Will Anderson Silva Break Through?
by Michael Rome on Jul 9, 2008 6:34 PM EDT
in MMA News
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Everybody knows the real reason the UFC is running a free show on July 19th is to make sure Affliction gets no buzz among casual fight fans that weekend. Regardless of whether or not they are successful in their attempt to sink Affliction, there is also a secondary goal, which is to turn Anderson Silva into a major draw.
Spike TV has focused its advertisement for this show so far almost exclusively on Anderson Silva, calling him "the best fighter on the planet," and hyping up his move to the top weight class. Further, the UFC put up Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin on its website for free, in an attempt to expose Anderson's dominance to even more people. Spike TV is even doing a special preview show on the Thursday night before the fight, something that is usually only done for PPV shows.
Dave Meltzer reports in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter that they are really putting the full promotional machine behind Anderson Silva in order to turn him into a top level draw. If after all this hype as the "best fighter on the planet," he destroys James Irvin with a highlight reel knockout, millions will see him as a star. The plan is to have him fight twice more this year after the Irvin fight, as long as he keeps winning: First in Atlanta against Yushin Okami in September, and then again in November against Patrick Cote. If he emerges from these fights as the star they hope he can be, he will be ready for big time money matches against the likes of Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, and Forrest Griffin in 2009.
The strategy is obviously a risk. He could lose to Irvin, and send these plans crashing down. However, it's worth remembering that he is yet to draw a good buyrate. It's not like they are taking a crazy risk with a top draw. They may also be pushing Anderson Silva to the top out of necessity. He was reportedly very upset that the UFC would not let him fight Roy Jones Jr., and if they want him to eventually re-sign and stay with the company, they need to make him a top priority, which they are.
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“If he emerges from these fights as the star they hope he can be, he will be ready for big time money matches against the likes of Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, and Forrest Griffin in 2009.”
Except he’s already said he doesn’t plan to play in Lyoto’s yard, as already reported on this very site.
by FRANKIE on Jul 9, 2008 6:48 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Exactly
I was about to post the same thing. Remember this guys?
Anderson Silva Not Staying at 205
Silva is doing this because Dana White desperately wanted to put on a good show to counter the Affliction show and he asked him to do it.
It's a risk worth taking.
Silva is an amazing fighter who has pretty much cleaned out his division. To this point, he’s delivered in every match he’s fought in the UFC. His fights don’t go to decision. The only drawback I see with Silva, as it pertains to marketing, is that he doesn’t speak English. He can’t connect with the public in a way that Rich Franklin can, for example. I don’t think this is a deal breaker, though. Fans should connect with the fact that Silva is an exciting, talented fighter.
He could lose, but he’s won all his fights in impressive fashion thus far, and he’s still not a big draw. How much can Silva contribute to the UFC if a significant number of fans aren’t aware of just how good he is? If you look at in this way, I think the risk is negligible. Besides, if Dana White is going to make a big bet on a fighter, Anderson Silva is his best choice.
I actually thought his English was much improved in an interview I saw with him a while back (around the time of the Henderson fight). He’s still got a heavy accent, but his grasp of the language has come a long way. And as you say, it’s not a deal breaker anyway.
by AJB on Jul 9, 2008 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Anderson is on the verge of superstardom.
Kelvin Hunt
I'm like those boyz on the sidelines...cause I ain't playing...
sam caplan had an article up today saying that silva renegotiated his deal while haggling over the rjj debacle and has 6 fights left on his contract…....
if i was anderson i’d be upset, too…. add up what he makes in those next six fights and it still won’t even prob be half of what he was offered to fight roy…. that’s one hell of a pay day to miss out on
Without UFC marketing though, my guess is he couldn’t have made any more than a million. The fight needed the UFC to be a big deal, Anderson Silva is no Chuck Liddell in terms of mainstream drawing power. Without the UFC, he probably could have made a million for it, and I think his new contract with the downside, the disclosed, and bonuses will make him a hell of a lot more.
Also, Anderson won’t challenge for the title, but they have absolutely talked about him fighting Chuck Liddell next year. People have misunderstood his quote this morning. If he keeps winning he will be fighting at 205 against big names.
the figure i heard was way higher than a million, and i’ll just leave it at that… and i’m not so sure they would have needed the ufc to make the thing very profitable….like dana says boxing is different…they don’t have all that stuff to pay for in house like dana does, plus they usually have someone like hbo to help hype up the fight….....
It's all in the shorts...
If Silva wants to be a big star in the UFC, he really needs to ditch the spandex and get some bitchin’, custom-made, spider design fight shorts—and dye his hair purple. Just kidding. I really appreciate Silva’s no-nonsense, no theatrics, no tattoos, no B.S. visage. It’s too bad that his unassuming manner has probably kept him out of superstardom status to date. All of Silva’s flash is done with his fists when the bell rings. Compare him to Phil Barone’s embarrassing entre at that EliteXC event. Blech!
Spider is the man. He’s an amazing athlete. He’s really everything the UFC should be…but sadly isn’t.
Fight prediction
If after all this hype as the “best fighter on the planet,” he destroys James Irvin with a highlight reel knockout, millions will see him as a star.
I think it’s much more likely that Silva will take him to the ground and submit him (I predict a triangle choke at 2:15 in Round 1). Why would he stand with a knockout artist who has a puncher’s chance?
Because he's done it before
But you could be right.
Personally, seeing Silva fight in Pride at 205 I’m not impressed with him at that weight class. Don’t get me wrong he’s the real deal at 185 but he’ll have to prove me wrong… again
Has anyone seen his fights in Pride? Not that good…
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