It’s much too early to set a date, but Anderson Silva’s managers are dreaming big for the former middleweight champion’s return to the octagon.

Jorge Guimaraes and Ed Soares, who’ve guided Silva’s career since his UFC debut in 2006, say the fighter’s recovery is going better than expected after surgery to repair the broken leg he suffered at UFC 168.

The process is going so well, in fact, the managers mused about a super- fight against Georges St-Pierre, if the former welterweight champ returns from a self-imposed hiatus. St-Pierre vacated his belt last month to deal with personal issues but suggested he would return.

“Don’t you think that’s an option?” Guimaraes told MMAjunkie when asked about Silva’s future.

Actually, the option was all the rage a few years ago when Silva (33-6 MMA, 16-2 UFC) and St- Pierre (25-2 MMA, 19-2 UFC) were dominant champs. Despite UFC President Dana White’s repeated hints of the big fight, fans lost hope that it would ever materialize, and the fighters didn’t seem too jazzed about the prospect, either.

Silva once called the idea “bull(expletive).”

But it sounds as if his camp is keeping the faith.

“Man, if we were able to pull something like that off, it would be a win-win for everybody â€” the fans, the UFC,” Soares said in a separate interview. “I think that would be awesome.”

But for now, the reps will settle for Silva’s return to health. Guimaraes expects the fighter to begin physical therapy next week after stitches from the surgery come out this week.

“He’s walking around on crutches and raising his leg, and he’s just getting ready to start physical therapy when the doctor allows him,” Guimaraes said.

“He’s already moving his toes. I feel that positive vibe on him, and that’s what makes me believe he’s going to come back even stronger.”

Silva broke his left tibia and fibula when middleweight champion Chris Weidman (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) checked his leg kick in the second round of their rematch at the Dec. 28 UFC 168 event in Las Vegas. It was the second such injury to occur in the UFC after Corey Hill broke his right leg in a 2008 fight.

The doctor who repaired Silva’s leg the night of the event said the fighter could return to training in six to nine months. He added that Silva immediately asked him for a timeline, suggesting that speculation surrounding the 38-year-old’s potential retirement was premature.

Soares said the UFC covered the cost of the initial surgery and assumes the company will cover future medical bills.

“The UFC has been absolutely incredible to us and given us the best of everything,” said Soares, who lives two blocks from Silva in Los Angeles and said the champ was in good spirits during a visit Sunday.

“The way it looks now, (his recovery) looks great, and he’s only getting better every day.”

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