Freddie Roach says Anderson Silva is "just way too big" to fight Georges St. Pierre
Posted on April 1, 2012, 04:23 PM by Joey SantosusRenowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach, who has worked with both UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, compares the punching power of each fighter and discusses the oft-debated "Superfight" between the two. Roach explains that it's a match-up that he has discussed with St. Pierre in the past and admits that, due to the size difference, it is unlikely to ever materialize.
Freddie Roach
"I'd probably say that Anderson Silva hits harder (than Georges St. Pierre) because he's a lot bigger. Georges is a good puncher also, but the thing is, size wise, I think that Anderson's a little more fluent at this point. He's a lot bigger than Georges, of course. So, that's why I don't think that fight - they've been talking about that fight happening, I don't think it will happen. I've talked to Georges about it and (Silva) is just way too big. It's like Pacquiao fighting Martinez. ... We can never agree on what weight we'll fight at. So, I think that's the same problem there will be with GSP and "The Spider."
Further Reading: Freddy Roach: BJ Penn, GSP and Anderson Silva are the Top 3 Boxers in MMA
Comments
I agree and thats y journalists, fans and dana white as silly to even mention it. In the early days Nog could fight fat guy in Bob sapp but Sapp sucked (especially on the ground). Silva is not only too big, he's too well rounded.
Word i dont see the point to this fight. Dana will bitch about kos and fitch not fighting, yet he wont make jones and silva fight.
really?? Fitch and Koscheck are in the same division, yet they refuse to fight each other. Silva and Jones are in two separate divisions.
Anderson has fough at WW before and George walks around at 195 so it's not even a ridiculous fight at MW at all. Basically he is saying Anderson will win because he is a bigger puncher, not because he is bigger. They should do a superfight at 180 and done...
My thoughts on that fight have always been the same: Meh...
I don't see why there is always pressure put upon a dominant champion to find a way to lose. Whether it be to cut weight, gain weight, cross promote, or whatever whacky stuff people can come up with. Shouldn't it be the responsibility of the promotion to find new and interesting challenges for the champ? I dunno... Just my two cents.
I could see it happen if these two had a beef or a history; like Bones and Suga. It was never a fight that that really peeked my interest either.
Anderson makes LHW easily, he's a tall big guy compared to GSP. If Anderson wasn't cutting weight at MW like Edgar at LW i would understand your point but he's not.
You are not understanding the weight cutting.
Guys who fight at MW are usually around 200-205.
Since GSP cuts a lot of weight to be a pretty big WW, he would need to cut a lot of weight to be a pretty big MW.
If GSP weighs 195 around fight time at WW, then (with simple inaccurate logic that I will make up for this argument), he would need to weigh 210-215 for MWto be comfortable. Since hes a huge weight cutter.
But maybe GSP's body type is perfect at WW. Having inefficient muscles that get in the way might make him bad for MW as would being average/below average height/reach for MW would be bad.
GSP is perfect at WW, and Anderson Silva is obviously perfect for MW. If they choose to stay then it makes sense. (To me at least, no need to pressure fighters to go outside their weight class if they have no problems with it)
First of all GSP wlkas around 188 and not 195. Second thing is Silva is 225. He couldn't cut to 180.
LOL...McDonald's will only tip him over the edge with Trans Fat and Cholesterol, hardly something to give him the competitive edge!!!
GSP isnt quite comfortable with gaining weight to fight at middleweight then dropping back down to ww. He used roy jones jr as an example
Not just weight but height and reach difference, Silva's body frame is just bigger too
Guys who fight at MW are NOT usually around 200-205. They're around 210 and over.
GSP doesn't cut a lot of weight to be a WW. He's not a big WW. Watch some weight cut videos and you'll see that GSP four previous opponents are heavier than him. Yes Shields is, same thing for Koscheck, Hardy (yes) and Alves.
GSP doesn't walk around 195 and he is NOT a huge weight cutter.
But I agree with you, they are both are their best weight classes.
GSP didnt have a problem fighting BJ, step up to the play Georgie
I wish Georges Safe-Pierre could just hear you lol. To be honest with you, he wants no part of Anderson Silva.
*plate
Simply because GSP didn't have to gain useless muscle to fight BJ. He's in the perfect weight class for him and he knows it.
And look what happened to BJ, the second time anyway
GSP's is smart for avoiding the Anderson fight; he'd get killed.
Anderson is at another level. I love GSP but he can't finish a fight like "The Spider" and I agree that the size difference makes all the difference!!
The ground is always an option for him. Silva's weakness is his wrestling. GSP is an amazing wrestler but, unlike mister Sonnen, he's a BJJ black belt and knows how to defend a triangle.
Fight mind of a genius.
He knows how much a size difference can make in a fight. That's why Pac man has picked his matches perfect as he moved up the classes.
I think the few times GSP took Silva down, he wouldn't be able to do much in his guard. And the time they were standing Silva would pick him apart.....but who knows.
Finally someone that truly knows about fighting tells it the way it is... Dana please stop talking nonsense and put fights that can actually happen...
Anderson would have his hands full and GSP would give him a run for his money but in the end the Spider would prevail given his enormous reach and speed. I would rather see a Jones vs Silva fight, now that would be a chess match.
GSp has a reach only 1.5 inches shorter and GSP is just as quick but not as fluid and creative.
I think the best way to look at it, is to look at their body type and what weight they walk around at. GSP is not as short as he looks but is very compact and walks around at 190 because he thinks cutting a lot of weight is bad for his body. Silva is like what 6'1 at least and i've heard him say he never walks around at less than 220 pounds. Based on thsoe facts I see where Roach is coming from. From what i can tell GSP is not that keen on this fight and the UFC only seem to let people who's name ends in Penn get that type of super fight.
I see more people are on Silvas side but I personally think that GSP wrestling would be a quite good Key to this "dream" fight.
I think Joey nailed it. If you are dominant in your weight class, why switch to another?
And while I think Freddie Roach is an amazing coach, size isn't everything. Condit is the same height as the Spider and his reach is only an inch shorter.