Anderson Silva Not Staying at 205
Tatame had up an interview with Anderson Silva which Fightline.com took the time to translate. The meat of the interview points out that regardless of all the talking Dana White has been doing, Anderson doesn't seem to have any current plans to stay at 205 and attempt to hold both titles at the same time.
Read on:
Silva On Moving Up To 205:
When I fought on Pride, a 185 weight class didnt existed, only a 205 weight class and I always fought on it. But I didn't had the same physical quality and technique I have now. It's an experience we are doing it for many reasons. One of them is as a personal favor for Dana White that I could do this fight and I, alongside all my friends that help me, concluded that it is possible. We will see. I will try to do my job as I always have been dong, independent of the result, and I'm going to test myself to put me to the test and see if I can do it. If the result is positive, then it means all our new experimental training methods worked. Whoever has a mouth, speaks whatever they want. Irvin is right and that's why everyone has its own weight. I don't have intention to fight on this category and Im only doing this because they (UFC) asked me and I think I can do it. I don't intend to fight for this belt, this belt belongs to Lyoto (Machida) and he already proved that. I'm going to fight because I like to fight and because I like challenges.
This is, of course, in pretty much direct conflict with the following words from Dana White back in mid-June:
Anderson Silva is, uh, is-- you know, when I always talk about "real fighters," this guy is, is definitely a real fighter. He wants to fight all the time. Most mixed martial artists will fight three times a year; this guy wants to fight six times a year. He's basically cleaned out the 185 pound division, and he's always looking to challenge himself, so he wanted to move up to 205 and test the waters there. You know, I'm not gonna tell him "no." I mean, right now-- it's never been a better time to be a mixed martial arts fan than it is right now. I mean, we've got the pound-for-pound... You can turn on SpikeTV on July 19th and, for free, see the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, you know, make his first move up to 205 pounds. It's a great time for fans right now.
It just strikes me as odd whenever we see a fighter and promotional head in public contradicting each other. I'm certainly not implying any sort of conspiracy, I just don't understand why Dana couldn't sell the fight as "We knew exactly the guy we wanted to fight to show that the UFC is the home of the world's best fighters. We went to Anderson and said 'hey, we've got an idea' and he didn't even hesitate in accepting." rather than flipping things around and then looking kind of clueless less than a month later.
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What if?
What if Silva wins his fight with Irving? From what I have read about Silva, it seems that he enjoys a challenge. I could see him having a few more fights in the 205 division. Maybe not chasing the belt, but to challenge himself.
by lovingmma25 on Jul 9, 2008 10:44 AM EDT 0 recs
i don't doubt...
...that we’ll see him fight there again if he wins. But for Dana to say:
A) That it was Silva’s idea…and then Silva says that he was asked by the UFC to do it.
B) Silva wants both belts…then Silva says he doesn’t…
It just makes no sense. Silva is a badass regardless…why does Dana have to try to make him even more badass-y by pretending stuff is true that just isn’t.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison
by Brent Brookhouse on
Jul 9, 2008 10:58 AM EDT
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He'll win
I think he’ll win the fight against Irvin but I can’t see him at that weight class for long. Irvin really isn’t that good of a fighter and although Silva at 205 in Pride was far from a superstar, he should work him and win the match.
If he were to go up against stiffer competition I don’t think he’d last long at all.
by MGMMMA on
Jul 9, 2008 12:24 PM EDT
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July 19th
So to recap, in their own words, both Vera (in an mmarated interview) and Silva (in Tatame) both say they are doing Dana White a favour by changing weight class and both have said they do not intend to stay at that weight class.
That’s just… odd.
by ghettoiam on Jul 9, 2008 10:46 AM EDT 0 recs
No big shock here. They already have his next 2 mw fights lined up, and the division is developing steadily. The only way I see him fighting at 205 again, would be for a title or in a superfight. Nothing against irvin, but that isn’t the kind of fight he is looking for in most cases.
"They said you was hung!!"
"And they was RIGHT!"
by BJJDenver on Jul 9, 2008 12:11 PM EDT 0 recs
I guess what I am thinking is that if Silva comes out and puts an assault on Irving like he did Leben and Franklin – you know that is going to generate a lot of buzz. It will also give Silva the idea of competing in that weight class more often perhaps. This will give him the boost he needs to gain more fans therefore becoming a bigger draw for the UFC.
by lovingmma25 on Jul 9, 2008 1:41 PM EDT 0 recs
Again...
...all I’m saying is that it makes no sense for White to claim this was Silva’s idea when Silva says that he is basically doing the UFC a favor and has no plans to remain at 205.
He may very well decide that it is the weight he wishes to fight at. But White doesn’t need to lie to make Anderson Silva an impressive dude.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison
by Brent Brookhouse on
Jul 9, 2008 2:20 PM EDT
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But White doesn’t need to lie…
He’s a promoter…promoters lie…..that’s just what they do….remember that whole smoke and mirrors quote from the rolling stone article… i think you will find that promoters believe themselves to be under no obligation to tell the truth…this is not a shot at Dana, just promoters as a whole
by robnashville on
Jul 9, 2008 4:17 PM EDT
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