Anderson Silva: GSP is smaller, it will be an easier fight
Posted on October 16, 2012, 11:31 AM by Mike Drahota
With Anderson Silva's systematic destruction of Stephan Bonnar at 205 lbs. at UFC 153, it is no secret nor surprise that fans and media alike are clamoring for a superfight between two dominant champions. However, this fight is not the oft-discussed match of Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre, but Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones. Both Silva and Jones are on record as saying that they are friends who are unwilling to fight one another, and Silva reiterated this after his dominating win on Saturday:
"This is not something I would like to happen because the times I've seen Jon Jones, he's also mentioned that he would not like to fight. No, I’m not going to fight at 205 again, I fought at 205 to save the event. I fight at 185 pounds. I was just doing this to save the event and put on a show for everybody. After Saturday, my focus will be Georges St-Pierre." - via MMA.tv
Silva appears adamant about never fighting the current king at 205, who is presently focusing on getting his right elbow back to one hundred percent after a brutal Vitor Belfort armbar almost wrested the title from him at UFC 152. But it did not, and now the fight everyone wants to see is Silva-Jones. Still Silva is focused on fighting GSP, for some perhaps very obvious reasons:
"I think [GSP] would be a great challenge for me. I prefer him over Jon Jones. He's smaller. It'll be a little bit easier. I'll be hit less." - via ESPN.co.uk
Silva is very honest about his intentions of protecting his legacy, as he believes GSP will provide him with a better chance of winning than a fight with the larger Jones. Still, is this the best challenge for him, to fight a smaller champion? Many think not. And many others believe there is still work to be done at 185, with rising contender Chris Weidman clamoring for his chance to face Silva:
"I just feel like some way or another, Anderson Silva is not fighting me. I honestly don't feel like it's going to happen. I thought it was the perfect opportunity after the Munoz fight. He said he wanted to fight three months after the Chael Sonnen fight, and it made perfect sense to do it right then. There was no reason not to. He couldn't come up with an excuse. UFC was asking him to fight me, non-stop, and he put them off and put them off and put them off and then said he doesn't want to fight until 2013. He can downplay me all he wants. He can say whatever he wants about me, but I beat two top-five guys in the world. Nobody has ever done that in the history of the UFC and not received a title shot. I was hoping it would pay off and get my shot against Anderson, but he's ducking me." - via MMAJunkie.com
Who will Anderson Silva face in his next bout, and who should he face? Can Dana White truly get Anderson Silva to accept the Jon Jones fight as he said? Silva says he fights at 185 lbs., but if Weidman is not the most deserving challenger there, then who is? There is a mess on the UFC's hand, but no matter who he fights, fans will be rushing to watch the Spider's next bout.
Comments
chris your head needs to deflate a little bit buddy, silva is arguably the greatest ever mma fighter....and you are chris weidman
Pardon me, but who is Chris Weidman?
lol you beat me to it
LMFAO
He's the clear #1 contender at 185. You know, the guy that is supposed to fight the champion in his weight class.
I would say, Bisping is just as high so not quite so clear.
If you ask me, Chris will get his ass kicked, that being said the guy deserves his chance, I mean doesn't silva hold the 185 belt, silva might think he's done with the division but as long as there is deserving fighters like weidman up for a shot he has to defend his tittle IMO
Hey Chris Weidman, Like Jay-Z said, " well, we don't believe you, you need more people."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT3MH8876YI
He's the only person in UFC history to beat two Top 5 guys? Huh?
GSP, Anderson, Jose Aldo and Jon Jones have all beaten Top 5 guys multiple times in defense of their belts. Hell even Brock beat two Top 5 guys during his career.
Exactly. That comment doesn't make sense to me. Yeah, he beat Maia, who had a bad gameplan, and Munoz, who is good but was coming off of serious surgery and was obviously a little out of shape. Take nothing away from Weidman, but he needs to slow it down a bit. Many champions have beat two top five guys. Confidence is great, but don't get a big head and a sense of entitlement after those two wins.
This is the whole quote:
"He can downplay me all he wants," Weidman said. "He can say whatever he wants about me, but I beat two top-5 guys in the world. Nobody has ever done that in the history of the UFC and not received a title shot."
Mike didn't post the whole thing.
your a ****ing moron he said..."I beat two top-five guys in the world. Nobody has ever done that in the history of the UFC and not received a title shot."
He meant and not to get a title shot afterwards.
@ Turner...
Tsk tsk.
There's no need to use the asterix words.
Thanks for cleaning up my dirty laundry bro
No prob Bob. You had about a million of em to get out. Last two days have been pretty busy.
I think GSP vs Silva makes sense: two very good veterans who have been at the top for a long time, would be interesting to see who is the better fighter.
Jon Jones is the new kid in the game, he will grow as a fighter and start his own legacy, with or without a fight with Silva.
Let the king be.
Why would Andy want to make 500k to fight this noboby as oposed to make 7digits many times over to fight GSP and maybe 8 digits to fight Jones???? Come on guys lets get real....to me he should vacate the 185 belt and focus only on super fights to end this legendary UFC career....GOAT!
Its funny how people are getting butt hurt about the way Weidman over extends himself in the smack talking sense.
Didn't anybody else see what happened with Sonnen and Jones today? Why would anybody not run their mouth recklessly when it gets rewarded more than standing by, and just destroying everyone put in front of them.
GSP is smaller and will be easier. I say we give Anderson a break and give him Demetrious Johnson.