Anderson Silva was willing to save UFC 151 by fighting at Light Heavyweight
Posted on August 24, 2012, 12:52 PM by Mike DrahotaIn the absolute hailstorm of news surrounding the cancellation of UFC 151, another interesting scenario that did not come to fruition has come to light. Apparently UFC Middleweight champion and legend Anderson Silva was willing to step up for his company and save the card by fighting at Light Heavyweight. His offer had come just a bit too late, however, as Dana White had announced the cancellation just a few hours earlier than Silva's generous offer. It should be noted that Silva was not planning on fighting Jones for the Light Heavyweight strap, but rather another 205 lb. fighter. Silva admittedly is walking around in not the best shape right now, but he still would have fought on the now canceled UFC 151 card.
It would have been interesting to see who Silva would have fought and how the scenario played out, but as fans, we won't have that chance. Early this morning, we saw that Vitor Belfort will now step in to face Jon Jones at UFC 152 after Lyoto Machida backed out of the title fight, citing not enough time to prepare for a rematch with Jones in what could be his final shot at UFC gold. Thankfully Belfort is an old school fighter and took the opportunity and ran with it. What's more, apparently Mauricio Shogun Rua was offered the Sept. 22nd bout with Jones, but decided to turn it down as well. Shogun won an all-out brawl versus Brandon Vera only weeks ago at UFC on Fox 4, and was most likely not in the best of positions to face a top-level champion such as Jones on a very short notice.
All of this news has made for, without a doubt, the craziest day of MMA news ever, and there wasn't even a single punch thrown. Zuffa has never canceled an event in their tenure as UFC owners, and they were obviously going all-out to exhaust every option concerning an opponent for Jones. Many people are already writing Vitor Belfort off, as he has opened as a massive 13-1 underdog on the debuting betting lines. After all this, does Belfort stand a chance in shocking the world and taking the 205 lb. belt from Jones?
Further Reading: Phenom-enal: Machida declines to fight Jon Jones, Vitor Belfort steps in
Comments
No thumbnail picture for this article on the main wall. If only there was a picture of Anderson Silva. JK
I was surprised to hear this yesterday because at the post fight presser with Chael he said NO to fighting Jones and gave not a word of explanation. Props to the real greatest fighter.
Well, I see that was a dumb comment now that I have read the article. Let that be a lesson to you kids - never rush your comments to print before doing your research or you look like an ass.
Not taking this fight I understand but not fighting Chael makes no sense
So after it was announced UFC 151 Silva just decided to "save" the card by fighting at 205 against another can?
let me guess he wanted to fight a top 20?
what a joke , instead of stepping up and fight Jones
Henderson who is even smaller than Silva was eager to fight Jones yet Silva avoids it at all cost.
Oh yeah Silva btw im still waiting your fight with Roy Jones Jr
and Frank Mir
Chael would be good
Lets see if if everybody is going to drop to their knees & open wide like they did for Chael yesterday.
For Dana to first say Chael wont be able to talk his way into a title shot,to instantly changing his mind, then to go so far as throwing the champ under the bus was pure garbage. It was like he wanted everyone else to hate on Bones for his mistakes & you losers had fun yesterday doing so too especially ENTITY lonely ass.
hates man love for Entity grows stronger every second.
Thats partially my fault Hunter. I asked HATE if he had any white boy in him. He said "Hell no!"
I said bend over we can fix that.
Hasnt quit thinking about me since....my bad.
+1
I'm sure being screwed by "the man" is nothing new to Hateocracy.
lol looks like you're the first to mention it, i think you need to test the waters first big boy
Agreed. I was flabbergasted by some of those idiotic comments yesterday. Some were just PATHETIC to say the least.
Oh it was wrong like a huge gay orgy hosted by Chael lovers & Bone badgers.
I want to reach 300 WEAKS before the day is over, help me out losers, if i reach at least 100 you wont here from me until 9/22
okay, that's just cheating. You have to get to 100 honestly. Make an asinine comment like mine above.
But I thought he was scared of Chael, you know before he beat him for a second time. You the man Anderson. To bad we dont get to see you fight next week and embarrass another LHW.
Silva has nothing left to prove, but Jones has allot left to learn.
He is the G.O.A.T for a reason. Jon Jones, on the other hand , did absolutely nothing wrong.
@ Saul, nice turn of a phrase.
Can't argue with that . Matter of fact Jones didn't do anything at all, that's the problem.
Mike Drahota : you should put a buble caption on the pic, above Franklin , reading "Oh Shit!!!". Kinda matches his expression
That second fight was hard to watch. Like a slow death.
yes, rich's expressions gave away so much emotion, like he really didnt wanna be there, wincing in pain and dreading the next hit, but definatly would not give up.
I will never forget Rich's eyes in that second fight
Crazy stuff! If Vitor is ready to go, this could be a hell of a fight!
this is bullshit of news anderson ducks chael and weidman and makes himslef look like good guy
Ducks Chael? I was under the impression that he finished him twice.
he wants rockhold or franklin instead of weidman....and yea duckd chael for as long as he could he the only guy to win rounds vsing him
wat does ducking a guy b4 the fight hav to do with beating him twice i wasnt dening that although the second stoppage was gayy chael was whoopin his ass again
also mentioning that he lost last month a 185 y should he get a title shot this month wtf
ducks chael lol
haters make no sense
so he say weidman isnt a big enough draw i say thats bullshit #1 guy gets the shot no champ should hav word and jones turned down fight rightfully to guy who lost last month
Silva is a champion in every sense of the word
Except the spark plug
Dana, I will fight anyone at LHW but Jon Jones.
but on the other hand it is a good way to gain some respect back after the whole chael sucker shoulder saga.