustrious career.

Though he hopes to fight for five more years and get ten more fights under his belt before he retires, White said the end may come much sooner for Silva, much like it did for former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell. White essentially forced Liddell into retirement after a streak of frightening knockout losses.

"I think it's one of those ones where I'm going to have to sit down and talk to him, kind of Chuck Liddell him into it," said White. "The guy has nothing left to prove. He's a warrior. People love him all over the world. I just don't want to see ... that happen to him anymore."

Few fans do, but as Silva gave no indication before the bout with Leben that he planned to retire if things didn't go his way, so he may not react too kindly to White's suggestion that he hang up the gloves.

Of course, White has made similar statements about other aging legends in the past, and they don't always go quietly into the night at the wishes of the UFC boss.

Liddell practically begged for — and received — one more chance after his knockout loss to "Shogun" Rua. White also had a change of heart regarding Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, who he initially suggested would be done following a knockout loss to Brendan Schaub. However, White seems to have softened on that stance, and "Cro Cop" will likely get at least one more fight in the UFC.

It's hard to tell exactly how seriously to take White's latest proclamation, and Silva wasn't at the post-fight press conference to speak for himself. However, after a decorated career that's left him with a passionate fan base and a jaw-dropping highlight reel, it's hard to see what Silva has left to prove as a fighter.

He said that he's no longer in it for the money, and his legacy in the sport is beyond question — even in the mind of the man who may have sent him tumbling into retirement.

"Wanderlei Silva's my favourite fighter. He always has been," said Leben, who added that he's "never been so scared" before a fight as he was going into this one. "The man is a legend. What he's done for the sport is absolutely amazing."

But even legends can't go on forever. Only time will tell if this truly is the final chapter in the storied career of Wanderlei Silva.