Dethroning Silva: Could one of these five fighters have what it takes
Posted on July 31, 2012, 01:12 PM by Mike Searson
Anderson Silva (32-4) is the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion. He has been called "a mutant", a "freak of nature" and "the greatest martial artist of all time". With 15 straight wins in the UFC spanning over 6 years, the question I am most often asked by fans, fighters and fellow scribes is "What is it going to take for someone to defeat Anderson Silva?"
There is no quick or easy answer. A shift up and down to the wrong weight class could be his undoing, likewise age could start to catch up with him, but from the looks of things, the Spider shows no signs of slowing down.
Whenever someone is on top of their game, there is always a legion of challengers looking to take them down. In recent weeks, several have stated there intentions as well as rumors from Silva's camp on who they want to see put in front of the champ. The following five fighters, for one reason or another have the makings of a great matchup: for either the skill against skill or the potential for rivalry such a match may bring.
Georges St. Pierre (22-2)
This is the only opponent that Silva's camp has actually mentioned for a potential Superfight. According to his manager Jorge Guimaraes on the Brazilian website, Tatame: "No opponent makes sense for Anderson at this moment unless we do a catchweight against Georges St. Pierre. They didn't offer the fight, but he's the only one that could do a super fight. Anderson has the biggest paycheck in the UFC, and you can't promote an event with these amateur kids that are coming up now".
St. Pierre is currently still in the midst of rehabilitating his surgically repaired right knee and has a return date in November against interim Welterweight champion Carlos Condit. It is unlikely that St. Pierre would face Silva in his first fight back from an injury, as he has said that he would need about one year to put on the size and muscle to compete with Silva. Such a bout seems less likely to happen now, but from a pure fighter perspective has the potential to be the "Fight of the Century".
Jon Jones (16-1)
Jon "Bones" Jones is only a few weeks away from defending his title against Dan Henderson. Jones' style would mix well with Silva, but the Light Heavyweight Champion has not mentioned any interest in such a bout. Just last week, Alistair Overeem said of a potential fight between Jones and Silva: "I spoke to Jon. He said, 'No, I don't want to fight him because he's my mentor', this and that. So, that fight is not going to happen. Unfortunately for the fans, and unfortunately for me because I would like to see that."
Silva likewise told UFC President Dana White that he has no interest in moving up to Light Heavyweight to challenge current champion Jon Jones in a Superfight. Still, this match has historic potential and like a potential bout with St. Pierre, I would want to see it as a catchweight, just to see which of them is "the best".
Rashad Evans (17-2-1)
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans threw his hat into the ring, or in this case the Octagon by tweeting directly to Zuffa CEO and Co-owner of the UFC, Lorenzo Fertitta:
@lorenzofertitta i want 2 pick a fight with the middle weight champion! Lol Make it happen!! Please!!
— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) July 8, 2012
Evans is truly one of the few Light Heavyweights that could match Silva in speed, power and technique. As stated earlier, Silva told White that he has no interest in moving up in weight class, but Evans could easily move down. Evans has said in the past the only fight he would drop to Middleweight to have is against “The Spider.”
Evans has the takedown ability to push Silva like Sonnen did. By the same token, Evans has the stand-up ability to match Silva on his feet; however, he would be more likely to put Silva on his back and use a heavy wrestling-based strategy superior to Sonnen's. It may not be "Fight of the Century" territory, but it has strong potential to be a great bout.
Nick Diaz (26-8-1)
According to a post on graciefighter.com by Cesar Gracie, a fight against St. Pierre is the last thing on Diaz's mind: "As far as future opponents, Nick has stated that he would like to take fights 'that matter'. Since GSP will be fighting Condit, he has to look elsewhere. He will respectfully ask for a fight with Anderson Silva, a fighter he respects and would like to challenge. Silva’s camp has been speaking of a fight with GSP, possibly even at a catchweight. Nick will take that fight in a minute but has told me that should Silva decide not to drop at all, he will move up to 185lbs to face the Champ."
These two personalities clashing inside and outside of the Octagon has the potential to be as big as Silva vs. Sonnen 2. As for the fight itself, Silva would negate Diaz's reach advantage. Diaz is a capable boxer, but lacks the KO power needed to finish Silva. His ground game is respectable, but Silva is one of the most accurate strikers in UFC history. This fight would definitely be a crowd pleaser.
Chris Weidman (9-0)
After finishing Mark Munoz by way of KO in the second round at UFC on Fuel TV, in which he was the headliner, Weidman took particular offense to Guimaraes' comment of him being an "amateur" or "a joke": “I read them and it’s kind of crazy. The managers they have no right to start putting down professional athletes. He put me, Belcher, and Boetsch down and he’s trying to draw attention away from the fact that I’m the Number One contender, and then called us amateurs, and we’re all top ten fighters. This is what we do for a living and then you have some manager in Brazil who’s calling us amateur fighters and calls me a joke, it’s definitely a little crazy and I know I wouldn’t want my manager speaking about other fighters like that. It’s like they’re trying to avoid my name being mentioned at all for the title shot. They’re trying to deflect with other guy’s names so people can start thinking about them as possibilities, but even guys they’re choosing to call out like GSP or Diaz, they’re both welterweights. I feel like I’ve made it blatantly obvious with this last fight that I’m ahead of the pack. The champ should want to fight that guy.”
The main concern raised by Silva’s camp is that Weidman is not as well-known or outspoken as Chael Sonnen. Although he may be undefeated, the perception is that he has not paid his dues as a fighter yet. There may be some merit to that; with a record of 9-0, 5 of his victories have been from inside the Octagon. Silva has three times that many in his win column inside the UFC and has never faced another fighter in the UFC with less than 21 fights behind them. I think he could be ready in as little as 2 more quality fights against quality opponents, provided he keeps his record unblemished.
So what do you think Lowkickers? While most of these fights may be left to fantasy and speculation, which one fighter might succeed where so many others have failed in dethroning Silva? If not one from this list, is there another contender who can move up or down? Will it make for an interesting matchup, but no real challenge to Silva? Let us hear your thoughts.
Comments
Yes, all of them fighting Anderson at the same time would destroy him.
I kid I kid.
I would put the 5 into three categories:
Jon Jones I would make the favorite against Anderson because of the size advantage and wrestling he has.
Weidman, Evans, and GSP would be in the next category of giving him a tough night because of the incredible mma wrestling/top level grappling all possess.
Nick Diaz would be in the last of a possibility of a fun fight, and could push the pace on Anderson in the later rounds (if he makes it there).
The only person I would definitely pick against Anderson is Jones, but I would have to think long and hard about the second three.
Diaz would probably be put away early, but I want to see that fight the most just on the off chance Diaz's mixture of boxing/cardio causes Anderson problems. Or more specifically, because I'm a Diaz fanboy.
Agree with Jones + he's only improving.
Weidman who? Sorry, not subscribed to Hypetrain Weekly.
GSP & Evans are both too small, will not be able to wreslef*** Silva.
Nick Diaz will get KO'd in the first or second. (Still love him, no homo).
did you say Evans is to small? Granted he's not the biggest fighter on the list but him and Weidman I'd guess weigh around the same walking weight, only difference is Evans has been wrestling LHWs for the past few years and fought at HW, Weidman has not, so I'd say Evans has the 2nd best chance behind Jones to beat him out of the people on this list. HOWEVER I think Silva beats them all except possibly Jones who just has the perfect frame to fight Silva, he's got the reach to keep Anderson back and the instant Silva gets inside of that range Jones will take him down. Silva could win this fight but I don't see it happening, Jones being so much bigger could smother him on the ground and clearly Jones Jits knowledge is pretty good lol. not to mention he won't chael sonnen and just lay in guard throwing "peppering" punches, he'll be looking to finish VIA SICK elbow
I think a more likely scenerio would be Silva dethroning Jon Jones.
Definitely a very valid possibility.
If GSP wanted to fight anderson we wouldn't have been talking about this for 4 years now.
Weidman is another sonnen,henderson gameplan...same with rashad. Jon jones is the only guy with a real chance.
Only one there I see not being any sort of danger is Diaz but there rest are threats.
IMO Jones has the biggest chance, mainly due to pure strength and size advantage.
DBZ ftw!
well that would make it SSJ3 then
Man...why the **** is Nick Pothead Diaz even mentioned in this discussion??? Como on...what would make him even deserving of the fight? Is he a Champion in other weight class? Did he beat any MW top contender? Does he even show up for fights??? Cut this shit out already.....He should be fighting Estima to compensate for the fiasco of not showing to the BJJ tournament.....Pot Head Punk MOFO.
The only guy on this list who could dethrone the champ is Jon Jones and vice versa. Evans would have a good shot if he could just Lay - N - Pray or better yet, take a 25 minutes nap on the CHAMP. Well, Georges Safe-Pierre and Nick Diaz would get annihilated, next. Why not ask Georges Safe-Pierre how he feels about fighting Anderson Silva? In other words, I'm not quite sure he would be thrilled about that fight. As for Chris Weidman, he hasn't done enough, in my humble opinion, to even be mentioned on this list.
I really don't get it...What **** is itching your butt...that each week the same topic remains...This is the one to kill Anderson Silva...Anderson Silva is going to lose to....Anderson Silva will lose his belt to...Who's next to murder Anderson Silva...Really?...Instead of wasting time and effort on this gaay ass topics...Write how we as fans could help to build to more cities the great sport of MMA...places to practice it...etc, etc.
The longer you're on top, the more people wonder about when you'll lose.
No one has defended the belt as many titles as Silva, so no one has ever faced this sort of focus. Think of it as a compliment.
the only fight that'll happen is Weidman, only if he doesn't lose his next fight if its not for the title. Nick will blow any chance one way or another. And the other 3 just won't happen because something will prevent it from happening.
Pessimistic, but extremely logical.
GSP could very well, ground and pound Silva out, Silva could very well knock GSP out in 1st. But they are two different to assume you could tell. Diaz should be fighting in a school yard somewhere, punk ass bitch. JJ would be a good match, but again different weight classes. Weidman is on his way, better than that jackass Lesnar who got a title fight after 3 fights and 1 was a loss. What a terrible way for Randy 'the legend' to be retired Dana!!!. How about anyone who challenges Silva has to defeat Weidman first. Keep the weight class fighters fighting in their presumably 'best' weight class.
Jones and Weidman have the best chance i.m.o. GSP only by safe lay n pray...boring, please not another one of those champs...Rashad, possibly with wrestling and L&P, but if he strikes...outclassed. And finally...sorry, but Diaz is just the worst possible style to face a master striker. He is going to plod forward, think he can jab his way to out point silva, use no head movement assuming he can absorb damage, and get KTFO...only chance he has is a sub, and thats if A.S. makes a serious mistake.
I really don't think people understand how good GSP is. Assuming he is in full health, I don't see why he can't do what Chael did without getting submitted. What GSP lacks in stength compared to Chael, he makes up for in ability to cover distance quicker + better transitional abilities (and don't forget his monkey arms).
I think it is a bit premature to claim Weidman would beat him, but he certainly has the abilities, it's just a matter of seeing him beat another top MW, which I believe he will.
Rashad has the abilities too, just seems to make bad in-fight decisions at times, and I think it would cost him against Andy.
Jon Jones would be the rightful favorite in that fight. As long as he stuck with his wrestling he would be fine, but if he played with fire and tried to stand he would get KO'd.
Nick Diaz would obviously destroy Anderson Silva. I don't need to explain why.
Hahahahahaha
Nick Diaz doesn't have the talent nor the mental toughness to go with Silva. I would love to see it happen but it makes not sense for the Champ to pound on a chump, or he could get Forrest again.
If this fight happened, when Diaz did his schoolyard waving his arms around after getting smoked in the head thing then Silva would most certainly knock him out and re-retire 'ol pothead.
Diaz doesn't have the mental toughness? You sir are trolling.
I say let Weidman fight Sonnen to see if he's worthy!! Get Diaz the heck out of the UFC, he's a good fighter but at least until he can grow up! I think Henderson should give Silva a good fight, might even win. You never know. I respect any fighter in the UFC. They're there because they deserve to be.
If GSP wins Condit what is likely to happen it would make sense . At 180 pounds (GSP is 195-200 pounds Anderson 205-210) . But i dont think Andersons camp would want the GSP fight if he dominates Condit.. its easy to call fights against injured fighters...
Maybe even for 185 title. But that is Andersons fight to lose
I will keep this short and sweet
1. No to Jones - too big, too young, too quick, too athletic
2. Yes to GSP - would be historic, Silva by a nose
3. Yes to Evans - should be historic, ideal match for both, too close to call
4. Yes to Weidman AFTER he beats Bisping or Sonnen and Not Before, if in 2013 I still see Silva with a walk away KO win
5. No to Diaz - too easy of a way for Silva to eanr a check, Silva by KO in 1