Anderson Silva wants Georges St. Pierre; Dana White wants Silva-Jones
Posted on October 14, 2012, 03:37 AM by Andreas Hale
After Anderson Silva's expected annihilation of Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153, the obvious question is who will The Spider face next? The answer isn't so easy.
If you leave it up to the reigning middleweight champion, a highly anticipated showdown with welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre is in Silva's future. It's either that or another middleweight title defense. But after yet another devastating performance, UFC president Dana White is warming up to the idea of pitting Silva against Jon Jones.
"I will fly down here, I'll lock myself in a room with Jorge [Guimaraes], Ed Soares and him, and I’ll make this fight," White said at the UFC 153 post fight press conference. With St-Pierre having to defend his title against Carlos Condit next month, a Silva-GSP mega fight is not a lock. With that in mind, White believes that he'll be able to make a super fight for Silva next and either Jones or GSP will rake in huge numbers against Silva.
But Silva has been consistent in stating that he has no plans to step into the Octagon with Jones. His reasoning comes courtesy of his age (37) and the fact that he has teammates at 205 that could likely challenge Jones in the near future.
"I'm old, guys," Silva said. "I've only got another five years."
Even with White being perfectly clear that a showdown with Jones is something he is leaning towards, Silva remained steadfast by shaking his head and wagging his finger in the negative despite White's pushiness.
"I think (Georges St-Pierre) is a great challenge for me," Silva said. "I prefer him over Jon Jones. He's smaller. It'll be a little bit easier. I'll be hit less."
Perhaps protective of his 16-0 record in the UFC, Silva is aware that the remarkable talent, youth and size of Jones could give him a number of problems should they end up facing each other. With two fights left on his current UFC contract, White will go to work soon and place both options on the table. And White believes that the money will entice Silva to take either fight.
"The Georges St-Pierre fight is a big fight," White said while also mentioning a super fight with either Jones or St-Pierre could take place at Cowboy Stadium in Dallas, TX. "I think the Jon Jones fight is a big fight. I know my man says, 'No, no, no,' but the amount of money that would be offered for that fight, I guarantee you I will make Anderson Silva say, 'Yes, yes, yes.'"
Even though Silva playfully shook his head saying no, we all know how much money can talk. However, will it say enough to coax Silva into a showdown with the light heavyweight champ before the Brazilian decides to step away from the sport? Nobody knows, but whether Silva faces Jones or not, the one thing that is for sure is that Silva is one-of-a-kind.
"I think it will be the end of an era when Anderson Silva retires," White said. "I don't know if there will ever be another Anderson Silva. The guy does things other people can't do."
Other people, except maybe some young guy named Jonny "Bones" Jones.
Comments
constructive criticism at it's finest. good input
A much smaller GSP who never fought out of his division has every right to decline fighting the Spider--for the same reasons Silva refuses to face a stronger and more dangerous Jones...The Spider has proven twice that he can fight at a superior level at 205, why then not cement your legacy by challenging someone roughly his own size?
:)
Ajichiban, don't sell yourself short. You are just as big of an MMA nerd as the rest of us.
These things have a way of taking a long time to put together.
If Jones were to win, the point which would be debated forever (until the memory of these two GOATS is supplanted by the GOAT of the next generation) is this: What would have happened if Silva was in his prime?
Lol, first on the nerd list. Finally found something I'm the best at.
Silva has fought 3 times a 205 in the UFC
Silva weighed in at 202 for some reason...
he also weighed in at 201 when he fought Irvin
Can st pierre just FINALLY say he refuses to fight AS after 4+ years?
He's had plenty of time to think about it and a few highlights to watch, hurry up and say no.
At least Silva is honest enough to state he thinks GSP is easier. If I were him I'd rather fight GSP than Jones but c'mon he was as big as Bonnar just a little less muscular so SIlva Jones is about right size wise.
I think Jones has more to fear than Anderson if they collide. The man has seen it all in the octagon and i'm not sure if he's human.
On a side note, it's funny how AJitchyballs is the first to call everyone a nerd yet he stays up all night waiting for new articles to be posted so he can comment first.
people wanted silva gsp for years, why the hell wouldnt they still want it? gsp was injured, he hasnt suddenly gotten worse or anything, i wouldnt be surprised if he destroyed condit, and then people will be keen on the matchup again....amazing to think someone of gsps caliber has almost been forgotten, but thats whats happened here, crazy stuff
Anderson Silva will destroy GSP.
I agree, with a freakish takedown defense and laser-like striking skills, the spider is very likely to pick up GSP. I wouldn't take the fight if I were the latter...
after the first chael fight there was a lot of comments on here that went something along the lines of 'well if chael can do that to him imagine what gsp could do'
not agreeing or disagreeing tbh just food for thought, opinions are changing all the time
He has good TDD but not freakish, nothing compared to Aldo, JDS, Jones etc.
Other people, except maybe some young guy named Jonny "Bones" Jones.
"Other people, except maybe some young guy named Jonny "Bones" Jones"
I think not
I have been saying for a while that Silva would destroy Jones. I know mma math doesn't work well but watch Jones' fight with Bonnar and then watch Silva's. The guy did something last night that a lot of hugely powerful guys have not even come close to without raising his heart beat. I really hope DW can end their love affair because I have no desire to watch them hugging and kissing but watching them fight would be amazing. Silva is gonna whoop that ass if it happens.
I dont think you can actually compare those 2 fights, silva might have done highlight reel moves on him but so has jones. The double underhook from suplex straight out off wwe and the spinning elbow that launched bonnar straight to the ground and bouncing up.
In fairness to Jones, he faced Bonnar early in his carreer where his skill level is nowhere near where its at right now and Bonnars toughness at its all time high.
Lets compare Vitor vs Jones to Silva vs Jones then. Lucky again I suppose? Bonnar has improved greatly recently because of experience. Fact is nobody KO'd Bonnar. Shogun had more problems with Coleman than Bonnar did for a good portion of their fight. Bonnar is legit. Do you consider Jones win over Shogun a can?
Both?
A three-way? ;-)
Alright, I'm in...
Chicks, right?
jones vs bonnar went the distance. even if its a coupke of years ago. anderson played with bonnar!
and Bonnar is better now IMHO.
"I think (Georges St-Pierre) is a great challenge for me," Silva said. "I prefer him over Jon Jones. He's smaller. It'll be a little bit easier. I'll be hit less."
Exactly what I thought, even if Dana made silva accept this fight what's makes him think jones would accept it. Neither one of them want to take a chance at losing
Agreed. Neither AS or Jones wants to risk it. That is why they have this gentleman's agreement not to fight. I mockingly say things like they are doing the back scuttle behind closed doors but it makes sense when you have two guys who's supremacy will be argued over for the next century if they don't fight.
sad that an excellent talent like anderson only choses the easy road every single time..
if he would prove him self once and for all and take on jones no one could call him scared anymore...
So a guy who's fought Franklin, Hendo, Sonnen, Griffin, Maia, Marquadt, Bonnar, Okami and Belfort is taking the easy road every time? To say he takes the easy road every time just 'coz he's playing hard to get regarding JBJ is ridiculous.
He sure has take the easy route recently. Look the guy is great, no doubt about that, but he knows he's getting older and wants to close out his legacy, he figures he can take a super fight against another dominant champ (gsp) and prove to everybody that he's the best ever and retire, but he himself said it would b easier to take on a smaller fighter and more manageble, plus ring rusted, If you don't call that easy way I don't m is what ids
I don't doubt Silva having the ability to take GSP and Jone's titles. Stop trying to tell him or Dana what to do, or what should happen. What will be will be. And 20 years from now you will all still be talking about the greatest fighter the world has ever seen.
Yeah you guys, stop having opinions about what you'd like to see!
Oh wait, I just want to tell then one more thing to do. Dana: buy some plaid pants and Anderson: grow a fro.
Okay, now stop trying to tell them what to do.
Anderson Silva fighting with an afro and some gigantic mutton chops would be the best show in the world.
Anderson the big guy beat's up the small kids at scool and the ones cant fight.Bonnar was 205 Silva 202 tere was no sise diference Silva looked sckiny with 202 he is big ewen in LHW devision.He shuld fight Jones insted of GSP or ewen JDS
this comment is so bad it should have been automatically deleted. I dont even know where to start
Yeah and Roy Nelson is the almost the same size as Brcok Lesnar. Get a grip man. Anderson was jelly in that fight compared to Bonnar.
What's really sad is that some people actually 'sharped' that comment. Though one of them was probably mokoko himself...
Silva has not said "I want St. Pierre", he said "maybe, we'll see".
He is protecting his record at this point because he knows Jones is the man that can beat him. If Jones gets him to the ground, which he would, it would be all over for the Spider.
GSP is much less a threat, with size, reach, striking, and ground game. Most likely GSP would have to stand with Silva and would eventually get caught.