Lorenzo Fertitta: We are very open to the idea of GSP vs. Silva
Posted on August 2, 2012, 07:57 AM by Anton GurevichGood news for Mixed Martial Arts fans around the world.
According to ZUFFA CEO, Lorenzo Fertitta, Ultimate Fighting Championship will be open to the superfight between Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre, if the French-Canadian is able to defend his title against Carlos Condit later this year. Silva and St. Pierre are currently the most long-serving UFC champions, with a total of 16 title defenses.
Here's what Lorenzo Fertitta said via text to Los Angeles Times:
"We are very open to the idea of Anderson/GSP. If GSP beats Condit, it's a fight we would like to make."
The rumors of Anderson Sila vs. Georges St. Pierre have been circulating in the press for over three years now. Chants of "GSP! GSP!" were heard during Silva's fights with Patrick Cote and Thales Leites, while with every title defense it becomes clear that both fighters are more than ready to solidify their legacy by participating in what would be the biggest fight in sport's history.
Georges St. Pierre will have to defend his title against the Interim UFC Welterweight champ Carlos Condit, while Anderson Silva is currently without an opponent, but with a number of potential title contenders on the horizon. However, with Silva moving closer to his 40's, it's pretty clear that the UFC would love to book the superfight while "The Spider" is still at his peak.
Stay tuned to LowKick.com for more.
Comments
Lorenzo Fertitta: We are very open to the idea of GSP vs. Silva
Really ufc is open for the idea !!!?? LOL
They're always open to make millions, what changed, ...oh wait nothing!
Wow it's sewww amazing to hear that they are now open to the fight we've been talking about for four years!
Now if we wait four more years for Gsp to put on the weight "properly" then i'm almost sorta totally sure that we MIGHT see this fight one year after that!
Offtopic, is Tupac still in jail?
I am a fan of GSP. However if Silva wins, he beats a fighter much smaller than him, if he loses they will say that he was never that good because he lost to a small welterweight. I want the fight as much as the next guy or more, but it is hard to think that Soares will let it happen from a managers stand point.
I think Jones and Silva is more likely having SIlva already tested the waters.
Small welterweight? Have you seen GSP?
He is a good size welterweight but he would be a small middle weight. His frame is not built for that division. He will be fighting a guy that is a big middlweight and can also fight comfortably at lightheavy. Size will make a difference here, no doubt about it.
GSP is a decent size WW but he is not a big WW
while Silva is a big MW who should be fighting at 205.
Silva is 220 - GSP is 192
Silva is 6'2" - GSP is 5'10"
Si;va has almost 30lbs over GSP along with 4" of height
Jones vs Silva is the right Super Fight that should happen
Jones is 6'4" - Silva is 6'2"
Jones is 228 - Silva is 220
Well he's definitely not a big WW, he faced much bigger guys than him (Alves, Shields, even Kos and Hardy are as big as him if not bigger).
Why should we have to pick? Why not set both fights up? Silva had talked about retiring when he was done with his contract, what better way to have him go out? He just decisively beat the biggest rival he'd had in his career, so follow that up with two superfights against seemingly unstoppable champions. He'd definitely cement his legacy (as if he hadn't already), fans would be ecstatic, and UFC would make bank. What's not to love?
Yea this is a better match not demeaning GSP. Silva is a natural LHW
In GSP's last fight, he actually walked into the ring weighing more than silva weighed in his fight vs okami. Gsp's reach is also greater than alot of the MW division,and you guys are constantly crying about reach when you bash jones.
Don't worry, noone cares that you don't know what you're talking about.
GSP is about 190 and Silva walks around 225 he said it recently.
ya.... now compare the reach difference between those match ups.
You can play with numbers all day. Its not even that long that weight classes were even around, it amuses me when people are like he's too big where theres a 15 pound difference.
Anderson was 191 vs okami and GSP was 194 vs shields...I don't care if GSP said back in april of 09 that AS was 230.
It's not what you walk around at, it's what you actually FIGHT at...or is it a walkoff? Who believes that AS cuts that much at his age anyways?
Brains...they make an awfully good seat.
Preemptive statement: I'm not trying to call you out.
Where did you see those weigh in values for GSP and Anderson? I've honestly never seen their values on fight night.
@Nemisis that is actually right.
People believe the hype that Silva is a huge MW that walks around Forrest Griffin weight... wrong. Silva has been weighing just over 192 on fight day for his last few.
He had oen hard cut in the last couple of year (can;t remember who against) but apart form that eh has been going in light.
I think a lot of people forget Silva used to be a WW and has he ever looked really drawn out or fatigued due to weight cut? not that I have seen.
The physical frame would be different but weight wise GSP might come in heavier and anyway GSP would definitely be stronger (especially with the extra muscle he could pack on)
This guy is just laying out some open information and not bashing any fighters why does that get weaked??
Where did you see that Silva was weighing in at 192 on fight day Keith?
That is a good question, I wonder if Keith knows Silva walks around 225...
I wonder if any of the PHd crowd know what ectomorphs are.
GSP lost all credibility with me when he tried to claim that he couldn't put on weight like silva because he was an ectomorph. I guess he thinks you all are too dumb to figure out why that can't be true.
@Nemesis. Yeah, he lost some respect from me on that one too. If anything he is a "small" mesomorph.
Yea and also...if you're an ectomorph what the hell does that make silva!??!
Silva's managers are very open to GSP VS SILVA. Silva likes to take on smaller guys. GSP often said he won't go up i dont know why they all insist. If Silva won't go up to fight Jones, i dont know why GSP should. We'll see.
Cos GSP fought BJ twice and the last time we watched BJ's legs slip off of GSP's back like he was made of jello and i don't see anyone crying....
But silva is the man to hate since the whole GOAT thing is angering nuthuggers like never before
GSP is a large welterweight! its not just height, frame and muscle mass comes into it also and gsp makes a lot of welterweights look kind of puny! tbh
How is Jones vs Silva more likely to happen?
Ever heard Lorenzo talk about it like this..
Why would Soares not let it happen from a managers point of view?
Do you know the amount of ppv this would attract? This will be a major cash in for both Silva and GSP. And I think you give Soares a lill to much credit on the deciding factor.
Only a fool will say Silva was "never that good" no matter who he loses to from this point out. Hes not 25 anymore...
GSP is an average sized WW nowadays. Used to be big, now is right in the middle.
He would have to put on muscle to move up effectively, IMO.
He also only gives up an inch and a half of reach.
Yeah GSP has stated he only walks around at 185 to 190 pounds so he deff isn't a big welterweight guys.
At one time he was, now that the sport has evolved and guys are capable of cutting 30lbs in a week, it is much different.
Its always If AS beats his next opponent , or is GSP beats his next opponent... LOL
It will never happen, and I think GSP doesnt wanna fight Silva. He is not scared (he is a warrior and he believes in his skills like every champion) but he is probably a bit worried about fighting a Skilled gifted fighter like Silva.
I think if GSP finally accepts the fight ,it will be when Silva will start to slow down and show signs of being old...
so after saying he's not scared you basically say he's scared...
first of all this is stupid... second it will never happen... just get over it...
I'll believe it when i see it.
The Pacquaio Mayweather of the MMA world.
As much as I insanely want to see it, I will only believe it when the contract is officially signed and they are both in the cage.
How many times has the top dogs of the UFC said the fight is just round the corner or they are open to it?
I see very little upside and a lot of downside for Andersons legacy and a lot of upside for Andersons pocked.....what do you think will prevail?
Oh, not this again.
It's around that time of the year.
Well of course the UFC is open to it haha! What a headline!
I was not happy with my performance. - GSP after the Silva fight
Heard this so many times already. Im not holding my breath
Great!!! This fight wont be happening until 2015 due to G.radually S.low healing P.ierre being injured 4x in training camp leading up to this A.S.
BREAKING: Fedor interested in UFC
Random Russian news outlet reports Vadim Finklestein was quoted as saying "Anything is possible".
must be photoshop cause i dont ever remember GSP weighing in at "181 Pounds"
Haven't you heard about that new weight class?
I would really love to see this fight, especially with Silva in his prime. If anyone has a chance of beating Silva right now, it would be GSP. Both are my favorites, but I'm going with Silva because he's a better striker.
Silva has made a career by beating smaller fighters.The GSP fight could be interesting though....
Next you'll tell me that the Ufc wants a world famous professional wrestler to win the HW title.
This is one of those fights they talk and talk about but never happens. This would be awesome to see they have both cleaned out their devisions what now but to have super fight. Silva would come out the champ. Silvia is more closer to LHW than WW. Anyways would love to see this fight so if it happens count me in PPV or if close enough a ticket.
Condit is the same height as Silva and the Spider has about half an inch longer reach.
Anderson might walk around at 220 but I doubt he cuts more than 20 pounds, so 205 would be a more accurate estimate of his fighting weight. GSP is probably around 195 when he fights.
So I don't buy the argument that Silva is "too big" for GSP to fight. Bigger, yes but then when was the last time Silva fought someone as quick as GSP?
I'd love to see this fight happen, but I'm not holding my breathe. Mind you, it could still happen, unlike Silva vs Jones, which has about a 0% chance.
Dude, Silva said it himself (in portuguese): right now I walk around 220-225.
And that was like a year ago.
That is when Silva really lets himself go. He rarely gets that big. By the end of training for a fight he has lost so much fat that he is only cutting 20 or so lbs.
Oh, and I forgot, GSP is not around 195 when he fights. He's more around 188.
And GSP "walks around" at 205, but who cares? It's what he weighs when he enters the octagon.
Silva doesn't cut that much weight, and GSP is a master at it, which underlines my point, that Silva won't be that much bigger than GSP.
Oh, and I forgot, don't pull numbers out of your head if you can't cite a source. GSP weighs 188? Maybe 5 years ago before he met Zahabi.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/1628?urn=mma,wp1628
Silva might just lose! He can't keep dehydrating for the fights at 185 lbs the 1st Sonnen fight it was shown and for him to lose more at a catch weight? Everyone wants to see Silva vs. Jones
Not a fan of the idea. I don't understand why people don't just appreciate the fighters for what they have achieved in their desired weight class. The implications that come with either AS moving down or GSP moving up could essentially impact their performance.
I'm Canadian, so obviously I would want GSP to win. AS is just on a whole other level with Jon Jones. GSP is as good as he is because I doubt there is a fighter in the UFC more dedicated to the sport. He eats healthy all the time on top of avoiding alcohol even when he isn't setup for a fight. Only in the last few fights has he began cutting weight, only due to the fact of this "superfight".
Anderson's skill is insane. The only fighters in history that can be described at the same caliber are Bruce Lee, and Ali in my opinion. He's accomplished the P4P top fighter years ago, and is continuing to do it into his mid 30s.
AS > GSP