TORONTO -- His family isnt too happy about it but former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva says he cant wait to return to the cage after a lengthy layoff from a gruesome leg injury. The 39-year-old Brazilian is due to make his comeback Jan. 31 against Nick Diaz at UFC 183 in Las Vegas. Silva (33-6) has not fought since breaking his leg last December in a fight against middleweight champion Chris Weidman at UFC 168. The Brazilian star collapsed in the cage after his leg essentially shattered when Weidman checked his kick. "Im just dying to return to the Octagon and do the thing that I most love in my life," Silva said Friday through an interpreter on a media conference call. His family doesnt share that view, however. "To tell you the truth, theyre not too happy but they respect my wish and now theyre coping with it," he added. Asked about their objections, Silva replied: "I dont think anybodys family would like to see their family going to war and with mine it wouldnt be different." Silva had surgery the night of the Weidman fight to stabilize his broken left leg, with a 40-centimetre-long rod inserted into the tibia below the knee. His fibula was also broken in what he called "a mere accident." Silva says the injured leg is at 95 per cent and improving, promising it will be 100 per cent when he makes his comeback against Diaz. The rod may came out at a later date. He said he never contemplated retirement in the aftermath of the injury. And he said there was no hesitation when it came to delivering his first kick back in the gym. Silva said there are no limitations on his leg although he is not kicking as hard as he usually does. "Hes going to wait to kick hard at the day of the fight," said the interpreter. The 30-year-old Diaz (27-9-1) last fought in March 2013 when he lost a decision to then-welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. Silva said he expects the fight with Diaz to be one of the best standup battles of the year. "Nick Diaz is a guy that walks forward. Hes got great boxing skills and hes going to come to fight. So the fans can expect a great fight." Asked whether he had sights set on regaining his 185-point title, Silva said his first priority was to see how he performs against Diaz. "Right now its not my priority but its not out of the question to fight for the title," said the Brazilian, who has seven fights left on his contract. Silva lost his title to Weidman at UFC 162 in July 2013. The second-round knockout ended a 17-fight winning streak that included 10 successful title defences. Silva was complimentary towards Weidman, calling him "a great champion." "Very talented. The guys for real," he said. In a conference call earlier this week, Diaz said he did not enjoy fighting and was a non-violent person. Its just something he had to do. Silva saw things a little differently, saying NASCAR drivers dont go out and burn rubber when they arent competing. "Its just a sport," he said of mixed martial arts. "Its a violent sport but it is what it is." Erik McCoy Womens Jersey . TSNs coverage of the Third Round gets underway Sunday with Game 1: Los Angeles at Chicago at 3pm et/Noon pt. TSNs broadcast schedule for the Third Round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs is as follows: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings• Game 1: Los Angeles at Chicago – Sunday, May 18 at 3pm et/Noon pt• Game 2: Los Angeles at Chicago – Wednesday, May 21 at 8pm et/5pm pt• Game 4: Chicago at Los Angeles – Monday, May 26 at 9pm et/6pm pt Featured in the broadcast booth for TSN are play-by-play announcer Chris Cuthbert and game analyst Ray Ferraro, with Farhan Lalji contributing reports from rinkside. 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Kadri was dressed in a green jersey at Thursdays practice and skated as an extra forward on the teams fourth line as the Leafs.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Kyle Larson, flashing his new Rolex watch, was unfazed Thursday after learning Chase Elliott was going to replace Jeff Gordon in the iconic No. 24.Many NASCAR fans have believed that Larson was the heir apparent to the four-time champion, a notion Gordon fueled with constant praise of the reigning Sprint Cup Series rookie of the year.Only Larson drives for Chip Ganassi Racing, and says he is happy right where he is behind the wheel of the No. 42 Chevrolet. Gordon announced last week that 2015 will be his last in the car, and Hendrick Motorsports has named 19-year-old Elliott has his replacement.Thats cool for him, Larson said. Im happy where Im at. Just flip-flop the number, Im good.Larson was part of Ganassis four-driver lineup that won Sundays prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona, where the victors receive special-edition timepieces. He also won a sprint car race this month in Arizona, a midget race in Oklahoma, and hes riding a wave of momentum into next months start of his second Cup season.Although he grew up a Gordon fan, he said he never dreamed of driving Gordons car.When I was a kid, Jeff Gordon was invincible and I probably thought he was going to race the rest of his life, the 22-year-old Larson said.He cheered for Gordon as he won his four titles and climbed to third on the all-time victories list, and now believes hes got the chance to make his own mark in NASCAR while driving for Ganassi.A lot of people have told me that the 24 then was what the 42 is now where they werent the biggest team in NASCAR and Jeff kind of took that and made it into what it is, said Larson. I like that possibility to be the guy to make Chip Ganassi Racing a championshhip team year in and year out.dddddddddddd I look forward to hopefully spending a long time with Chip and win a lot of races.Gordon has been one of the many drivers to laud Larson as the next big thing in NASCAR, and said a year ago that he sat down with Larson to discuss his future. Theres never been room in the Hendrick Motorsports lineup for Larson to join the organization, and Elliott was ready to be promoted in 2016 when Gordon steps out of the car.I think Chip did a great job scooping him up and backing him the way they have and giving him opportunities to go showcase his talent and now getting him into Cup, where he truly belongs, Gordon said a year ago. I see a guy that gets more out that car than anybody can get out of it. Hes just got a lot of talent and is creative and searching around the racetrack. He just has what it takes. Bobby Bowden told us its about the It. Hes got the It.Im disappointed that we werent able to put something together, he added. But Im very happy for him and our sport is going to benefit from it.Similar praise has come from three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, who has raced sprints and midgets against Larson. Stewart has boldly said that Larson is better than he is: You can bet the farm on it. I guarantee it. If not, you can take everything I own, because Im that confident, Stewart said.Larson said he looks forward to developing a rivalry with Elliott and seeing where he can go with Ganassi.When I think of a rivalry, I think of two drivers who butt heads, Larson said. Me and Chase are friends and hes really, really good. I hope we have a rivalry in a competitive way, that means were both up front, competing for wins. ' ' '