Wandi to 185?

Dmac · 05-23-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMAWeekly

Wandi to 185?

Former Pride middleweight champion and UFC light heavyweight fighter Wanderlei Silva is considering a move to the 185-pound division after his UFC 84 bout with Keith Jardine.

Silva made his return to the Octagon at UFC 79 against Chuck Liddell after an eight-year hiatus from the American organization. He will face Jardine on Saturday night in an attempt to get back on the winning track after suffering three losses in a row for the first time in his storied career.

Although predicting a knockout victory over Jardine, Silva is still considering a move down to the 185-pound division following his UFC 84 match-up.

"Maybe it's possible after this fight to fight at 185," said Silva. "The guys in my division are much tall, and it's hard. The guys are stronger, but I've fought in the division many times, many years. Here, the guys are much stronger. Maybe I'm going to fight next time at 185. I don't know. As long as they have good opponents for me at 185 too, maybe next time I go down. I don't know."

Silva expressed the desire to stay at 205 and fight UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson for a third time and a rematch with Chuck Liddell, but when asked about a possible match with fellow Brazilian Anderson Silva, the long-time Pride champion said, "It's hard to go down and fight the champion. I need to fight other guys first. I trained with him a long time ago. We are friends, but a job is a job and friends are friends. In the future maybe it's possible to fight with him."

Now that would be a damn good challenger for Silva.

dustcloud97 · 05-23-2008, 06:02 PM

Yeah that would be an amazing fight to watch because it would be two of the best strikers in the world against each other.

Two things that I see working against this, in order of importance.

1)Dana White - We all know that Dana only likes guys that are marketable outside of Tito. An all-Brazilian main event isn't something that Dana wants to see because that would be admitting that American guys, and home grown UFC talent aren't good enough to rule that division. Of course nobody's stupid enough to think that any of the guys in the current TUF season will last even CLOSE to one round if they were stepping in against Anderson Silva...and if you do, you're on crack.

2)Dan Henderson - Hendo still has that one big knockout hanging over Wandy, and that would mean that Silva has to go through Hendo to get to his countryman. Now don't get me wrong, I like Silva's chances in any standup fight, but against Hendo, I don't know, because aside from Silva and a couple other guys I put Hendo on that level of guys that are a step above everybody else in the UFC as strikers go, which includes the likes of Chuck Liddell and Keith Jardine.

Twist of lEMOn · 05-23-2008, 06:05 PM

Isnt Anderson a former Chute Boxe fighter? if so I dont know if we would ever see a Silva vs Silva match up

Dmac · 05-23-2008, 06:09 PM

Well that is just it, former chute box member, if they were both active it would be a no no.

Twist of lEMOn · 05-23-2008, 06:17 PM

Well Chute boxe is basicly a shell of its former self at the moment (wont stay that way for long, theyll get new up and comers), Wand is with Extreme Couture, Shogun is some other fight club and they'll never fight. Id be suprised if former Chute Boxe Vs former Chute Boxe ever happens to be honest, especially people who were in it for the PRIDE Dynasty.

If Wand goes to 185 it would end up like Rua and Wand in PRIDE with Anderson being the champ and Wand being the first person in line after he loses.

Dmac · 05-23-2008, 06:20 PM

Yeah but how smart would it be to go down to 185 being the next in line after a fighter that is showing no signs of losing any time soon?

Twist of lEMOn · 05-23-2008, 06:33 PM

Wand wouldn't be a title contender right away either, but outside of Anderson 185 holds a lot of match ups that are more exciting that what what UFC offers Wand at 205. Franklin, Bisping, Wand/Henderson 3, and most likely Nathan Marquardt first up.

It wouldn't be the first time a fighter didn't want to fight the champion of there divsion, the PRIDE Dynasty made it impossible for Rua to fight for the LHW title until Henderson won it but then it was to late
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Dmac · 05-23-2008, 06:38 PM

Yeah you made that point but that is only one instance and Silva is not Shogun.

Silva wouldn't be a top contender straight away. that is easy to see but after one win I think he would be.

Twist of lEMOn · 05-23-2008, 06:50 PM

Eh, one win? Silva would have to dominate a top fighter like Franklin or Henderson to warrant one fight title, Dana has a history of giving a two fight path to the title shot for top fighters. Even after his boy Liddell lost to rampage he had to beat Jardine, then Beat Silva to get back to Rampage and obviously hes even farther away now. I don't think hes ever given someone coming off a losing streak like Silvas that big of a chance either.

Chute Boxe Vs Chute Boxe is still extremly rare because of the respect they have for each other, the only fight I can find thats ever featured two former Chute Boxe fighters is Werdum Vs Gonzaga.

Dmac · 05-23-2008, 06:52 PM

Franklin should really want another fight with Anderson, lets be honest and Hendo already lost quite easily also, it's time for new challenges for Anderson dude.

Wandi to 185?

This is a discussion on Wandi to 185? within the MMA - Mixed Martial Arts forums, part of the Sports Forums category; Originally Posted by MMAWeekly Wandi to 185? Former Pride middleweight champion and UFC light heavyweight fighter Wanderlei Silva is considering ...