And1 Silva vs Frank Mir in the works?

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Liquidrob
    Izzy is a bum
    • Feb 2009
    • 11785

    And1 Silva vs Frank Mir in the works?

    Also NSAC approves 5X5 for special fights in Nevada



    Anderson Silva wants heavyweight paydays, more notes

    by Josh Gross

    Anderson Silva wants big-money event fights. And he's willing to work at heavyweight to make sure they happen.

    Prior to Silva's flooring Forrest Griffin earlier this month in Philadelphia, SI.com confirmed that Silva's representatives had spoken with Zuffa about the heralded UFC middleweight champion moving up to heavyweight for the first time in his career.

    Not only that, they already had an opponent in mind: Frank Mir.

    Disinterested by middleweight contenders Nathan Marquardt, Demian Maia and Dan Henderson, and unwilling to fight close friend Lyoto Machida at light heavyweight -- where Silva could conceivably knock off challengers and make a disaster out of the UFC's marquee division -- "The Spider" needs new, challenging scenarios to stay motivated. A move to heavyweight would certainly achieve that, and according to Silva's manager Ed Soares, the UFC was receptive to the idea.

    Based on longevity and dominance, the label of MMA's best fighter has arguably belonged to Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko for the past few years. However, the gap between Emelianenko and Silva has closed to a photo finish. And if the UFC can be convinced tha a move to heavyweight is the right plan as 185 sorts itself out, Silva could set himself up to supplant Emelianenko as the sport's best.

    It would indeed be impressive for a former world champion at 167 pounds to climb all the way to heavyweight. If he gets his way and beats Mir, that would set up blockbusters against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, or, dare we say it, Brock Lesnar, a fight Silva would accept if the money is right.

    Beyond legacy issues, which media and fans tend to focus on more than fighters, the move up could drastically improve Silva's paydays, which would increase with the size of his opponents and corresponding pay-per-view numbers.

    For all those reasons, I like the move.

    Sure, the organization's middleweight division features several threats. But outside of Maia, we've already seen Silva brush most challengers aside. Silva's team argues that Henderson, Marquardt and Maia aren't deserving. They want the Marquardt-Maia winner to fight Henderson to establish a true contender in the division. I don't think it's a terrible idea. There shouldn't be any disagreement that Marquardt or Maia against Henderson would be a perfect bout to use the Nevada option of five-round non-title fights (more on that to come).

    Otherwise, the one challenger rarely mentioned these days is Yushin Okami, whom Silva should fight before he leaves the division for good. Outside of that, you're talking about Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva, both great names and potential draws who are just emerging at 185.

    The best bouts might come at light heavyweight -- Silva vs. Rampage; Rashad; Shogun; and down the road, Jon Jones or Gegard Mousasi -- but with Silva and Machida refusing to fight, an extended stay at 205 doesn't make sense. By the sound of things, the talented Brazilians won't compete no matter how much pressure comes down from Dana White and the UFC.

    "I'm gonna say there's no way they fight," said Soares, who also manages Machida.

    What does that leave? Heavyweight.

    Who wouldn't want to see whether Silva at his walk-around 215 to 220 pounds is good enough to defeat opponents regardless of weight? Pound for pound personified, I say. A win or two in the division would embolden fans and media with enough hope that Silva could be the one to stop Lesnar.

    The pound-for-pound king an underdog? Imagine that.

    (Special thanks to e-mailer Jared for the tip.)

    Nevada leads the way
    As a close observer of state regulators since I began covering MMA more than nine years ago, I've always been impressed by the speed with which Nevada could enact rules changes. Perhaps that had more to do the approach of my home state of California, which works a bit like a tortoise negotiating a minefield, but still, Nevada deserves credit for following through on several changes to its regulations on Wednesday.

    I've long been an advocate for five-round non-title main events, especially when championship caliber fighters were in the mix. Actually, I've proposed pushing title fights to seven rounds, but that debate has lost steam over the years. Twenty five minutes should be enough time to resolve a fight. Fifteen minutes? Not really. We're talking clashes between Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva, Quinton Jackson and Keith Jardine. Even something like Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann would qualify in my book.

    Now, promoters in Nevada can push a non-title headliner to five rounds, providing world class fighters a real opportunity to finish bouts instead of the inevitable race to a decision. Let's hope other regulators follow suit.

    I'm less excited about the prospect of instant replay to check on the validity of an outcome. Depending on how it's used, of course, it can be a great tool. But not all events will be broadcast. What about those? Either way, it'll be a neat experiment.

    And finally, the commission took steps towards addressing the GSP-Penn "Greasegate" controversy that followed the pair's January fight. Language now exists that makes the use of foreign substances on the body that "could result in an unfair advantage" illegal. Hard to believe it wasn't before.

    Georges St. Pierre, of course, was never reprimanded for doing anything wrong during a fight he dominated. But the specter of shadiness was reason enough to clarify the rule.

    Kudos to Keith Kizer and the NSAC.

    Congrats to HDNet's Inside MMA
    I've had the good fortune of appearing on HDNet's "Inside MMA" more than a handful of times. This Wednesday, the weekly mixed martial arts news program taped its 100th episode, a special retrospective featuring Kenny Rice, Bas Rutten and Ron Kruk looking back on some of the show's greatest guests (of which I'm sure I made the cut), and moments. Catch it if you can. As always, the show airs on Friday
    Liquidrob's Top 10 Fighters Rankings


    The 10 Fighters Who Changed The Game

  • SHOGUN
    4 WR 1 RB 0 TE. 24/7/365.
    • Jul 2009
    • 11416

    #2
    Silva is ducking Marquardt and Okami.

     
    "Sometimes I just want to be with my family and watch movie and eat some popcorn. But when I step on the mat I know there is no other place I'd rather be." - Marcelo Garcia

    Comment

    • CrimsonGhost56
      True Blue
      • Feb 2009
      • 5981

      #3
      Silva seemed a pretty decent size when he fought Griffin, not much size differential between the two though i really dont see him stacking up to the big HW's like Lesnar or Kongo. I'd love to see a Silva-Cro Crop fight. Silva tired of facing schmucks in the MW division, he wants to get paid and i dont blame him

      Comment

      • Liquidrob
        Izzy is a bum
        • Feb 2009
        • 11785

        #4
        Originally posted by Tomato Ketchup
        Silva is ducking Marquardt and Okami.
        lol, I like the cut of your jib

        but in the end its always about 1 thing, money and there is nothing wrong with that, thats why its called prize fighting

        props to Silva for moving up like it doesnt mean a thing
        Liquidrob's Top 10 Fighters Rankings


        The 10 Fighters Who Changed The Game

        Comment

        • Steel Mamba
          Nasty
          • Nov 2008
          • 2549

          #5
          If he moves up and beats a top 10 HW I'm personally going to smack anyone who doesn't have this guy as the #1 P4P fighter in the world. When you can and do dominate 3 weight classes that's the definition of P4P!

          Comment

          • Liquidrob
            Izzy is a bum
            • Feb 2009
            • 11785

            #6
            Originally posted by Steel Mamba
            If he moves up and beats a top 10 HW I'm personally going to smack anyone who doesn't have this guy as the #1 P4P fighter in the world. When you can and do dominate 3 weight classes that's the definition of P4P!
            If he beat Mir, who I dont think is 'great' heavy, but still a good HW it would still be impressive enough to go to the top, coming up 2 weight classes against Forrest and Mir is no joke

            but it wouldnt really be dominating 3 weight classes, it would be dominating 1 weight class (MW) and having 1 win at LHW and HW, you cant say someone dominated a weight class with 1 win, lol
            Liquidrob's Top 10 Fighters Rankings


            The 10 Fighters Who Changed The Game

            Comment

            • Warner2BruceTD
              2011 Poster Of The Year
              • Mar 2009
              • 26142

              #7
              Originally posted by Liquidrob
              If he beat Mir, who I dont think is 'great' heavy, but still a good HW it would still be impressive enough to go to the top, coming up 2 weight classes against Forrest and Mir is no joke

              but it wouldnt really be dominating 3 weight classes, it would be dominating 1 weight class (MW) and having 1 win at LHW and HW, you cant say someone dominated a weight class with 1 win, lol
              He'd have two wins at LHW.

              Beating James Irvin, Griffin, and (hypothetically) Mir wouldn't equal "dominating" those two divisions, but it would definately make it hard to argue against him being #1 in the world. especially considering how impressive those out of weight class wins have been.

              He would also have wins over a former UFC LHW champ, UFC HW champ (interim, but play along), Pride MW champ in a unification bout, and two wins over another former UFC MW champ.

              That's a bullet proof resume for #1 if he fights and beats Mir.
              Last edited by Warner2BruceTD; 08-20-2009, 05:21 PM.

              Comment

              • Liquidrob
                Izzy is a bum
                • Feb 2009
                • 11785

                #8
                Originally posted by Warner2BruceTD
                He'd have two wins at LHW.

                Beating James Irvin, Griffin, and (hypothetically) Mir wouldn't equal "dominating" those two divisions, but it would definately make it hard to argue against him being #1 in the world. especially considering how impressive those out of weight class wins have been.
                I would have to put him at number 1 in the world if he beats Mir, the Irvin fight is blah, thats why I forgot about it, thats like GSP beating a below average MW, doesnt mean much and did nothing for Silva, so beating Irvin and Forrest isnt dominating LHW and beating Mir isnt dominating HW, I think we can all agree with that

                Silva would be the man if he does this though

                but also remember when talking p4p, you dont have to move in order to be ranked number 1 p4p, it will give you bonus points, but somebody like GSP is still in the discussion even if he never moves up, you dont have to do it, his issue right now is not much is left at 170

                what works in Fedors favor is he is a small HW and could make LHW if he wanted to, but Silva is going on a run and Fedor not fighting Barnett hurts him
                Last edited by Liquidrob; 08-20-2009, 05:27 PM.
                Liquidrob's Top 10 Fighters Rankings


                The 10 Fighters Who Changed The Game

                Comment

                • Warner2BruceTD
                  2011 Poster Of The Year
                  • Mar 2009
                  • 26142

                  #9
                  The Irvin win would have been a meh win, until you consider the manner he defeated him in. And he followed it up by clowning the former champ at the weight in similar fashion. Two 3 round eeked out decisions would make this converstion alot different, especially considering the Leites fight.

                  All of these things matter in a p4p discussion, splitting hairs is required.

                  Comment

                  • Liquidrob
                    Izzy is a bum
                    • Feb 2009
                    • 11785

                    #10
                    Silva needs to finish a Japanese fighter, he is 3-3 with 3 decision wins, all the other guys resumes are littered with Japanese cans
                    Liquidrob's Top 10 Fighters Rankings


                    The 10 Fighters Who Changed The Game

                    Comment

                    • Steel Mamba
                      Nasty
                      • Nov 2008
                      • 2549

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Liquidrob
                      I would have to put him at number 1 in the world if he beats Mir, the Irvin fight is blah, thats why I forgot about it, thats like GSP beating a below average MW, doesnt mean much and did nothing for Silva, so beating Irvin and Forrest isnt dominating LHW and beating Mir isnt dominating HW, I think we can all agree with that

                      Silva would be the man if he does this though

                      but also remember when talking p4p, you dont have to move in order to be ranked number 1 p4p, it will give you bonus points, but somebody like GSP is still in the discussion even if he never moves up, you dont have to do it, his issue right now is not much is left at 170

                      what works in Fedors favor is he is a small HW and could make LHW if he wanted to, but Silva is going on a run and Fedor not fighting Barnett hurts him
                      Nah I'm not saying that's dominating those classes, but he has the potential to clean out some of the best fighters in those divisions, aside from Machida. The fight against Mir will be interesting, if it happens, if he comes out on top I think that's a solid win and after that you'd have to say that he'd be a favorite against any of the other smaller HWs. MW is just about cleaned out, a Hendo rematch would be nice, followed by Okami. At LHW I imagine he'd be a favorite against everyone.

                      Like I've been saying for a long time now, the guy is a beast. I don't want to hear this stuff about his hands looking pretty only because he's not fighting talented guys. That nonsense is over with now. Talent is talent, it doesn't matter who you're fighting against.

                      & lol at the possibility of Silva facing and beating better HWs than Fedor in the next couple years or so. love it.
                      Last edited by Steel Mamba; 08-20-2009, 05:47 PM.

                      Comment

                      • Liquidrob
                        Izzy is a bum
                        • Feb 2009
                        • 11785

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Steel Mamba
                        Nah I'm not saying that's dominating those classes, but he has the potential to clean out some of the best fighters in those divisions, aside from Machida. The fight against Mir will be interesting, if it happens, if he comes out on top I think that's a solid win and after that you'd have to say that he'd be a favorite against any of the other smaller HWs. MW is just about cleaned out, a Hendo rematch would be nice, followed by Okami. At LHW I imagine he'd be a favorite against everyone.

                        Like I've been saying for a long time now, the guy is a beast. I don't want to hear this stuff about his hands looking pretty only because he's not fighting talented guys. That nonsense is over with now. Talent is talent, it doesn't matter who you're fighting against.

                        & lol at the possibility of Silva facing and beating better HWs than Fedor in the next couple years or so. love it.
                        I dont disagree, Silva beats Mir, he is number 1 p4p, he is looking for big fights in higher weight classes, no one can hate on that

                        besides the HW part, Fedor has about same level of talent to fight as the UFC HW division, but thats a different debate
                        Liquidrob's Top 10 Fighters Rankings


                        The 10 Fighters Who Changed The Game

                        Comment

                        • SHOGUN
                          4 WR 1 RB 0 TE. 24/7/365.
                          • Jul 2009
                          • 11416

                          #13
                          Just because the Cote and Leites fights were busts, he can hop from division to division like this? Fuck that. Remember how BJ Penn held up the LW title with his antics?

                          Silva Misaki'd Okami and has been avoiding him ever since, and Marquardt is the best contender at 185 to beat him. The Okami and Nate fights need to happen. The Hendo rematch for the title is bollocks.

                           
                          "Sometimes I just want to be with my family and watch movie and eat some popcorn. But when I step on the mat I know there is no other place I'd rather be." - Marcelo Garcia

                          Comment

                          • Warner2BruceTD
                            2011 Poster Of The Year
                            • Mar 2009
                            • 26142

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Tomato Ketchup
                            Just because the Cote and Leites fights were busts, he can hop from division to division like this? Fuck that. Remember how BJ Penn held up the LW title with his antics?

                            Silva Misaki'd Okami and has been avoiding him ever since, and Marquardt is the best contender at 185 to beat him. The Okami and Nate fights need to happen. The Hendo rematch for the title is bollocks.
                            It's an entertainment business. Maybe if this was pure sport you would have a point, but Silva vs. Okami or Marquardt has zero box office appeal, and they wouldnt be able to headline a card with that shit.

                            Silva knows this, that's why he wants fights with credible draws. He wants his money. He cant draw with those guys, because being a weak draw himself he cant carry a no name.

                            Comment

                            • Steel Mamba
                              Nasty
                              • Nov 2008
                              • 2549

                              #15
                              Silva is talking Frank Mir while Fedor is talking exhibition matches and Ricco Rodriguez. lol

                              Comment

                              Working...